In yesterday’s fading evening light Jackie photographed
her helianthuses Lemon Queen, complete with bee, against the phormium and mahonia reaching for the gentle sky.
Today’s skies resembled damp fleece and the air was fairly breezy. She spent the morning attempting to get on with her planting. She managed two in as many hours, including a
delicate blue and white petrovskia and an ailing
similarly hued campanula.
You might have a couple of questions about this. Why still planting new additions? And why ailing specimens? That is because this is the season that the garden centres are virtually giving away stocks and Jackie operates an excellent floral hospital service. Not only that, but the need for soil replenishment in preparation for the winter means that multiple trips to buy compost are required and it is not possible to pass up special offers whilst she is at it.
A further question might be why at the rate of just one per hour? This is where her little friend comes in.
He has various hampering techniques.
Whenever she digs a hole he plants himself on it;
whenever she tackles a root he offers assistance;
he dives between her legs;
and is continually under her feet.
Now, “Where’s Nugget?” (20).
Apart from a short break for her own lunch, Jackie spent the entire day in the company of her little robin.
This evening, while Nugget tucked into mashed peanuts outside the back door, the real humans dined on Jackie’s flavoursome liver and bacon casserole with champ and cabbage, with which she drank Blue Moon and I drank more of the Shiraz.
Nugget is precious. My little kitten Elsa is like that.
🙂 Thanks very much, Kavitha
This dear tiny robin has developed so much trust in Jackie – it is delight to witness it through your photos and prose. I see he is also now learning how to pose effectively using the greenery as fetching drapery 🙂
He knows people will be looking for him, Pauline. Thanks very much.
Well said! I was thinking the same thing about how trusting he is.
Thank you both
🙂
Nugget is quite the distractor… a character, indeed. I’d pass in the liver, but a little Shiraz sounds good. ??
Thanks very much, Jan
The petrovskia is really beautiful. I may pass by to help myself to a petal or two 🙂
Thanks very much, Zambian Lady. We are quite a long way from Vienna 🙂
Nugget is a star. Brightens the day.
Thanks very much, Gary
Nugget must think Jackie is his mother! I love how he clings around her…that’s so sweet.
I’m sure he does, Jill. Thanks very much.
‘Hospital floral service’…I love that! Nugget is a treasure and has provided your readers with a great deal of enjoyment.
Thank you very much, Jane. That has been so good to see.
I found him tonight! Yesterday I watched a robin under one of the bird feeders, he looked positively scrawny compared to Nugget.
Ha! All those peanuts are putting the pounds on.
I wonder what the correct measure for a robin is
LOL – I always count on them to know when to stop eating.
Thanks very much, Sue. A nice comparative result of nurturing
Jackie seems to be a wise gardener. I like her approach to bargain hunting in the garden centre.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. The other source is supermarkets who don’t water their plants, then sell them off cheaply
I love this episode of “Where’s Nugget?” He looks like he is hiding on purpose! He is such a character. And poor Jackie must be watching her every move for fear that he will literally get under foot. Nugget makes me smile every day.
Jackie did just avoid treading on him yesterday, Jodie. Many thanks
Sheesh
Nugget considers himself part of the team now. I’ll also pass on the liver, but a Blue Moon would go down nicely. ?
🙂 Thanks very much, Sylvia
I presume you’re making plans for Nugget to move in over the winter. Some snug, interior quarters would suit him just fine, I think. Next you’ll be serving him his peanuts from fine china in the dining room — and I wouldn’t quibble with that one bit.
That would certainly be fun, Linda. Thanks very much
Your Nugget is quite brazen!
He is. Jackie almost trod on him yesterday. Thanks very much, Rosaliene
Another beautiful series. This made my day 🙂
All best wishes to you, Jackie and the always charming Nugget,
Takami
Thank you very much, Takami
Apparently, Nugget wishes to stop Jackie from Binge planting. In the quiz, he is in the top right cube.
Well spotted, Uma. Thanks very much.
Like any child, Nugget probably thinks he is being helpful. “Floral hospital” is wonderful! The little rascal is hiding among greenery on the right side of the photo.
Well spotted, Dolly. Thanks very much
My pleasure, Derrick
I love Nugget!! OK, the notion of a hospital for plants is very appealing because Jackie has a similar nature to my gardener’s. He wouldn’t think of throwing away a plant when he try to transform it.
