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Early this morning our septic tank was cleared. This happens every eighteen months, and Jackie always feels better when it is done.
Knowing we were in for a hot spell, Jackie undertook extensive watering. My tasks involved the eradication, cutting up, and bagging of niggling nettles, invasive ivy, bothersome brambles, and thrusting thistles.
This afternoon we spent much of the time seated on the patio with guests. First Margery and Paul came to lunch, then Helen came bearing birthday presents for Jackie for tomorrow.
Naturally the garden was a focal point.
Here are two views of the Gazebo Path.
In the Rose Garden, Just Joey
and Winchester Cathedral have joined the other attractions;
Margery, however, registered a protest at the number of foxgloves permitted therein.
She was, however, pleased to find a poppy in her Bed.
Compassion rose now proliferates above the Dead End Path.
Here is a smaller version of Sweet William that the one previously featured.
The leaves of this variety of poplar are delightful at this time of the year.
As promised, viper’s bugloss does attract bees,
as do geranium palmatums
and the still burgeoning bottle brush plant.
The strong sunlight gives the Florence sculpture the air of The Woman in White, Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel’s musical based on the novel by Wilkie Collins, that was playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre when I photographed it in September 2004.
Among the selection of presents Helen brought was a bag of Alpaca Poo, a garden fertiliser apparently unpleasant to rats.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome beef in red wine with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and carrots, served with swede and potato mash. Jackie drank Peroni and I drank Reserve des Tuguets madiran 2014.
I viewed the alpaca poo with a great deal of allama.
š š š
ROFL … you win the internets today! š
He often does š
Capital, my friend – well it could be a anagram. Thanks a lot.
Now with this anagram business… I’m about to waste an entire evening!
Don’t get in a stew
I didn’t know there was a musical based on that book – I take it wasn’t a roaring success? Florence however looks almost ethereal! The classical urn overflowing with whatever those pink blossoms are (I don’t recognise them) is beautiful. Advance Happy Birthday wishes for Jackie ….. I hope you both have a wonderful celebratory day!
Diascias, Pauline. The show went on to Broadway, but that’s all I know. Many thanks.
Ta , Pauline, intend a day pootling in the garden, oh joy.
You have made magic happen in your garden Jackie – have a wonderful day!
Beautiful flowers to send me off to bed. Maybe they’ll sweeten my dreams.
I hope so, Peggy. Many thanks
Alpaca poo – it sounds like one of those fancy dogs people come up with these days.
Or a celebrity infant š Thanks a lot, Jodie
Literally laughing out loud, Derrick.
It’s already 1 June here so Happy Birthday to Jackie! It’s a good thing you removed all the lurking menaces in the gardenāwhat a riot!
Many thanks, Mary.
Thank you Mary, started the day with coffee from my favourite mug.
That’s great, Jackie š
Happy early birthday to Jackie! Thanks for the lovely photos, Derrick. I love the lone poppy!
Thanks a lot, Jill
Thanks Jill.
Happy birthday to Jackie from Australia where her special day has already begun
Very many thanks, Gwen
Thank you for your birthday wishes.
Beautiful photos–it looks like you had a lovely day to sit in the garden. Happy Birthday to Jackie!
We did. Many thanks, Merril
Thank you Meril.
The garden is lovely. The photos are beautiful. My favorite is the poplar leaves. I probably take a picture of sunshine through leaves every day here in Big Creek.
Thank you very much, Dinata
Perhaps the foxgloves can box with the rats while the alpaca poo plans an ambush!
Imagine being pelted with such pellets, Lisa š Thank you
“Niggling nettles, invasive ivy, bothersome brambles, and thrusting thistles…” Flowers in your garden, flowers in your prose. Thanks for the continued treat.
Very many thanks, Uma
I just love your garden Derrick. You are blessed to have one like this.
We are. Many thanks, Arlene
I had no idea you would be on a septic tank. I thought it was only Aussies in the bush..FYEO I am putting my blog to sleep. It has been trolled. I will find you again some other way.
So sorry, John. Thanks very much.
Love that alpaca poo; never heard of it, but now I have to have it!!
Thanks, GP
What a perfect gift for a gardener! Happy birthday to Jackie!
Many thanks, Laurie
Thank you Laurie, for your wishes.
Oh, you’re most welcome. Your gardens are a beautiful inspiration. Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy birthday, Jackie! Love from Jessie, Poppy and Peanut x
Ta Jessie and Poppy and Peanut! Looking forward to seeing you soon Jessie.
So many lovely photos, the colors are so pretty! An amazing garden!
Very many thanks, Lynn
Happy birthday, Jackie! You have given us such a good time over the years with your gardening, decorating, cooking, and travels. Hope your day was a stellar one.
Many thanks, Jodie
I thought, by the title, that you’d bought the Culinary Queen, a new Chef’s jacket for her birthday.
The potato & swede mash,that you’ve been devouring much of, of late, is, I assume, potato & swede cooked in the same pot and mashed with butter, white pepper and cream or milk.
I’m rather partial to swede, and mashed potatoes, but never gave thought to mashing them together, I shall have to give it a go, once I get confirmation of the process.
As for septic tanks, I noticed Johns remarks, and recall working in the bush down Pinjarra W.A.
way, late 1960’s putting them into back gardens, it was back breaking work with the ‘bluestone’ that we shovelled into the leach drains. I don’t think they use the ‘bluestone’ anymore.
I noticed, too, the number of Septic Tanks you have following your posts/site
Thanks a lot, Brian. Jackie uses black pepper with a bit of salt; she doesn’t bother with cream. As swede takes a bit longer to cook that goes in the pot first.
perhaps if she cut the swede into smaller portions and cooked it together might it not be cooked to perfection at the exact same time? I shall try it sometime this week end.
I love black pepper but with mash I usually opt for ground white, I shall also try using cream and also sour cream on another occasion. Thanks Derrick; I told the War office and she too is looking forward to this. Buggered if I know what to serve with it though
She chops both up very small. Maybe just cut up the swede and leave the spuds? Let us know
WOW! I can’t remember seeing a more beautiful garden. I’ll need to stock up on Alpaca poo and hope it gets rid of the 2-legged rat variety š Hope Jackie’s special day was fun and that you had your cake.
Very many thanks, Rose.
Happy birthday to Jackie. What a beautiful garden to enjoy on a hot summer day.
Many thanks, Anarette
Seeing the Alpaca poo reminded me of the link you sent some weeks ago. Max found it very amusing, as the mole wondered who had pooped on his head!
š That really brought a smile, Persia. Thanks a lot.
Our neighbors may be getting alpacas, and I am looking forward to getting some of their manure. š
I had not heard of The Woman in White novel, but have heard of The Lady in White, a ghostly figure appearing in different parts of the world, including the U.K..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lady_(ghost)
Many thanks, Lavinia, especially for the fascinating link.
I really enjoyed the “new tour,” which each day seems unique to me, Derrick!
I liked the purple vipers bugloss! I love your bumblebee photos.
Another wonderful visit in the Head Gardener’s and her “First Assistant’s” garden. Thank you. xo š
Many thanks, Robin