CLICK ON ANY IMAGE IN ONE OF THE PAIRINGS TO ACCESS THE GALLERY, EACH MEMBER OF WHICH CAN BE VIEWED FULL SIZE BY SCROLLING DOWN AND CHECKING BOX AT BOTTOM RIGHT. PHOTOGRAPHS LACKING A PARTNER CAN BE VIEWED WITH A CLICK THAT MAY BE REPEATED
I spent a considerable number of frustrating hours attempting to secure internet access today. I will not bore anyone with the details. Looking on the bright side, I decided to tackle the paperwork for my annual tax return. This went quite well until I tackled my bank statements, which I receive on a quarterly basis. The most recent batch has not arrived. “No problem.” I thought. “Now I bank on line I can take the necessary details from there”. …………… “Ah……..”.
There was now nothing for it but to wander round the garden with my camera in hand and a mobile phone in my pocket. There are, of course, less pleasant ways of spending my time.
The clematis Montana now drapes the front wall upon which a trough of blue pansies smile; the potentilla now dances with the vinca.
The sweet scent of the wisteria pervades the area beneath its arbour.
Buds of blue irises and red poppies are simply biding their time.
While I wandered and emptied a trug or two into the compost, Jackie continued replenishing soil and planting in beds and containers.
These verbascum look down on similarly hued Erigeron,
just as the cow parsley soars above everything else in the Dragon Bed.
In the Kitchen Bed’s stone urn white pansies bridge the season of faded white daffodils and that of clematis Marie Boisselot, whose buds can be observed in the obelisk behind.
The first of the geranium Palmatums, which will soon arrive in abundance, has lined up along the Shady Path in line with heucheras,
on the leaves of which a hebe casts its shadow.
Erigeron, aquilegias, vinca, alliums, and silenes crowd each other in the Weeping Birch Bed,
as do aubretia and wild strawberries in the Oval Bed opposite.
Small White butterflies flitted about.
Rosariae de L’Hay enlivens its corner of the Rose Garden.
This afternoon, until I was back on line, I continued reading John Le Carré’s The Night Manager.
Dinner this evening consisted of Jackie’s excellent pasta arrabbiata with which she drank Hoegaarden and I consumed A Dark Apothic 2015 Californian red.
Like the flowers, so refreshing. Hope could find something like that here in the desert 🙂
Thanks very much, Age
Love the idea of the potentilla dancing with the vinca. The geranium and butterfly pictures have a wonderful mood.
Thanks very much, Susan. I’m pleased you liked those two pictures – I resisted cropping in both cases
At least you got the important stuff done.
🙂 Absolutely, Oglach. Thanks very much
I’m always very impressed with your ability to name the plants, Derrick! I must have read 10 or 12 new ones for me in your descriptions. I suppose names won’t have to matter for me as long as the flowers all stay as lovely as that!
Many thanks, John. When in doubt I have the Head Gardener to hand 🙂
Made it! 🙂 I’m always happy when you photograph the corners that are bustling with a variety of often self seeded plantings all cohabiting happily together. That’s a gardener working alongside nature in harmony! I’ve always wanted my kitchen door to be a stable door. We don’t have them here. Every time you mention yours I wonder if I could just saw mine in half …… 🙂
Thanks very much, Pauline. Having a stable door is fun. Maybe there were horses here once
Oh, you could get Jackie a wee pony – just tall enough to pop it’s head over the half door…. Which train of thought leads to the following story. My eldest at age 7 very much wanted a pet elephant and saw no issues with the idea. It would, she told me earnestly, eat the plums from the plum tree and live in her play house beside said tree. At least she didn’t want it to live inside and sleep in her bed…….
I’m chuckling away at the elephant wish. 🙂
Aren’t you glad you lost the internet for an afternoon. I know I am. Great tour.
🙂 Thanks very much, Flower
As ever there is just too much beautiful to single a single plant or bloom from your stunning garden … it is utterly delicious as sounds Jackie’s Arrabbiata!
Thanks very much indeed, Osyth
Je vous en prie!
Those are some really beautiful flowers
Thanks very much, Dave
Lovely captures. I hope the internet sorts itself out soon!
Thanks very much, Val. I couldn’t have posted if it hadn’t 🙂
Your first sentence sounds like our world, Derrick. Since we were forced to change our cable equipment, each day is a battle to get an internet connection. It’s so frustrating. I’m glad you stepped outside to de-stress. Beautiful photos!
Thanks very much, Jill. Our problem is where we live – but, as you know, I wouldn’t change that 🙂
You do seem to have an example of every flower I’ve ever come across in your garden, Derrick. Delightfully photographed too.
Very many thanks, Roland. I have to check the names with the Head Gardener 🙂
I wish I could grow flowers, but my black thumb, well…
Thanks very much, Bob. You do well enough with black ink 🙂
Ha!
