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The lower temperature brought a cooler and more pleasant day on which The Head Gardener continued her creative planting, serious weeding, and cutting back. I dead-headed roses, carted debris to the compost heap, and made a few pictures.
The planting on the kitchen wall now seems complete. But you can never be sure. It might be possible to squeeze in something else.
Surely, however, the corner viewed from the patio has more than its share of hanging baskets
and a profusion of pots beneath them.
Even the kitchen window reflects its eponymous bed.
This is the stone urn standing behind the frog pond on the patio end.
We have a number of carpet roses which provide a profusion of ground cover. This one in the Rose Garden flirts with Love Knot and Alan Titchmarsh.
Some of you may prefer Hot Chocolate.
Mama Mia produces a splendid show,
and, Emma Hamilton hangs her heavy head into the arms of Absolutely Fabulous.
Super Elfin, the red rambler in the herbaceous border, virtually uprooted by the beast coming under the North Breeze fence, has benefited from our deterrents and promises to climb to dizzy heights.
Of all the spindly little plants that have received nurture from Jackie, she is justifiably proud of two colourful hydrangeas with dark-trimmed leaves.
It has taken two years to train this clematis, now mingling with rosa glauca on the arch spanning the Head Gardener’s Walk.
The New Forest is not new. It was, after all where William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, was killed. But, like Jackie’s New Bed, now two years old, it was once. Both are ageing gracefully.
Did you, as a child, ever have a kaleidoscope toy? If so, I imagine you could have produced something like this verbena, nature’s own.
We have many antirrhinums. Here is a red one.
Jackie took the occasional rest. Sometimes she sat on the Ace Reclaim bench where she could admire her plantings such as the petunias in this hanging basket;
the blue phlox in the bed facing her;
the Phantom Path;
the sculpture entitled Florence, now perhaps bidding for the name Flora;
and the view across Margery’s bed with its proliferation of day lilies,
other examples of which are these.
Did you spot both smiles?
This evening, the friendly Mr Chan produced our meal, which Jackie collected from Hordle Chinese Take Away. I finished Jessie’s excellent Chablis.
I saw the smiles and they made me smile, along with the collection of wall and hanging baskets!! The garden seems to have so much more blooming this year!!
Thanks very much, GP. So much has come out early, and, of course, been planted by The Head Gardener.
I wish Jackie could bottle some of that green thumb of hers. I have a gardenia that blooms at all crazy times, seeds that won’t grow, bulbs that multiply faster than I can separate them or won’t come up at all!!
🙂
Wow Derrick there are beautiful!
Thanks very much, Elisabet
Smiles duly noted!
I would love to sneak into your garden with secateurs, a large basket, and thieving intent.
Next time you are over, Leslie 🙂 Thanks
A lot of work must have gone into what now looks like a paradise!Lovely pics!
Very many thanks, Sofia. Never ending 🙂
If things get any better in your garden you’re going to get pestered by tourists taking photos!
Japanese? Thanks, Bruce
I was too scared to name names!
🙂
Wow, the kitchen wall has changed! I remember when the hat was empty. I did catch both smiles!
Well spotted, Lisa. Thanks a lot.
Jackie’s roses are remarkable. And the wall of flowers – Donald Trump could take a page from Jackie’s gardening book.
Many thanks, Susanne. He’d need the whole book.
Yes, we see her smiling behind the basket of impatiens and petunias. The baskets are stunning. I love the weathered look of the red shed.
Many thanks, Mary. Well spotted. We like the shed too. (If we painted it it would probably fall down under the weight of the new coat 🙂 )
It’s hard to believe this garden has been under Jackie’s care – and you able assistance – for only three years. (Do I have that number correct Derrick?) The wall of flowers is breath-taking! I would think I had died and gone to heaven to wander amongst such abundance!! <3 Oh, yes – smiles duly noted, though I thought Florence's (or Flora's) a little smug….
Very many thanks, Pauline. Yes, this is our third summer. Biggify the picture following the out of focus smile 🙂
Ah! Two smiles and a smirk 🙂
Ah, so now I know I caught both smiles you were referring to. : )
🙂
gorgeous garden
Very many thanks, Sherry
Simply amazing! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks so much, Rosaliene
Just beautiful!!!! So many colorful flowers!
Many thanks, Luanne
One stunning photo after another, Derrick!
I liked this observation: “and, like all of us, the Absolutely Fabulous blooms fade from the glowing pink of youth to the softer shades of age.”
