Having been picked up by Shelly, Jackie left today just after noon for three days away with her sisters.
In her efforts to ensure I would be well catered for, the Culinary Queen packed the fridge with cooked meals and salad lunch materials. The plate on the fourth shelf down contains the lunch I enjoyed after the ladies had left.
A Post It note was stuck on my computer screen in case I needed help in informing the world what I had eaten for my dinner.
Concentrating on containers and the patio area, we were both on watering duties this morning. I irrigated the front garden this afternoon.
Later on I repaired to the Rose Garden with a book.
The rich peachy pink of Mama Mia
towers above a sweep of lavender,
among which I watched flit a butterfly I cannot identify. (In his comment below, TanGental has confirmed that it is a Hedge Brown)
Creme de la Creme
and Special Anniversary are comparatively new blooms;
Hawkshead fuchsia swings towards a spent Winchester Cathedral.
Crisp peach coloured Just Joey has put in an appearance.
Petunias and cosmos are planted in the urn behind
Love Knot, which remains prolific.
Elsewhere, day lilies proliferate.
Petunias and geraniums thrive on the earlier watering, from which Erigeron and lobelias collect the drips.
As the yellow bottle brush plants fade, the red ones are beginning to bloom.
Petunias, geraniums, and others along the Kitchen Path to the greenhouse are looking refreshed enough.
Here we have views from the Gazebo in each direction along its eponymous path.
This evening I dined on Jackie’s succulent beef braised in red wine with mushrooms and peppers; creamy mashed potatoes and tender spring greens.
I reckon you’ve earned that delicious dinner.
Thanks very much, Sheree 🙂
I love that you can ‘repair to the rose garden with a book’ – though I doubt with so much to admire and observe you would get much reading done! I generally just retire to bed with a book – it’s not got the same ring has it.
Sussed, Pauline. Many thanks
Love the ‘Post It’ note 😊💞😊
Thank you very much, Melanie
Isn’t that the best? What a supportive wife.
🙂
A perfect relationship 💓💗💓
🙂
Delicious dinner , lovely garden
Thanks very much, Cinnamon
You’re welcome
I’m smiling at Jackie leaving you a reminder to tell us what you had for dinner. 😁 I’m taking a break from reading (The Brontes by Juliet Barker) at the moment. I’m sitting outside too … it’s a lovely warm night.
The photos are glorious, especially the ones of Love Knot and Creme De la Crème.
Have a lovely few days. 🌹
Thanks very much, Lesley
What a lovely place to read today, Derrick.
I’ve been watching the Yankee/Red Sox game on right now at London Stadium – my Red Sox better get on the ball!! (literally!!) 🙂
🙂 Good luck GP. Thanks a lot
That Creme de la Creme rose is gorgeous. I swear I caught a whiff of fragrance while looking at your garden photos. You haven’t invented post-n-sniff while our backs were turned, have you?
I wish I could send the scents over, Linda. Many thanks
Incredibly beautiful garden.
And the menu was great.
Thank you very much, Rupali
Careful with the salad! I don’t know for sure, but there must be a point where too much salad becomes an overdose.
Julia just made a salad with grilled tuna. It was very healthy but I’m worried I may have ingested a fatal level of virtue.
🙂 Thanks very much, Quercus
Salad is tricky stuff and should be treated with care.
Looks like you are being very well catered for Derrick,Maybe Jackie’s staying away for a month…!!..
I’ll never eat it all in 3 days. Thanks very much, Ivor
I can’t survive without my Post-it Notes! For some reason, I’m not seeing any photographs. I’ll have to check back later.
That’s a real nuisance. I hope you sort it, Jill
You won’t starve while she’s gone and the garden looks lovely!
Thanks very much, Jean
For all the loveliness of your garden, I think I am admiring the neatness of your refrigerator even more.
🙂 Thanks very much, Libre. It is not always quite like that
I noticed that neat refrigerator, as well. I’m glad to know that’s not the norm or I would be filled with self-loathing.
🙂
Beautiful portraits of the roses. I wouldn’t mind retiring among flowers like that. Was the butterfly perhaps a peacock?
TanGental has correctly identified the butterfly as a Hedge Brown. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal.
What a fun post
Thanks a lot, Gary
You didn’t tell us what you drank with dinner Derrick … perhaps a secret when Jackie is away?
