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Today the Met Office threatened us with continuous steady rain. It didn’t come. We were also promised a stiff breeze. We received that. It was to be cold. It was. 6 degrees centigrade to be precise.
Mrs Knight drove us to Ferndene Farm Shop. While I loaded the Modus with three bags of compost she entered the hut to pay for them and emerged with a tray of geraniums. And I had thought we were only going for compost.
There was much on display in the outside garden centre. Rows and rows of plants like pansies, pierises; heucheras, hottuynias, heathers; and cellophane swathed bouquets.
Numbers of people who had time in the day to shop wandered around making plant selections.
Jackie was one. She sought and found a suitable climbing rose.
The young woman from the sales department, who had been in shorts a couple of weeks ago, offered me the opinion that it was too cold for sandals (sans socks, you understand), upon which I stabbed the air with my right index finger and exclaimed vociferously “I always go into sandals at the first sign of summer and I am not going back to more suitable shoes just because we’re having a little blip. Brrr”. She suggested that the blog-bound photograph I would publish of her tidying up marguerites would make her famous.
As it was a bit nippy I nipped back into the car while Jackie visited the shop for some carrots. Noticing the advertising sign beside the door I speculated internally that no-one would be buying ice cream today. As my lady returned to the driving seat she announced “I have bought some New Forest ginger ice cream”.
Just to be perverse, the sun crept out this evening, enough to brighten the garden.
We dined on Jackie’s succulent roast pork with perfect crisp crackling, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potato, ratatouille, runner beans, and carrots bought this morning. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the merlot.
I am trying to kick start our new garden but the weather will not cooperate. SIGH!
It is agin us. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Let me know how the ginger ice cream tastes. I’ve never had it.
It is one of my favourites, GP. Contains small chunks of ginger. Thanks very much
New Forest Ginger Ice Cream sounds wonderful 🍦
x
It sure is, Melanie. Many thanks
Jacki looks so cute!!
Thanks very much, Lynn
I love the nursery and the flowers!
Thanks very much, Lynn
Chocolate box photo of your garden with house peeping through the luxurious growth there Derrick! Ginger ice cream hey? My taste buds aren’t dancing with delight at the thought – but there is curiosity 🙂
It is one of my favourite ice creams, Pauline. Many thanks
It’s a well known fact that plants are apt to leap into a gardener’s hands unbidden at the check out. Geraniums are particularly notorious. I’ve been similarly caught out on a number of occasions.
Laughing out loud here, Jessica
Oh, that happens to us too! 😀
Catching up on my blog reading Derrick. Love the colorful plants.
Many thanks, Andrew
Jackie looks excited to be at the garden center. 🙂
Jessica’s comment made me laugh, too.
Thanks a lot, Merril. Jessica is always amusing, and an excellent gardener
Jackie is indeed in her happy place! I’ve never heard of ginger flavored ice cream…it is good for your stomach? I’ve always heard ginger promotes healing in the digestive track. 🙂
No idea about stomach, Jill. It certainly makes the taste buds happy. Many thanks
That’s a beautiful red rhododendron in your garden, Derrick.
It certainly is, Jane. Many thanks
Your garden is looking lush already, despite the chilly temperatures. I think we got all of your steady rain as well as our own today.
Bad luck, Clare. Thanks a lot
Nobody had ginger ice cream after dinner?
That’s what I wondered too, arling lass.
🙂
Glad I wasn’t alone!
🙂
No. Too stuffed. Thanks for noticing, Lisa. 🙂
Ginger ice cream sounds far more sensible than sandals in 6 degrees centigrade, but I admire you for sticking to your guns. Never give the weather the satisfaction.
🙂 Many thanks, Oglach
The met offices too have their share of no-balls. Up there in Tibet, our Chinese friends are striving to master the elements. They are bringing rain to the cold desert by piercing the clouds with certain chemicals. It is causing eroison and flash floods down south in the land I dwell. Tell your now-famous, comely young friend at the florist’s she is not unlike the flowers she tends to.
Thanks for the exquisite daily service.
Very many thanks, Uma
Ah, Derrick, surely you know by now that one can never come away from a nursery with JUST three bags of compost. 😀
I live in hope, Widders. Thanks a lot
You see, the sun is just as greedy as you, but he, the ice cream with ginger is enough for him.
ps: the description of the meal looked succulent
Thanks very much, Yoshimi
The only time I was in England was in July one year and we had to wear winter clothes, so I feel confused by your weather. 😉
Thanks very much, Luanne. Jackie remembers waking up to snow on her 1st June birthday
I’m having an ice-cream now Derrick, as I’m reading your wonderful article, albeit looking very cold over there.
Thanks a lot, Ivor. It should warm up soon
Ice cream, sandals and finger daring the weather…all in 6 degrees! Love your style!👍
🙂 Many thanks, Rob
The meaning of the word ‘only’ is elastic in a nursery. Good shots of the garden.
Many thanks, Mary
Jackie looks so happy, beautiful smile. 🙂
Many thanks, Amy. Her face displays her feelings always
We find geraniums difficult to resist too. We totally empathise with Mrs. Knight.
I’m sure you do, LL/PS 🙂 Thanks very much
Oh, that perverse Sun! Good thing someone bought ice cream!
Than you, Jen. Just fished this out of Spam