For much of the day, apart from when Margery and Paul visited this afternoon, I listened to the men’s Cricket World Cup semi-final between England and Australia.
We enjoyed our usual stimulating conversation with this mother and son. Margery’s Bed is named after our friend who, a year or two ago, gave us some red hollyhock seeds which Jackie planted there. We were happy to tell her that they were blooming again at this time.
After the cricket finished I performed a dead heading session before our drinks in the Rose Garden where
Lanarth White lace cap hydrangea contrasts with Mrs Popple fuchsia;
and various lilies are keeping company with the roses,
one of which, Twice in a Blue Moon was a present from Becky and Ian for our second wedding.
We really don’t know how many wood pigeons inhabit our garden, but we can be sure that, because of their constant amorous activity, there will be an increase in numbers next year as usual. They resemble lumbering barrage balloons in the air, whoosh past my head as I sit in their flight path, thump on the fence or arbour supports on landing, and clatter among the branches overhead to announce their return home.
This evening we dined on succulent chicken Kiev; creamy mashed potato; savoury rice; crisp cauliflower; and tender green beans and sweetcorn, with which Jackie drank Blue Moon and I drank Oyster Bay Merlot 2016 given to me by Mat and Tess for my birthday.
Those are some very amorous pigeons but they are so beautiful?
I love birds and pigeons. Where I live there are some huge birds that fly around I try to capture them in photo but it never works out.
The geese are the only ones who sit still enough for me to take a picture of.
That is a great meal you had.
Thanks very much, Cinnamon. Birds have a habit of flying away from me, too 🙂
You’re welcome
The flowers pop off my screen, the pigeons are cute, and I love chicken Kiev!
A good one, then. Many thanks, Luanne
We also have numerous, amorous wood pigeons in our garden; such clumsy, messy and noisy birds. However, I do love their soporific cooing ‘song’ on hot summer afternoons! Your beautiful garden goes from strength to strength – Jackie’s skill and artistry in making the garden and your wonderful photographs fill me with awe!
Very many thanks, Clare
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Thank you Clare!
My very great pleasure, Jackie.
I am very fond of watching wood pigeons – they have so much personality and are so very ungainly and yet utterly confident …… There’s not too many where I live now and I enjoy any mention you make of them. That second blue moon rose is beautiful!
Thanks very much, Pauline. Roll on the final 🙂
I was surprised about that outcome….. now we all live in hope again 🙂
🙂
Delicately avoided speculating on the cricket I see…
Never count your wood pigeons ……
🙂
🙂
NZ is all excited about the cricket team being in the finale of a game I was never able to understand.
They have done well, Sylvie. 🙂 Thanks very much
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The flowers are beautiful! And I enjoyed your description of the amorous pigeons. I somehow misread “Lanarth White lace cap hydrangea contrasts with Mrs Popple fuchsia,” and I thought they were conversing. I’m going to picture that anyway. I imagine them as gossiping women wearing 18th century mob caps. It’s been a long day. 🙂
🙂 Many thanks, Merril. I’m pleased to inspire your imagination
🙂
I’ve never seen roses like your Twice in a Blue Moon, Derrick; such gorgeous color!
Thanks very much, Dolly. I hadn’t either. Becky searched it out
My pleasure, Derrick. The splendor of your garden always takes my breath away. Again, my compliments to Jackie!
She is pleased to receive them
We have a lot of mourning dove that hang out around our house. I always enjoy watching them. The flowers are amazing, Derrick! You and Jackie certainly have the magic touch.
Thank you very much, Jill. That’s a good name for the birds.
Did you have a little dance at the result. Good its on C4 on Sunday. Will you be glued?
I will, indeed. Jackie says “I’ve lost you then, haven’t I? We’ll have to get you out for your walk first, otherwise you won’t move all day”
Tis true
I do like pigeons
Thanks very much, Gary
I truly enjoyed your piece of writing here Derrick……
“We really don’t know how many wood pigeons inhabit our garden, but we can be sure that, because of their constant amorous activity, there will be an increase in numbers next year as usual. They resemble lumbering barrage balloons in the air, whoosh past my head as I sit in their flight path, thump on the fence or arbour supports on landing, and clatter among the branches overhead to announce their return home.”
Very much appreciated, Ivor. Thank you
I liked the pictures and writing about the pigeons as well. I like the fact they are so fat. They do seem to have their own distinct personalities, as well. And that rose! What a nice gift from thoughtful (and witty) children.
Thank you very much, Lisa
And after the England/Australia match finished there was a bit of “Dead Heading” planned for the Australian Cricket squad.
Thanks very much, Paol
All through the afternoon and the evening we rooted for the English team before the TV. I am sorry, but it’s hard to side with the Aussie cricket team. We fumed when Roy was dispatched unceremoniously by the umpire. Finch would have earned my trust had he called Roy back –they were out of the game and tournament anyway. But the kangaroos seemed to relish his pain.
