AS ALWAYS, CLICKING ON AN IMAGE, REPEATED IF NECESSARY, WILL ENLARGE IT
The kitchen door was open this morning as I wandered into it. Such was the heady blend of sweet scents that pervaded the room, that I looked around for the bouquets of blooms I felt sure The Head Gardener must have gathered. There were none. The aroma emanated from the garden itself on this much warmer day. This became apparent as I investigated.
Testament to Jackie’s occasional breaks, gardening magazines like this one on the Heligan Path bench, are likely to be found in sunshine or shade, depending on her needs at the time. In the right foreground of this picture, on a dry brick plinth stands one of the recently purchased half-dozen stone urns, planted with geraniums, petunias, and, yet to burst forth, begonias. Heucheras, hellebores honesty and hebes fill the near beds, whilst in the background the palm which gives its name to the recently refurbished plot, is budding, which it didn’t do last year. An ornamental grass bends at the feet of the weeping birch, now sporting catkins. There will probably be no more long shots of the garden that do not contain an owl.
Later, with the bench in shade, I shifted my viewpoint in order to show the scene through what will soon be a cascade of clematis Montana seen, already covering the other side of the dead tree at top right, that will cover the plank of wood used to form the arch. Jackie enjoys a rest.
This evening we attended a quiz night at Helen and Bill’s church hall in aid of CAFOD. Everyone had brought contribution of finger food and there was a bar where beer, wines, and soft drinks were available, and variously consumed by the assembled company.
Peter Thomas, a very skilled magician, offering his services free of charge, stepped in at the last minute to manage the quiz, and to entertain us with some marvellous tricks.
Our family members made up two tables; one team consisting of Bill, David and Jen, John, and Rachel; the other of Becky and Ian, Shelly and Ron, and Jackie and me. The first of these groups came second overall, and we won. The winners were each given a certificate to prove it.
This post is for Mary Tang, who likes the panoramic views.
This is one for the rest of us too, Derrick.
Thank you, Ann
Thank you, Derrick. I am overwhelmed. Yes, I do like those long shots that show off the scale and lay out of the garden, the back drop of trees and the relationship between the gardener and her creation. I’m glad to see Jackie sitting down! 🙂
By the way Sydney is engulfed in smoke from the back burning in the mountains so I can only imagine the fragrance that you are enjoying in your garden with teary eyes and burning throat.
Sorry about the smoke. At least you are not in Alberta
I know; our back burning is to prevent such bush fires by reducing fuel loads but we still have them every year.
I’m pleased Mary. Thank you
Reblogged this on Life is But This and commented:
I seldom reblog and I seldom post more than once a day. Today is different; it has to be. How often does a fellow blogger name their post after me? Never before and perhaps never again. Thank you, Derrick.
My pleasure, Mary. As you know, I have been putting in panoramic shots for you, and I thought I would say so
I noticed 🙂 Thank you.
Very easy on the eyes 🙂 Very peaceful where Jackie is sitting.
Thank you, Weekly
I must remember to scan all long shots for owls from now on – I almost missed this one! I love that your garden fragrance is permeating the kitchen – the perfume of a garden I think is every bit as important as the visual beauty! And I’m glad to see and read that Jackie takes breaks from her toils!
To the right of the far bench (left of image, just below window), there’s an indeterminate white upright shape, which might be another owl. Blowing up pic doesn’t provide any more detail. Can himself illuminate?
I think you are correct Paul – it looks like an owl to me. Well done – I shall have to sharpen up my owl spotting techniques!!
Correct, Pauline. Thanks
Well spotted Paul, that is an owl- it is made of white china stands about 7 inches high.
Well spotted, Paul. I wondered whether anyone would do so. Thanks
Very many thanks, Pauline
Wow! I feel as though I’m standing in the garden, Derrick, particularly in that first shot.
Thanks very much, Jill
I love that time of year when I go outside and there’s always some scent–magnolia, rose, holly–the air is perfumed and feels like paradise. And in fact, paradeisos means garden. Lovely post and shots.
Thank you, Lisa. Many of the roses in the rose garden are scented, so we look forward to their blooming
She’s right, the panoramic views do give a lot of insight into the work done on the garden and on the scale. I still love the macro photographs you post of the flowers though 🙂
Many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Pretty shots as ever, and good to see that Jackie knows how to sit still! My bouquet of peonies is sending off all sorts of fragrance and bringing on a sneeze or two.
And quiz winner?! Congrats to both family groups!–one can only imagine what arcane knowledge was offered to those gathered 🙂
Thanks, Cynthia. Well, for a start, Becky identified all the Mister Men 🙂
Virtually the first quiz I ever participated in was for our local library Friends group. It was well attended, but the Friends didn’t actually have a team, so one was cobbled together on the night. We not only won, but we even beat the Librarians. We would have scored 100 points (of 120), had I not over-thought the question “What’s the highest peak in the Grampians?”
The answer is Ben Nevis, which is also the highest in the UK (as enny fule no”), but I was so sure it was a catch question, AND that the Grampians were to the east-centre of Scotland (Ben Nevis is west of centre), that I persuaded the four other team-members to enter another peak instead, so we scored 99.
Thanks, Paul. Sometimes we can over-think
Well done Derrick. It takes a lot to win a pub quiz! There’s always another team where somebody knows who won the FA Cup in 1905.
What a very pretty garden and I can understand why it’s so scented! The stone urn is reminiscent of a couple in the garden of my childhood home.
Thank you, Val
I would love to sit and chat with you and Jackie on that bench, Derrick 🙂
Maybe one day…. Thank you, Monica
Wow so lovely, so glad Jackie is sitting and relaxing! What a fun night!
Thanks, Lynn
Garden looks great but its greatest ornament is, of course, the Head Gardener.
Of course. Thanks, Quercus
Such a lovely garden Derrick, you and Jackie I know must be very proud of it! 🙂
Thanks, Terry. And we consider ourselves very fortunate
A perfect spot for Jackie to read and take in her beautiful garden ~ a fresh and inspiring couple of scenes Derrick.
Many thanks, Mary
What is quiz night?
Gorgeous garden.
An activity brought into such as English pubs, where various teams answer a range of questions; the team with the most points wins the prize. The idea is to encourage people to come in and buy drinks. Thank you, Luanne
Like the American TV show The Chase with “The Beast”!
Charitable ones, such as the one I was in, make a small charge per team to raise money for their cause. It also covers the cost of prizes.
£5 each in our case. Pubs are usually about £2, I think, but I could count my attendances on one hand, maybe two
I also HAVE to ask: did the “Bright YOUNG Things” win the Irony Prize, as well??? 🙂
Ah, you noticed. The others wanted to play the senility card, but I persuaded them otherwise.
That image of Jackie reading, show from a longer view, is great. What a lovely, lovely garden you have!
Many thanks, Laurie
The first shot could have been a magazine illustration, seriously gorgeous, Jackie and Derrick!
What a love game night where your group comes in first and the rest of your group comes in second. How fun that must have been!
Many thanks, Robin. And there was only one point between us, and one between second and third
Beautiful panoramic shots for us all, and thank you and Mary for the inspiration 🙂 The last shot of Jackie is a classic – welcoming and being welcomed by her garden.
Thank you, Dalo
what a beautiful space.
Thank you, msw