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Jackie continued her creative miracles on the various beds. I rendered sporadic assistance in dead-heading, weeding, clearing up, and humping bags of compost.
Here are current views of The Head Gardener’s Walk
and The Gazebo Path, looking across Margery’s bed in which her hollyhocks are now in bloom.
Petunias in hanging baskets are ubiquitous,
as are lilies of many different kinds in various beds. Currently they share The New Bed with dahlias and clematises.
In the Rose Garden, before I’d finished dead-heading, the pink carpet rose was laid out before Love Knot, poppies, and petunias;
and For Your Eyes Only caught the sun.
Particularly in the morning, falling petals are suspended from spidery filaments. Spinning in the breeze some,
like this fuchsia, have the appearance of Tom Daley taking off,
or, such as this honeysuckle, shuttles aiming for space stations.
In case anyone needs to know this is what Wikipedia has to say about Tom Daley:
‘Thomas Robert “Tom” Daley (born 21 May 1994)[2] is a British diver and television personality. Daley specialises in the 10 metre platform event and was the 2009 FINA World Champion in the individual event at the age of 15. He started diving at the age of seven and is a member of Plymouth Diving Club. He has made an impact in national and international competitions from age 9. He represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics where he was Britain’s youngest competitor, the youngest competitor of any nationality outside the sport of swimming, and the youngest to participate in a final.[5] In 2009, Daley reached a career best ranking of number one in the FINA World Diving Rankings for the ten-metre platform.[6]
He won two gold medals for England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in the 10 metre synchro diving (with Max Brick) and the 10 m Individual Platform competition,[7] and won the bronze medal for Great Britain in the individual competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.[8]
After his success at the 2012 Olympic Games and a summer of great sporting interest amongst the public in the UK, television network ITV approached Daley to have a role in their new celebrity diving reality TV show Splash!. Daley made his debut in the show’s premiere on 5 January 2013 as a mentor to the celebrity competitors taking part.[9]‘
With the increasing warmth, the butterflies are back.
Here a Peacock performs its trapeze routine on a hebe.
Ronan, from Tom Sutton, came to fix our boiler which has stopped working. Unfortunately there were several issues, one being a faulty control box which he will have to obtain tomorrow. We won’t stink, because we have an immersion heater in the shower.
Tonight we dined on Jackie’s wholesome heart casserole, creamy mashed potato, and crunchy carrots. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden, and I made a start on the excellent Brancott Estate merlot/cabernet sauvignon 2014 given to me for my birthday by Shelly and Ron.
Love your Christmas lilies. Oops! Wrong season!
🙂 Thanks very much, Bruce
That’s a beautiful photo of your poor battered peacock butterfly Derrick. I don’t think we have them here, I must ask Mr Wiki when I get a moment. I’ve not heard of Tom Daley [hangs head in shame] but I can see how the two go together 🙂
Thanks a lot, Pauline. I couldn’t name a New Zealand Olympian 🙂
Love that fuchsia petal taking off!
Thank you, Sofia
Absolutely lovely photographs again. I really like the butterfly and am wondering how you caught it straight above without it moving
Thanks, Geetha. Actually I was alongside it when it was working its way down the plant – like a trapeze artist hanging upside down
What patience you must have and love for photography as well as all things beautiful 🙂
Oh, how I wish we had that butterfly in Maine. Lovely, lovely pictures.
Very many thanks, Laurie
The garden is stunning, Derrick. That’s an amazing shot of the butterfly. They’re always too fast for me to capture a photo.
Thanks very much, Jill. The most elusive for me are the whites. They never seem to keep still
I’m glad to hear that you won’t stink, but even if you did, all you would have to do is go out and stand in your gorgeous garden and soon the wonderful floral aroma would overwhelm everything else. 🙂
Many thanks, Cynthia. 🙂
The creative thought in seeing a famous diver in a bloom caught on a filament astounds me, Derrick. Simply love all the gardens and could never pick a favorite because it would change every day! Thank you for the Tom Daley description and it reminds me of our Mark Spitz and the newest diver’s name eludes me. My brain is somewhat exhausted so will close for now. . .
Thanks for driving your brain to exhaustion in this way, Robin. I, too, remember Mark Spitz, of course.
So funny, Derrick!
I’m curious about your lilies, Derrick. Do they naturally bloom in midsummer or do you force them?
They all naturally bloom in midsummer, JB. Thanks for asking
Wow! Unbelievably beautiful. you have a green thumb. Derrick. It’s so hot here, no blooms, so sad.
Thank you, Amy. It is not my thumb that’s green. That belongs to Jackie, otherwise known as The Head Gardener. 🙂
Such gorgeous nature photography. Holly hocks are some of my favorite flowers. I love the shot of the petal suspended in air.
Many thanks, LT
That butterfly is something! Never seen a real one.
Thanks, Lisa. They are one of our most present
Yes, I love that fuchsia petal hanging on a thread. Photoshop that into black and white, and you could sell it as a genuine photograph of an alien spaceship.
Thanks, John
What a wonderful garden paradise, chock full of color, texture and shape. Such love went into each square inch. Well done!
Many thanks, Brenda
Beautiful photographs, I especially love the suspended flowers. Thank you for the Tom Daley reference. Always something to learn on your blog.
Thanks a lot, Inese
Breathtaking as always!
Thank you, Karen
Wow Derrick and Jackie – awesome garden photographs. The fullness and health of the plants is what I’m amazed at. It is beautiful place and our virtual walk with you is a perfect way to start my day.
Many thanks, Mary
The garden is looking wonderful – there’s always something new to enjoy. I love that red of the Bishop of Llandaff dahlia. What would summer be without butterflies? Peacocks are one of my favourites.
Many thanks, Peggy