Sweeping Up

Today Jackie was mostly refurbishing and tidying pots and hanging basket plantings.

She has completed the Shady Path where all is now well, except for

windburn on this white lobelia;

and on this yellow tree peony whose healthy seed pods offer optimism for next year.

Beyond this small triangular bed before the wisteria arbour

Mrs Knight continued her work on the greenhouse area.

The life of the sweet peas on the kitchen corner could not be extended, but the tomato plant over which the force of the winds had flung them, has survived.

It remains be seen whether this hydrangea in the patio will recover from its blisters.

After lunch the Head Gardener applied herself to stripping out dead parts of the patio’s potted plants and tidying the rest.

Nugget assisted her in sweeping up – the disturbed insects, that is. For those readers new to the “Where’s Nugget?” feature or whose robins are different from ours, notably lacking the distinguishing red breast, there follows

a selection of portraits of our little gardener’s friend.

Now, can you see “Where’s Nugget?” (5), from when he joined us later on the patio for drinks.

Soon after I had begun to draft this post, Jackie came inside complaining that her little companion was not letting her get anything done.

This evening we dined on coriander and garlic coated chicken kebabs; Jackie’s spicy omelette-topped savoury rice; and moist ratatouille with our own runner beans. The Culinary Queen drank Blue Moon and I drank more of the Garnacha Syrah.

I will now wait half an hour for the TV Channel 5 broadcast of the cricket highlights to finish so that I can watch my own recording advertisement-free.

73 comments

  1. Little Nugget may need his own site soon, or a guest column “Nugget’s News”. 🙂 He is a dear little bird. He does seem very tame.

    I am sorry that storm made so much cleanup work for you and Jackie. Your gardens still look so lovely, though!

  2. It looks as thought there’s a bit of a chill in the air? I note Jackie’s vest. Goodness that bird is indeed cute. I think he has realized that things get stirred up when Jackie is out there and that mean s food for him!

    1. You are so right! Apparently robins traditionally followed pigs that churn up the soil to get the disturbed insects, so sweet as he is, I am aware that he thinks I am a pig!.

      1. Oh Jackie, my first good laugh of the day. You’re just an instrument of his feeding. I did not know that about robins and pigs, but his instincts are obviously quite good.

    1. Thanks very much, Gwen. We were only talking this morning about which robins didn’t have red breasts. You seem to have confirmed my contention that it was yours.

  3. Jackie is certainly working very hard indeed and the garden looks wonderful. She also seems to attract avian followers. Was it a jackdaw before? Beautiful photos, Derrick!

  4. Keep smiling, Jackie! Your beautiful smile, and your garden magic, makes us smile! 🙂
    Little Nugget sure wants to help you. I think with your bright red vest he thinks you are his mama! 😮 😀
    HUGS for you and HUGS for Derrick! 🙂
    “Tweet-Tweets” for LN!!! 🙂

  5. “A Gardener’s work is never done…” 😉

    But glad to hear Jackie can relax and admire her handiwork with a wine or two afterwards.

    Those photo’s of your avian companion are thoroughly delightful, he certainly looks pleased to be hanging with his ‘Homie’ in the bright red jacket! Has he taken to any teapots yet i wonder?

    It was ‘Interesting’ following the cricket yesterday – the outcome is anything but certain but i’m leaning to a draw as the result, possibly as a result of bad light.

  6. With her dedication, and due help her from the lensed chronicler and the winged watcher, Jackie can terraform the harshest of planets. The garden looks prim and brimful with promise.

  7. Nugget has definitely adopted Jackie as his mother!! Has he been getting accustomed to the home you bought for him?
    With the Head Gardener’s touch, they’ll be nothing to be seen of that storm before you know it!!

  8. I can commiserate with Jackie, considering my trepidation at going out into the garden in case I scare off the pigeons. I don’t feel so bad about the magpie I scared earlier, though.

    It’s amazing how much wind burn a bluster can cause, isn’t it!

  9. I love Nugget. If you want to try taming your robin try feeding it mealworms. Robins are insect eaters but will take seeds and suet during hard times in winter or fruit in the summer if they feel like it.

  10. I loved your photos of Nugget and Jackie’s description of herself as the pig that Nugget follows really made me Laugh!

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