I suppose that is real gardening, Luanne. If Jackie finds a broken stem, she gets a root on it. Thanks very much.
Did you raise nugget? Is this what makes him so tame? He is so unlike American robins, that are much larger and brown, not blue. He is adorable.
Thanks very much, Judy. He adopted Jackie when still a fledgling
If you’ve told that story before, I’ve somehow missed it but would like to hear it. How is one adopted by a fledgling?
https://derrickjknight.com/2019/07/15/the-path-to-deadman-hill/ I believe this is Nugget’s first appearance. Especially when enlarged the last picture shows his juvenile feathers.
I’ve been wondering about this!
🙂
Nugget seems like the ideal gardening companion. 🙂 He is a dear little one!
He is, Lavinia. Jackie and he talk to each other all the time. Thanks very much
Haha, that “little friend” was surely enjoying itself in your garden.
Thanks very much, Arlene. He certainly was
The helianthuses are a really subtle and beautiful shade of yellow.
Thanks very much, John
I love that little Robin! A wonderful addition to your blog and, I’m sure, your lives.
Thanks very much, Marina. So pleased
Jackie will continue to work her magic on all of the plants! Her tender loving care is healing and helps them to not only survive, but thrive!
I really think Nugget is TRYING to be a helper! He just loves Jackie so much he wants to be as close as he can! 😀 Come cold weather you might find him perched in the house on YOUR chair, saying, “Sorry, sir, but you’re gonna’ have to find yourself somewhere else to perch yourself!” 😉 😀 HA! 😛
YUM, I love liver! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn. Winter will certainly be interesting on the avian front. I’m relieved someone likes liver. X
Good post Derrick, and Jackie is a great gardener
Thank you overmuch, More
You’re very welcome
I meant very much, of course
I figured that, haha
Loved the helianthuses (and the petrovska) – did you also spot the flying bee in the 2nd pic?
Nugget certainly enters the spirit of the Where’s Nugget competition now! He also seems to ‘hinder’ his Mum by taking up her time capturing him for posterity, and the adoration and appreciation of his many blog followers! 😉 (For which i am deeply grateful!) I wonder if he would like some macadamia??
Bigification was not required to find him today, but as always, i chose to. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Bob. The flying bee was also well seen. I think Nugget may enjoy macadamia
I might have to send some for Christmas. 🙂
🙂
I enjoyed seeing how Nugget “helped.” My cats sometimes help me, too. 😉
He is adorable though, and I’m sure Jackie enjoys the company while she is doing her plant magic.
She does, indeed, Merril. Thanks very much
I’m enchanted by Nugget. Great post, Derrick. A lot of heart in this post with Jackie’s little friend.
Thank you very much, Cindy
I had a feeling Nugget was the reason for the slow gardening. Little buddy!
Thanks very much, Laurie
I enjoyed Jackie’s ‘Lemon Queen’ pictures and am willing to believe Nugget is holding her back as much as the pictures suggest, but I can’t believe she was drinking Blue Moon. I tried one in the US and couldn’t finish it.
It is the American version of her favourite Hoegaarden – somewhat stronger. Thanks very much, Susan
The one I tried tasted of orange. I exchanged it for a glass of Viognier. It wouldn’t do for us all to like the same things.
🙂 I don’t like Blue Moon
The retail store I worked for would sell ‘late season’ shrubs and trees at super low prices. We did have a clearence rack for plants that came in to us damaged. I think Nugget knows that where Jackie is working, he will find food.
Exactly, Jerry
Nugget is so nosey. ?
🙂 Thanks very much, Sherry
I worry about Nugget even though he seems to stick close to his humans.
I suppose the winter will be the test, Leslie. Thanks very much
He certainly is a persistent wee blighter. 😀
He is indeed. Thanks a lot, Widders
Such a sweet little bird, and seemingly quite fearless within the confines of your garden.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
Liver and bacon casserole sounds good. Still, I’m sure Nugget enjoyed his feast of peanuts. How tame he is!
He even communicates with me – who doesn’t dig up his dinner. Thanks very much, Helen.
Very civilised!
Nugget is no ordinary bird. His desire to help reminds me of our dear departed Australian Shepherd Mix, Beep. Whenever David would dig up anything, she would help him vigorously and hunt for worms. She must have believed worm hunting was the main point of any digging.
🙂 Thanks very much, JoAnna