I think we’re having Chinese take out tomorrow–too bad it’s not Mr. Chan’s. 🙂
Thanks very much, Merril. Unfortunately my eloquence was in error. The pink blooms are, in fact, Emma Hamilton hanging her head, so I’ve had to amend it – at least your comment has kept my phrase on record 🙂
I imagine Emma Hamilton faded, too. 😉
🙂
Oh, I loved that passage, as well.
I did see both smiles…the second one I had to go back and discover.
Lovely spot of the day looking over your garden
Many thanks, Pleasant
It’s a slice of heaven you and Jackie have made for yourself ! If English Cottage Garden is in a dictionary, it should be accompanied by photo’s of yours. Everything is so pretty, especially the kitchen wall, wow! I’ll say it again, “wow” ! What you call ‘antirrhinums’, we call Snapdragons. They’re one of my favourites, especially yellow and pink together. They smell so good 😀 Cheers to the hard working gardeners! xBoomdee
Very many thanks, Boomdee. We call them snapdragons too.
Poetic and metaphorical. Your harvest of smiles leaves lasting smiles on the lips of the readers.
Very many thanks, Uma
Such lovely, lovely writing: I agree.
Thank you both
Here it is ??? (my smiles) lovely flowers, Derrick ? absolutely wonderful. The planting on kitchen wall looks so nice. ?
Thanks very much, Rekha
This post made me so happy that I can’t stop smiling!
🙂
As always, your garden is a Paradise, Derrick. I know you work hard every day, but it is worth it every second. Now, I love your first picture. It looks like the house of the 7 dwarfs 🙂
Mo-hugs for you two <3
‘Bless her’, says Jackie. Many thanks, Mo.
xo <3
The gardens are fantastic–the result of TONS of work, I know! But what a payoff!
Very many thanks, Kerry
Only one word—wow! And maybe another wow for good measure. That garden sure is something to smile about.
Very many thanks, Laurie.
C’est magnifique!
Merci beaucoup, Jessica.
I am eating my Saturday morning pancakes made by the M & M girls. So, I know where my smiles are!
I saw a frog’s half smile and Jackie’s happy smile! There is a demure smile on Florence, or Flora.
Derrick, such an apt description of the gorgeous, stunningly perfect verbena! A kaleidoscope flower indeed!
Roses with your fun messages, for example, of hanging head of Emma Hamilton over Absolutely Fabulous, made a great read! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Robin. There is another Jackie smile in the picture following the out of focus one. 🙂
Lovely, lovely, and more loveliness here Derrick…
Very many thanks, Julie
Beyond lovely…I always look forward to your close about the food and choice of drink.
Nice life.
It is gb; thanks very much for the lovely comment
Such a beautiful garden.
Many thanks, Melanie
I think I am all caught up with you again, Derrick and Jackie! Your gardens are looking beautiful, and it is always good to see what the ponies and donkeys are up to.
Many thanks, from us both, Lavinia; especially for the catch up.
The title of that first picture should be “Happiness” – because no grumpy person could ever make so much beauty. This post is a treasure from top to bottom. The photos are stunning and the commentary is brilliant. Do these words just roll out of you, at this point, since you are doing it every day? Or are you agonizing and correcting every nuance? My guess is a little of both. : )
Oh, and I loved the “smile” game, too!
🙂
Many thanks, Jodie. As long as I remember to try to use words that say something apt, they do rather flow. I’m fortunate in that way. Sometimes I have to think a bit – but I don’t really have time for much contemplation or revision at the end of the day. I do appreciate your insightful comment
Lucky, indeed. Most of your posts read like a 3rd or 4th draft!
You are very kind. When you mentioned this I realised that what I do is imagine the words being spoken.
Ah, very interesting. I will have to pay attention and see if I do that. If I don’t, I will start! Thanks for the tip. : )
Those beautiful flowers. What a delight.
Many thanks, Micheline
I adore the hanging baskets!
Thanks very much, Elena. I do too, really, although I do occasionally bang my head 🙂
There must be a lot of work involved in just watering those baskets!
Two hours plus. My job for the next couple of days – fortunately it’s still raining. Thanks, Quercus
Rain doesn’t count for containers, as Jackie has probably told you. I’m thinking of buying Julia an automatic watering system for her birthday. But I’m also thinking it might not be my best idea…
Quite so, Quercus. But at least I don’t have to do the beds. An automatic watering system sounds a great idea, but maybe not for bd. 🙂
Wise man. 🙂