CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM. REPEAT IF NECESSARY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN AN OWL HUNT
Today being drier and a little brighter than yesterday, there were enough glimpses of sunlight to be more conducive to garden photography.
New clematises are emerging daily.
Mostly, as with this Piilu, I am grateful for the identity labels, because they all look so much alike.
Star of India, blends well with geranium palmatum.
Petunias abound;
some share their pots with pansies. The new urns, like this one, are all planted up now. Everywhere, honesty is turning to seed medallions.
Lilacs are in full bloom;
and this tree, that had only one leafing branch when we first arrived, is making a remarkable recovery. New trunks have begun to swallow the original pock-marked member.
A few bees, such as this one plundering an orange poppy
and another burrowing into a somewhat perforated pansy risked getting wet for the good of the hive.
On the edge of the rose garden, a single Altissimo bloom lives up to its name,
For Your Eyes Only burgeons within,
and most other bushes, like Absolutely Fabulous and Special Anniversary, are on the verge of bursting forth the darling buds of May.
This rhododendron
enhances the Grass Patch Bed, at the end of which stands the recovering tree mentioned above.
This pivotal patch can be viewed from the tree peony hiding behind the viburnum plicatum;
from the Dead End Path;
and from the Brick Path.
Elsewhere, sculptural alliums, like these in the Palm Bed, are opening out all over.
For our dinner this evening the Culinary Queen produced pork chops coated in mustard and demerara sugar and topped with almonds; boiled, sautéd, and sweet potatoes; cauliflower and carrots; and peppers, tomato, leek, and onion sauce; followed by bread and butter pudding and custard. She drank Hoegaarden, and I drank Reserve des Tuguets madiran 2012.
Just glorious! And I am jealous of the lilacs. We certainly cannot have them in Arizona! What is bread and butter pudding?
Thanks, Luanne. The pudding is basically made of bread and butter (not to be confused with the far richer and more spicy bread pudding). We will put on a recipe this evening.
swoon; I just love the spring
Thanks, Geoff. It is amazing
Goodness, Derrick and Jackie! These flowers are so pretty! Thanks for sharing.
Many thanks, Cynthia
That tree is a thing of wonder and hope. 🙂
Thanks, Widdershins. It is
‘It’s May, it’s May; that darling month of May…that darling month when everyone goes blissfully astray…it’s here, it’s here; that shocking time of year…when tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appears…’
Thank you for planting that song in my head 🙂
Thank you, Mary. My pleasure
Looking scrumptious Derrick! [The garden] Just the one owl today – making it’s way into two shots? I am a little in love with the photo, the view from the brick path – it’s just missing an owl! 🙂
Many thanks, Pauline. A good bit of owl-spotting, but look again at the Brick Path pic 🙂
I went owl hunting before reading Jackie’s response – and I saw him hiding in the foliage, just to the left of the interesting crown topped plantery thingy….. which I’m guessing is an old chimney top? And which I totally love!! I scanned that picture for owls before posting my original comment but am guessing I got so side tracked by the interesting crown topped plantery thingy that I missed him. If you sell largish prints of your photos Derrick I should love to purchase this one.
Pauline, you are more than welcome to a print of anything you like. I can actually make an A3+ print. Would you like one? I would love to send it. It is an old chimney pot. We have three
<3 I would love that Derrick. You are very generous 🙂
OK X
He’s not joking, Pauline. What I thought (from the normal size shot) was an owl wasn’t, but the real one is there all right, when you blow it up.
I had to look for the owl in that picture too I knew he was there but I think he is in danger of disappearing behind a cranes bill geranium, perhaps a brick under him to give him a lift.
Now you’ve given the game away 🙂 What a hoot
Yes to the brick – though being surprised by getting a peek at him unexpectedly is also nice.
Your garden gets more beautiful with each passing day, Derrick. Thanks for sharing your extraordinary photographs!
Thanks very much, Jill
I agree with Jill, it looks more beautiful every day. Sadly my garden is reacting conversely as summer kicks in here in Dubai with over 40 degrees celsius for now
Thanks, Geetha. Sorry about your heat
Welcome. I am glad someone is having a garden which is more beautiful by the day and caring enough to share it with others 🙂
Beautiful post…Flowers are the best gifts to mankind from Mothe Nature… 🙂
Thank you very much Maniparna. They are
I have over-dosed on your beautiful pictures and amazing garden…and completely run out of adjectives….. what more can I say?
Thank you so much, Cynthia
Lovely!
Thanks very much, Leslie
Amazing post!
Many thanks, Lynn
🙂
Liked it. And next you’d better put up a recipe for Bread and butter pudding for those who live a simpler life.
Thanks, John. I’ll get the Cuisine Queen onto it 🙂
I’m so grateful that there isn’t a compulsory floral identification test with your posts. I’d fail dismally and never get to eat any bread and butter pudding.
Nice one, Yvonne. Thanks
No slight on the CQ’s skills, but you don’t know how lucky you are to not be sampling b&b pudding, IMHO. Reminds me of too man school dinners!!
We’re getting a few bees up here, but there just don’t seem to be as many around as there used to be. Your garden is growing so luxuriantly, and, to be honest, ours is beginning to explode into life at last.
Thanks, John. Perhaps your weather is improving
May really is my favourite time for the garden
Yes, Sol. Thank you
Your photos of the flowers are so vibrant, I can almost smell them 🙂 Culinary Queen is a most apt title for Jackie, indeed!
Thanks very much, Rose
Beautiful! Now, let us hope no rough winds come to shake those darling buds 😉
Thank you Laurie 🙂
Beautiful! I think we’re probably a week or two behind you – our lilac, primroses and aliums are in flower but the clematis, etc, are still just in bud. You have a lovely garden, Derrick. 🙂
Many thanks, Louise
Spectacular–such a beautiful garden!
Thank you, Merril
Your garden is blooming marvelously – a kaleidoscope of Spring colours! I love lilac … and I have one too now!
Thank you, Peggy
My favorite photograph is the one taken from the brick path. It is like a breathlessly beautiful and heavenly spot, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Robin
We’re in Orkney and have travelled up through Scotland in about 2 days. Though comparing wild with wild, most of the flora that we’d expect to be ? a fortnight /10 days behind up here, is at the same stage: the May (blackthorn) is luxuriant, the bluebells are perhaps past their best and the gorse [whin/broom/edit your local name here] is dense and luminous like I’ve never seen it (don’t think it’s that good in the Forest: we went through on the main road on Thursday 19th). Today, we were chasing the clock for what I thought was the last sailing tonight**, or I’d have stopped to take photographs. From what little we’ve seen, it may be as good on the Islands, so I’ll try and relay some to you. The only flowers on Orkney I’ve noticed behind the southern calendar are daffs, narcissi and tulips (that said, I’ve only driven about 5 miles!).
** guess who max’d out on misinterpreting the ferry timetable?
Thanks, Paul. 🙂 I hope you get home safely