I would not mind sitting on the white chair.
It’s a great spot, Sylvie. If you are ever over here…… Thanks very much
Internet problems are so frustrating. I’m glad you’re back online, Derrick.
I like when you take us through your beautiful garden: “the potentilla now dances with the vinca.” Al
I also like Le Carré.
My daughter and son-in-law LOVE Apothic Inferno. 🙂
I’ve not had Apothic before. I like it, too. Thanks very much, Merril
Lovely potentilla and pansies!
Thanks very much, Lynn
So pretty
Thanks very much, Lynn
Sorry about the Internet, but how lovely the gardens are.
Thanks a lot, Laurie. Internet sorted
Yay!
Beautiful as always!
Thanks very much, Arlene
Seems like your gardens contnue to florish even witb so much terrible weather you’ve had this spring.
Thanks very much, Gary. We have lost a few plants but most have survived
What a wonderful way to release your stress! Beautiful flowers as ever. The purple wisterias are
especially beautiful.
Thanks very much, Byung. I’ve just amended the text to include the strong scent of the wisteria
Thank you so much for the scent. I can smell it. ?
🙂
For some reason, today’s photos popped out of my iPad! I checked the brightness setting and it is the same. Perhaps the flowers and plants have made themselves more beautiful in an attempt to sooth your nerves. I could also feel Jackie’s presence in the background, tending to the garden like an ant.
Very many thanks, Uma. The sun helped 🙂
Hi Derrick, I like The Wisteria’s, are they are to grow in very shady areas
Thanks very much, Ivor. Jackie says it needs full sun, but if it is in a shady area it will reach for the light. Ours is on a south facing wall which helps
Thanks for the tips Derrick.
It’s always a delight to see colours from your garden. I love wisteria vines.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Better than an episode of ‘Gardeners’ World’
🙂 Wow. Monty Don, eat your heart out
I really want to like you, but I find myself heavily burdened with a case a serious garden envy. ? What a gorgeous way to wait out the internet drama! I’m sorry that you had to deal with that irritation, but I’m thankful for the side track you took in the meantime. Beautiful post Derrick. ❤️
Thanks very much, Jo
Besides simply enjoying your garden, you have finally infected me with the wish to work on what little area I have for plants. [we have a lot of common ground here, but just so much area for personal stuff], annuals and perennials – seeds and bulbs. I think I’d better get more pots!!!!
🙂 Good to read, GP. Many thanks
Do you keep a list of all the flowers in the garden and count them.
When I had a wife and she had a garden she once drew a map that showed the location of every rose. When the count got to 236 she stopped and never did it again.because nobody believed her.
Jackie has done a map of the garden. She does know every plant, although they don’t all appear on the map. Many thanks, Paol
Am loving the flowers! I used to have wisteria hanging above my doorstep in France. A particularly beautiful flower I feel that hangs like grapes.
Just so, Geetha. Thanks very much
Most welcome Derrick
Oh yes, much worse ways to spend one’s time. Thanks for the stroll through your gorgeous garden. Glad you’re back online. Technology can be very taxing.
Many thanks, Peter
Thank goodness for the garden! And that Dark Apothic Red is a favorite of mine.
Thanks, Leslie. I thought It surprisingly good
I don’t know what you paid for it there, but it’s a good inexpensive wine here.
It would have been about £6 – in Lidl, which is very low cost
My clumps of blue iris are just budding now, and the geraniums have been flowering for a few days—spring is the most satisfying time of year for a gardener! Lovely tour, Derrick! Thanks.
Thanks very much, Diane
So lovely
Thanks very much, Tosha
You’re welcome
The gardens look lovely, Jackie and Derrick!
Rick and I have seen the movie, The Night Manager, starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. I have not read the book, but I can say the movie was riveting.
The movie was, indeed. I already had the book when it came out on TV a year or two ago, but had not read it. It, too, is excellent. Thanks very much, Lavinia
Your garden is so full and voluptuous. It seems something is happily blooming with every step. The soil looks dark and rich ! (That’s how I like my coffee too!) What’s your favourite month in your garden? I enjoy early July the most here in Northern Alberta. Cheers Boomdee x
May probably is my favourite, but all have something to offer because we have all year colour – sometimes to a much lesser degree than others. Many thanks, Boomdee
Is cow parsley fair dinkum parsley? In other words can you eat it?
We wouldn’t risk it – it looks so like hemlock. Thanks a lot Brian
Flowers? Tax? Tough choice!
🙂 Nice one, Quercus. Tanks a lot
🙂
We would choose the flowers any day over taxes. The wisteria is looking gorgeous. Wish we could get them over here.
You’re very welcome to do my tax return! ?
🙂 Why do you think I don’t do mine? Thanks a lot, Persia
Heh heh …