Sorry for this late reply, Albert. I did actually respond, but it seems to have got lost. I explained that drinking with a meal is a social event for me and I rarely open a bottle alone
No problem Derrick. Like yourself I too would very rarely drink alone and see it as a social event.
Jackie is so thoughtful. She made sure you won’t go hungry Derrick!
Thanks very much, Arlene
It’s a gatekeeper or hedge brown https://www.google.com/search?q=hedge+brown+butterfly&oq=hedge+brown+butt&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0.17569j0j7&client=ms-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=xwiGqVNXtDCnxM:
Thanks a lot, Geoff. I almost settled on Hedge Brown, but the illustration in my book had only one white dot in the black ring on the wing. Your link confirms it.
Now amended with acknowledgement
The roses are stunning, but I love your kitchen path/garden. It looks like you will dine well while Jackie is away. I hope she has a wonderful time with her sisters.
Very many thanks, Merril
That is a gorgeous supply of food and flowers. Jackie is kind, and so are you!
Many thanks, Uma
I love those peach roses! Your garden is splendid.
thank you very much, Cindy
Your wife takes care of you well even when she is gone.
🙂 Thanks very much, Mrs W
Your welcome
Wishing Jackie a fun fun FUN time! 🙂
She left you well-stocked so you to be well-fed…and I know you’ll be a good well-behaved bachelor while she is away! 😉 😀
The butterfly among the lavender photo made me smile and sigh! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Since I can’t go anywhere without her I have no choice but to behave myself 🙂 X
OH! And I meant to thank you so much for sharing the red bottle brush! I’ve been waiting to see it! Those are the color my dad grew. 🙂
I was pleased to do it. Thanks again X
So many wonderful photographs and such an admirable display in your garden (and fridge!) 😉
Your Lavender is out in your Summer and mine is just coming out in our Winter – I wonder if that tells us anything??
Hope Jackie has a wonderful time!
Is the pub in walking distance?? 😉 🙂
The pub is 3 doors away 🙂 Thanks very much, Bob https://youtu.be/Ow25lvYoKXo
Thank you for another tour of your lovely garden. The fridge might be well stocked but I’m guessing you’re counting down the days until Jackie returns.
Yep. Thanks a lot, Sue
You are well catered for in all aspects of life mate, a caring contented belly, and the visual enjoyment of the colourful display of natures works of art.
Many thanks, Ian
What beauty! And the Post It note made me giggle.
Many thanks, Leslie
I would never dare to post a photo of the inside of my refrigerator!
🙂 Thanks very much, Brenda
Right?
Food is love. Clearly you are a well-loved man.
Thanks very much, Sue
How nice to have prepared meals left for you in the fridge. That’s such a loving gesture. Your garden is gorgeous. How are you holding up with the excessive heat?
Thanks very much, Alys. Fortunately much cooler today
That’s a relief.
Creme de la creme – that is a beautiful photo of a beautiful rose.
I hope Jackie has a wonderful visit with her sisters. I love that she left that note with the dinner names for your blog. It’s certainly a family effort.
It is, indeed, Jodie. Thanks very much
<3
Your gardens continue to flourish.
Thanks very much, Gary
Lucky man! She loves you… 😃💕
Thanks very much, Wendy
What a well organised fridge. The culinary queen certainly takes good care of you. Including post its to remind you of what you have eaten! Nothing of course can rival your garden in the summer.
What a place to read! Wowsah!
Thanks very much, Laurie
I hope Jackie has a good time with her sisters. Looks like you’ve been enjoying her hard work both indoors and out!
Yep. Many thanks, Helen
😊
Wishing Jackie an enjoyable visit with her sisters. Helen is right, she has done much hard work for you to enjoy, indoors and out. 🙂
Thank you very much, Lavinia
Sure you didn’t starve, Derrick 🙂
Many thanks, Inese
Jackie is thoughtful in so many ways. That post it note says a lot about her and you, I think.
🙂 Thank you very much, Crystal
Undoubtedly you are well taken care of in the nutrition department by the Culinary Queen, Derrick; very impressive. In keep enjoying the photos of your splendid roses!
Thanks very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick
You’ve certainly got Jackie well trained, was it hard?
You wouldn’t believe it, Brian. 🙂 Many thanks
Yes I would