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Today’s most recently bloomed clematis climbs over the arch spanning the Shady Path.
This afternoon Jackie drove me out to the forest.
Strong sunlight cast long or dappled shadows across the freshly resurfaced Holmsley Passage,
and warmed the wayside woodland.
A disabled dog eagerly propelled its tailored cart, clearly training for the canine Paralympics.
Bees had taken up residence in the modern house, alongside its dead wisteria, beside the
footpath that was once a railway line, now a route for walkers and cyclists.
It being the start of the grockle season, many others kept to the roads.
On Charles Lane outside Burley, Jackie needed to stop the car beside a passing area, so three riders could squeeze their horses past us. The last one waved their thanks and they cantered on their way.
This house, in an imposing position on a bend, looked pretty in pink.
The story of MacPenny’s garden nursery is told in my post ‘Cock Of The Walk’, of 3rd June 2013. This was our next destination.
Masses of rows of flowers, shrubs, and trees are for sale in the huge nursery area,
where pots, compost, and other materials are also available in profusion.
But it was the mature, stunning, NGS Garden, with its wonderful display of rhododendrons and azaleas that we came for today.
We also liked the candelabra primulas.
This evening the four of us dined on Jackie’s sublime sausage casserole, caramelised sweet potato, creamy mashed potato, crunchy carrots, and spring greens. Ian drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Bordeaux.
I have to admit, I needed to look up ‘grockle season’ and this is what I found…
Tourist – annoying visitor, who disrupts the lives of residents.
Here in south FL, we call them all snowbirds!!
Many thanks, GP. I put that in for my American friends 🙂
At the Jersey Shore we call them “Shoebies.” I think, because they come to the beach all dressed with their socks and shoes.
I love it. Down here, it’s sandals and white socks!
Oh, that’s not a pretty picture! : )
Pretty in pink, red or green…
Many thanks, Mary.
I learnt something new this morning as I stopped to look up ‘grockle’ 🙂 Love the chocolate box ‘pretty in pink’ house, but the disabled dog running was my highlight!
I thought you might like that, Pauline. Many thanks.
I had to look up “grockle” too. 🙂
🙂 Many thanks, Bridget
I also had to look up grockle. 🙂
Stunning photos, Derrick. I mean they always are, but these were really lovely. Maybe it’s the spring light.
The light does make all the difference, Merril. Many thanks
Such a beautiful, garden and woods…thanks for more “eye candy” this cloudy Sat. morning in OR.!
Many thanks, Cynthia
I just about grockled my pants laughing! Another day, another word! Have you ever thought of writing crosswords?!
Been there, done that, haven’t got the tea shirt. Thanks, Bruce.
mum was in 7th heaven at MacPenny’s… she couldn’t be if dad suggested a visit…
Thanks, Geoff. Cos he wouldn’t let her buy anything?
Oh he wouldn’t dare.
That is sad, I suppose Dad thought she had enough plants! Never understood that myself, always room for another.
Oh Jackie you are an echo! ‘ But Barbs where will you put it?’ ‘ Silly man.’
Loved the smile on that Pup-On-Wheels – and his loving owner. And that Pretty In Pink house would make Molly Ringwald jealous.
Many thanks, Jodie.
I was a bit worried by “This afternoon Jackie drove me out to the forest.” but I see she relented and took you back too.
Dog photos was great.
Nice one Quercus. Thank you
I had the same thought as Quercus!
🙂
I love that pink house!
Many thanks, Lynn
most welcome
I love to see it when people enable disabled dogs to walk and enjoy life.
As a Devon boy, I know all about grockles (if you don’t, you probably are one). Having spent time on the other side of the border, I am equally comfortable with the term emmet, although somewhat ambivalent in the pixie/pisky debate.
Many thanks, Keith. It was Hugh Lowther, now Earl of Lonsdale, who first introduced me to the term in Cumbria.
I had to look up ‘grockle’ and ’emmet’. Emmet comes up as ‘ant’. I guess tourists could be like ants at a picnic! 🙂
I never asked where it came from, but your idea sounds good to me – except that the average tourist is far less purposeful than the average ant!
I think your guess is correct, Lavinia
This post is such a treat to the eyes Derrick! Thanks for sharing <3
Very many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
So many beautiful photos here, Derrick, and I love the dog!
Many thanks, Lavinia
Lovely, all of it.
I was really amused at the idea of a car having to pull over to allow horses to overtake!
In spite of elder daughter keeping horses, I have never actually ridden in the New Forest and would simply love to do so.
Thanks, Leslie. Maybe next time
The winding curved road and “dappled” shadows were lovely on the Holmsley Passage.
I enjoyed the cheerful dog with his cart aiding him to travel quickly.
I liked the gardens of MacPenney’s nursery and especially love the orange-red flowering bush. I could not tell if it is an azalea, but think it could be a rhododendron, too. Silly me! 🙂
I wasn’t sure, either, Robin. That’s why I didn’t name the shrubs. Many thanks.
Good idea, since it is hard for me to identify flowering shrubs! 🙂