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The weather this morning was splendid. The morning was to become more so, with a visit from good friends.
In eager anticipation of the arrival Jackie was out early sweeping the corridors, manicuring the green carpet, refreshing the flowers, and generally tidying up the reception room that is the garden. It seemed only right that I should get out there and help.
Right on time at 11 a.m. Geoff Le Pard arrived with the Textiliste, the Vet, and Dog.
We all sat on the patio with coffee and sparkling water. This is one view across the Kitchen bed.
Everyone then wandered around the garden. Here are a couple of views featuring the Textiliste, a skilled gardener herself.
This was the first bench tried out by Geoff.
Partly for the benefit of our mutual friend, Pauline, the Vet reprised a photo of Geoff and me taken a year ago. Dog wasn’t in the last one. He didn’t get the joke his master and I shared.
The Vet, of course, was, herself, far more worthy of the camera’s attention. Was Dog feigning an ailment in order to obtain a scratch?
The large chimney pots, one of which holds this bidens, were much admired.
Jackie, amused by the photo session,
was soon to be joined by Geoff and Dog on the Nottingham Castle Bench. In the right foreground of this shot is another of the chimney pots.
The opposite corner of the Dead End Path contains this heuchera and these day lilies.
On a final visit to the Rose Garden before we set off for lunch, I spotted a bee slaking its thirst on Summer Wine.
Watched over by an Ogre we all lunched at The Beachcomber Café at Barton on Sea. He seemed to be having as much fun as we were.
Afterwards, Jackie drove me to the Birchfield Dental Practice in New Milton for a clean and check up. All was well.
We arrived back home in time for the televised Wimbledon tennis semi-final between Johanna Konta and Venus Williams.
I then wandered around the garden again, along the Head Gardener’s Walk to the Shady Path
beside the Dragon Bed,
where a glowing begonia shines like a beacon.
A rather tatty Comma butterfly took a rest,
then flitted across to join a Red Admiral in the sunshine.
To the left along the Gazebo Path,
a large cluster of agapanthuses, in different stages of emergence, are bursting from their cases.
This is the trunk of the dead tree that supports solanums and clematises.
In the corner of the Rose Garden beside the orange shed, fuchsia Mrs Popple provides a strong contrast to Lanarth White hydrangea.
Finally, I thought Bruce would like to see how the sweet peas are coming along.
This evening Jackie and I dined on Mr Pink’s fish and chips, pickled gherkins and onions. I drank Arborescence Fronton 2016.
Love the ogre, checking things out, whilst hiding in the shade.
Your garden is just so beautiful, no wonder you refer to it as your reception room.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie
The Ogre is not in our garden but at the cafe, in their garden.
Aha.
Still love it, quietly smiling from beneath the low branches at all who pass.
x
Such a beautiful garden! I love agapanthus. In Johannesburg, our naughty Doberman used to wait until each flower came out and then bit off its head. 🙁
How sad, Sylvia. 🙂 Thanks very much.
It was very frustrating indeed.
Well that made my morning! Two of my favourite Brit Bloggers and a Dog 🙂 (I suspect Dog is as overindulged as young Sid-Arthur is) The garden is looking delicious!! xo
We both spoke of you, Pauline. Very many thanks.
Uh-oh…..
Very nicely, of course 🙂
Oh well, that’s a relief 😀
Your sweet peas are wonderful!!
Although I know it to be optionally correct, the plural form, agapanthuses, is a lot harder to say than the optionally correct plural, agapanthus!
And the inevitable comment: The lovely photo of you, Geoff and the dog… but which one was the dog?
I never take the easy route, Bruce. 🙂 Do you know, I almost stated which one was Dog? Thanks a lot.
Well the easious route is possiblious the easiuos.
You are better! Love the Reception; mine is still in progress and I have a feeling that the progress won’t get past Reception.
Thanks very much, Mary.
Sweet Peas are utterly charming. They remind me of faeries. Love all the smiles, a fine day indeed!
Thanks very much, Cindy
The tatty bits on the butterflies’ wings are supposedly where birds’ beaks have tried to eat them.
Thanks a lot for that, John. It makes sense.
After sharing this post with my husband he wanted to know where you are located. We went to your about page and found your location and then we started checking out cottages to stay at when we go to England to visit our son. We’ll probably have to find something closer to London but it was fun checking out what’s available.
Many thanks, Mama. It is a bit of a way to London.
Sadly it is. It is so beautiful there and quite affordable.
Well, an official thank you to our hosts; for those yet to visit Derrick and Jackie’s paradise it is even better in the bud and the leaf than his rather excellent photography suggests. The views are impossibly 3D – you can’t turn about without some other vista blowing you away, each space a chapter in a rather special book, a room in a perfect home. Yes, peeps, if you can, go see.