Those exquisitely christened flower beds are a lovely way of immortalising memories and people.
Thanks very much, Uma. As the commentators were suggesting yesterday, Steve Waugh’s reign was quite damaging in terms of sportsmanship.
They seem to have got a point.
All that dead-heading pays dividends. We too have a surfeit of word pigeons, along with magpies and enormous black birds ripe for a starring role in Hitchcocks The Birds!
Another summer day beautifully described.
The wood pigeons appear indecisive as they strut up and down the garden wall, almost as though they cannot make up their minds which direction they should fly next!
Very perceptive, Sue. Thanks very much
Thanks very much, Sheree.
I listened to the cricket yesterday but I get so mad when the commentators keep calling the batsmen batters! If the women cricketers want to call themselves batters that’s fine by me but let’s not let it creep into men’s cricket.
There are a lot of those pesky pigeons in our garden, I don’t like them, they do a lot of damage.
Thanks a lot, Andrew. Batwomen? It’s the guano that is the biggest nuisance for us
I don’t like wood pigeons either, but as flyers they are phenomenal. Immediate vertical take-off, at least sixty miles per hour and they breed more or less all year round, changing all of their food into a kind of milky paste which the youngsters can digest. They will be with us for a long time yet.
Thanks for that additional information, John. Much appreciated.
Amorous pigeons! Woot-woo, Coo-coo! 😀 Love your description as you observed them…a good write, for sure, Derrick! Very vivid word-pics! 🙂
I did some research recently on carrier/homing pigeons. It was very interesting!
Those roses are so stunning! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…the roast chicken was good! We had a kale salad, and some corn with it. Little Cooper even got a few pieces of chicken with his dog food. 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. I’m pleased Cooper got some perks 🙂 X
Margery’s Hollyhocks are gorgeous, as is the photo, and the white lace hydrangeas are going to look spectacular in a few days time – i hope you revisit them in upcoming posts?
Over here we have a sub-species of the genus Columba, woodpigeons, (Laughing Doves, a sub-continent native) that take on a similar role. Mum used to feed them crumbs or seed and we acquired a flock of over 50 at one stage! After they got too crowded, and a few caught a disease that killed some, she stopped feeding them and a normal balance of a couple of breeding pairs have remained and are healthy.
Did you know the latin name for your birds? It is a wonderfully rhythmical name – Columba palumbus. You could maybe name one Chris, or Christina?
As for the debacle, i mean the cricket, i will say ‘Well played England.” and refrain from further commentary.Wimbledon and the Tour de France were far more enjoyable watching for me. 🙁
Thanks very much, Bob. Chris, I like. I’d like to say I’m sorry about the cricket, but you wouldn’t believe me
Probably not 😉 🙂
Chris Columba-Palumbus does sound sort of special. 🙂
Pigeons must be around the world, eh? I don’t see many here, but we do have our share of ‘morning doves’.
I can’t get over that magnificent lilac-colored rose!!
Thanks very much, GP. I think your mourning doves are our wood pigeons.
Ours ‘hoot’ in the morning, almost like owls.
Ours call “Un it ed” when seeking a mate; “take two cows, Taffy,” when they are paired up
hahaha, love it!
I am over the moon about Twice in a Blue Moon. What a beauty! By the way, I finished “A Month in the Country” and liked it very much. What a gem! It’s amazing how much Carr wove into such a short novel without every making it feel cramped or rushed. Religion, love, war, community, art, missed opportunity. All there.
Thanks for such perceptive observations, Laurie
Your dinner sounded wonderful. Will search for the recipe for chicken Kiev
Thanks very much, Drew
I am always fascinated with your beautiful garden. Your photos are wonderful. Thank you again for the stroll through the flowers.
Thanks very much, Jerry
Lovely flowers.
Your pictures are magical – as always! Love those hollyhocks! <3
Thanks very much, Jan
Barrage balloons! Heh, heh, heh 😀
🙂 Thanks very much, Widders
Twice in a Blue Moon looks to be a beauty. When you write of the pigeons lumbering about, you’ve reminded me of hearing squirrels running over my sweetheart’s tin roof. You’d expect them to move gracefully, but it always sounds like an ugly motion. Perhaps it is just their tail dragging after them.
🙂 A nice image, Susan. Thanks very much
You mention the cricket match. What’s your opinion on that matter?
It is my favourite sport and England v Australia is the longest established rivalry. It was a surprise that England’s win was so convincing. Thanks very much, Walter
The wood pigeons are lovely. I’m surprised that they are ungraceful in the air.
The hollyhocks from Margery’s seeds are beautiful. How nice that they were blooming right on time!
Thanks very much, Nicki. I don’t think the hollyhocks were blooming last year – we thought we’d lost them
Love the roses!
Thanks very much LL/PS