The Stumpery

Jill Weatherholt, in her comment on “The Path To Deadman Hill”, described Jackie’s young robin as a little nugget. His name is now Nugget.

She spent the morning conversing with him whilst tidying the Oval Bed.

After taking the above photographs I wandered round the garden.

Hydrangeas need a lot of water, but the Head Gardener is keeping them going.

Day lilies continue to thrive,

as do many lilies proper,

and, of course, roses like Gertrude Jekyll and Special Anniversary.

This sidalcea leads nicely to the red hydrangea beyond.

Now that the Wedding Day is over, gladiolus and clematis veil its arch.

Dahlia’s time is now.

This everlasting sweet pea has a scent which justifies its name.

Plants accommodated in containers during the last few weeks have proliferated. The iron urn’s examples happily spill and spread, while

the wicker chair by the Westbrook Arbour is occupied to overflowing.

A clematis shawl has been cast over the arch spanning the Phantom Path between the Cryptomeria and Margery’s Beds.

In the latter, yellow Lisymachia Alexander stretches across the gravel;

and at its western end clematis and day lilies cavort with the red bottle brush plant.

Phlox blend nicely with other plants in the Palm Bed,

alongside the Gazebo Path leading to the stable door.

From Charlie Dimmock, Jackie has been inspired to create a “stumpery”. She will clean up the face of this heap of griselinia stumps and give it a fern makeover.

Just as the one o’clock news was about to expand upon Mr Trump’s latest exploits, Malachi phoned me from Fremantle seeking my help with a word search. We were unable to obtain full reciprocal vision on FaceTime, so we began a game of Lexulous instead. Because they are seven hours ahead of us, my grandson had to go to bed before we finished.

Later this afternoon we drove to New Milton to buy some shoes for Jackie, then back to Milford on Sea for a repeat prescription.

This evening we dined at Totton’s excellent The Family House Chinese restaurant, where we enjoyed our favourite set meal and Tsing Tao beer.

70 comments

  1. Well done on catching those shots of Jackie and her little friend Nugget they are delightful! When I see your dahlias are in bloom I always feel happy because it means the light and warmth is slowly heading back this way….. And finally, I have to say that shot of the overflowing urn is another delight! Now I really must do as the dog wishes and set off on our morning walk …… Brrr, it’s a tad frosty today.

    1. Nnnoooooo! It’s our warmth and light!! you can’t have it yet, we are only just getting used to it! Now I feel guilty because you have to go out into a cold morning that is a ‘tad frosty’

      1. 😀 I know, it’s so unfair isn’t it. The upside of the frost of course is we got a lovely warm sunny afternoon. Don’t worry, we won’t take your summer too soon…..

  2. Hello to little Nugget! He seems to enjoy your garden as much as all of us do.
    This made me chuckle: “Now that the Wedding Day is over, gladiolus and clematis veil its arch.”
    Rest assured that you have not missed anything about dt–he’ll have more tweets tomorrow. Unfortunately.

    1. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. The original layout was there when we bought the house – we have adapted it a bit, cleared rampant plants and brambles, and added many flowers.

  3. Aw…I’m thrilled you named the adorable little nugget, Nugget! Reading this made my day, Derrick. If I were the Nugget, I’d never leave your garden. Everything looks stunning!

    1. Thanks very much, Jill. We have been amazed at the speed with which Nugget darts and plucks insects from plants or even in the air. One evening when he joins us I will try to photograph it.

  4. Nugget is precious! Maybe Jackie is the robin whisperer….Your flower photos are even more gorgeous than ever. Thanks for putting a smile on my face.

  5. You were best off having a game with Malachi. That garden is just lovely and the picture of Jackie talking with Nugget is marvelous. I’m excited about the stump and its prospects!

  6. Love your “little nugget.” My nugget is a hummingbird that loves to zoom around my head when I’m out in the garden.

    You have an amazing variety of flowers in your garden. How does Jackie keep up with their differing, individual needs?

  7. Nugget is none other than Garden Fairy disguised as Robin come to meet the Empress of Gardens. Meanwhile, the cavalier poet of the kingdom goes on immortalising the beauty of the flowers in full bloom.

  8. Oh Dalhias, how beautiful it is.
    The last year I had a garden I wanted to plant and it was a delight (not easy growing this flower)
    The month of July is the most beautiful in the garden, it is at this moment that it is the most flowery, the most colorful and I like to see your photos.

  9. Jackie was hard at work and the fruits of her labor show clearly by your wonderful photos!

  10. I didn’t realise that hydrangeas needed a lot of water but I suppose it’s in the name with “hydrofoil” and “hydro-electric”.

  11. It must be hard at times knowing which way to look while in your garden…. a delight at every turn, a beautiful vista in all directions!

    Stunning images again to day, they look better every time. The Puerto Rica dahlia and it’s lone water drop is especially admirable.

    Of Course, little Nugget steals the show.

    Glad you spent some time with malachi and not the Trump. It can be hard for us here in ‘the future’ to know just when to time our connections to those of you in the distant past! 😉

  12. What a perfect name! It is fun to talk to birds, and sometimes they say a few words in return. 🙂 Tell Jackie to tell Little Nugget that I said, “Hey!” 😀

    Your flower photos are always stunning AND your words about them always poetic…and sometimes humorous! Thank you for the smiles you bring! 🙂

    OH! I love hearing about Jackie’s stumpery work! Keep us updated! 🙂 I’ve heard that some toads, small mammals, etc., like to make their homes in stumperies. Also, read that Prince Philip didn’t understand the value of Prince Charles stumpery.

    Better to spend time with a grandchild than to hear anything about, or from, Trump. You chose wisely and well. But not surprised about that. 🙂
    HUGS!!! 🙂

  13. Derrick, your garden is an idyllic retreat … so full of flowers and colour! A joy of a post and little Nugget is so friendly and inquisitive! 😀

  14. A wonderful walk around the garden, Derrick. It should come as no surprise that Nugget finds it a very homey place as well !!

  15. Such vibrant blooms and a very intresting looking stump. Yesterday you got the time change mixed up. My best friend went to England for a year. Around early afternoon here is when we talked when she was almost done for the day. Email and messenger made it easy to keep in touch.

  16. The photos of Jackie and Nugget are so charming! I love the colours and texture of the bottle-brush, clematis and daylilies at the end of the Phantom Path.

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