Very many thanks, Geoff. All welcome 🙂
Well thank you Geoff! You make me proud!
What a wonderful photo session Derrick! You are so versatile and talented in capturing people in the moment, and the delicate beauty of flowers.. and ogres.
?
Very many thanks, Val
Ogre is not mine! I stick to owls and the occasional dragon!
I’ve never seen nor heard of agapanthuses (what a tongue twister) but that first photo is a marvel. There’s something incredibly sensual and just a touch naughty (perhaps indicative of my mind) about that first photo. Its like the curtains have been opened on an orgy or something. Anyhoo. Just me. I love the photo of Jackie with her double glasses. I walk around similarly adorned. One never knows when the bifocals might be needed.
Many thanks, Susanne. What a wonderful mind you have :). Our daughter, Becky, calls the specs “multi-ocular devices”
Becky is a clever woman. I’ll use that expression henceforth.
A delightful post from start to finish, Derrick.
Many thanks, Merril
I love taking a tiny break from work and viewing your posts…this one was so fun…bright and lively and carefree…as Summer should be…thanks for the smiles.
Thanks very much, Jeanne
Great views and great friends…life is good, eh? You know I love that shady path shot, Derrick…it’s so peaceful. I went to the dentist today for a cleaning and check-up, too. Not my favorite place, so I’m happy it’s over for six months. 🙂
Many thanks, Jill. 3 months for me 🙂
What a lovely day and happy pictures. The bidens are amazing as are the two butterfly photos. For a moment, I though you and Jackie had an ogre in YOUR garden but realized not. The garden looks lovely as ever.
Very many thanks, Lisa
That looks like a mighty splendid morning indeed. May you have many, many more. 🙂
Very many thanks, Harlon
I let the heat kill my tomatoe plant on the boat.
What a shame. Thanks, Jim
You had such splendid visitors. The agapanthus buds bursting out of their casings are a lovely sight. I was quite amused to find Mr Shrek under the shade. Why do I want to paint him shades of green? I bet he wants you to take him home to your garden!
Many thanks, Uma. He would look good among the owls
NO he would not!
Oh, go on. You wouldn’t let me have a gnome 🙂
The garden is beautiful – my compliments to the head gardener. Thank you Derrick for the tour, it was relaxing and comforting. 🙂
Many thanks, Terry
You all seem so relaxed. I love your pretty pink Begonia.
Thanks very much, Arlene
Friends, family, flowers. Such a thing of beauty. Thanks, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Van
A dog, flowers, and friends. Doesn’t get much better.
Many thanks, Laurie
A splendid morning indeed. Beautiful!
Thanks very much, Julie
Yes, a splendid morning, beautiful flowers, the butterfly and everything.
Many thanks, Lakshmi.
You sure get stuck into those pickled onions and gerkins, anyone would think you liked them
🙂 Thanks very much, Brian
Such a happy photo of you and friend, Geoff, with Dog. Want the Dog! And garden, of course, who could not? 🙂 Such good will in all of this, a good way for me to end my day.
Many thanks, Cynthia
Indeed, a splendid morning, Derrick. The beauty of nature and old friends. What could be more pleasant?
I’m sure they enjoyed your amazing garden. It can be seen in their smiles.
I love Jackie’s smile, Derrick 🙂
xo
Many thanks, Mo. Geoff is a friend from blogging – TanGental
Nice to have blogging friends so close 🙂
you have such wonderful grounds! Dog is looking great!
Many thanks, Elisabet
That is really some garden now! And all gardens should have a vet like that.
Many thanks, Paol
Beautiful garden, indeed! Love these flower photos and the photo of wandering. 🙂
Thank you very much, Amy
A wonderful day in the gardens with friends! You and Jackie have created a bit of paradise there.
Please give the Dog a good scratch behind the ears for me. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Lavinia
consider him scratched
Your friend, Geoff and the Vet with dog are very pleasant and charming guests to see. Jackie is amazing ? in her ability to keep things in “tip top shape” in the magnificent gardens.
So glad you showed the close-ups of the agapanthus flowers in several stages, Derrick. I had observed them tall and proud against the palm garden in one of your newer posts. This week I started new post to travel backwards in time! ?
Today I have a treat of a double rainbow to share with you and Jackie if she would like to see! ?
Many thanks, Robin. The rainbow certainly was a treat, as you will hve read by now
It is always a pleasure to journey through your garden? I also now want a ogre for my own garden space….
Thanks a lot, msw
Beautiful photographs, Derrick, and a garden to die for.
Many thanks, Roland