This morning, fearing for the garden during the very heavy storm we are due to experience tomorrow, Jackie wandered around our plot with her camera in order to record such an unusual array of blooms for this time of the year.
First, she had to pander to Nugget who was convinced that his fans would like to admire his back view.
Tete-a-tetes and irises were doing well,
as were snowdrops, primulas, and bergenias.
We hope a variety of camellias will survive.
The autumn sculpture has sprouted lichen curls to blend with his mottled skin.
Dragons and hellebores are hoping for the best.
Daphne odorata marginata,
wood anemones,
crocuses,
pulmonarias,
and euphorbias all add their splashes of colour which we hope will not be watered down.
For lunch we joined Mum and Elizabeth at Woodpeckers, Colton Care home.
It is my sister’s birthday.
She complimented our mother on
enjoying lasagna which is ‘foreign food’ to someone of her generation. The others also chose lasagna; my choice was cod in parsley sauce. We all enjoyed lemon tart with cream or ice cream.
After the meal Elizabeth drove Mum on a trip into the forest while we
left the birthday present on the Pilley doorstep.
A little later the two ladies arrived at our house to finish the afternoon with tea and Victoria sponge.
Jackie and I dined this evening from bowls of Hordle Chinese Take Away’s delicious fare on trays on our laps while watching recordings of the afternoon’s Six Nations rugby Internationals between Wales and Ireland and between England and Scotland. The second match took place in swirling gales and lashing rain such that neither side deserved to lose. It is a wonder that anyone could play at all. I drank Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018.
Beautiful flowers, hope they survive the oncoming battering.
Thanks very much, Gary. Yes, indeed.
It was a bit of a battle, I agree.
Back in the ’60s I remember an England/Wales 0-0 draw. You just had to feel sorry for the losers yesterday. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal.
It’s possible you have all four seasons represented in this vignette of your garden – but certainly three! We live in interesting times says she who is currently back in winter. Amazingly, I can actually recall when lasagna was thought exotic 🙂 Good luck with the coming weather event.
Thanks very much, Pauline. I can remember when I’d never heard of lasagne. 🙂 I do hope you warm up soon.
Your mother looks wonderful, and your gardens look so colorful no matter what the season, Derrick and Jackie! Good luck with the storm. Hope all comes through unscathed, including your robins. Nugget is stocking up on food. He does seem quite proud of his backside. 🙂
I took several pictures of Nugget and each time he presented his rump as I clicked! this is the only one that shows his beak, it is a lovely round backside.
Thank you very much, Lavinia 🙂
What a lovely start to Spring. Good luck with the storm!
Thank you very much, Val. I sympathised with the rugby players at Murrayfield.
Oh, that Nugget, such a saucy fellow!
Thanks very much, Liz
Everything beautiful. Where was Mrs. Nugget?
Lady N is still around but less forthcoming.
Your garden is looking lovely and I’m glad you had all a good day with your mum.
We moved our pot plants into a sheltered spot and hope for the best. I think the storm has begun, up here, as I sit in bed I’m listening to the howling wind and the rain beating down upon my bedroom window and I don’t doubt it will get worse as the night wears on.
Same here, Sue. We are due 80 m.p.h. later today.
My kitchen is leaking water again from the balcony above and the garden is beginning to flood. We’re up to 60 mph at the moment, and even though we are high up, you being on the coast are likely to have it far worse than us. All the best with it, hope you don’t have any damage.
🙂 Thanks again
The flowers look gorgeous, Derrick. Your mother is eating well…that’s good.
Thanks very much, Jill. Mum usually leaves some of her main course, but never any of her pudding. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your garden with us. I never tire of it.
Thank you very much, Leslie.
The garden looks amazing. Hope it, along with Nugget, weather the storm okay.
Thanks very much, Peggy.
Pink camellias look fresh and beautiful, and so does your mother, Derrick. It gladdens my heart that she is able to go on trips and visits.
Thank you very much, Dolly. She was on good form yesterday.
My pleasure, Derrick.
It’s heard to believe that your garden looks so spring-like in February. In New Jersey our gardens are still frost-bound and dead!
We have less and less frost each year, Ronnie. Thanks very much.
Your garden really is glorious. Well, at least during the photo-taking. I hope all is surviving well; it would be a shame to see real damage. Your Mum is looking quite well, too. It’s wonderful that she’s able to have occasional trips into the forest, and it was especially nice that your sister was able to be there on her birthday.
I remember when lasagne was ‘foreign food’ for my family, too: quite exotic. Once my mother learned to make it, we begged for it regularly.
Thanks very much, Linda. Mum was an excellent plain cook – but plain it was 🙂
Keeping my fingers crossed the storm doesn’t do too much damage to your wonderful garden.
Thank you very much, Sheree. Here’s hoping.
🤞
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!! 🙂
I bet she loved her live-flowering gift!
It sounds like a lovely day of drives, food, fun, gifts, tea, dessert, etc! 🙂
So good to see your precious Mum! She looks well! I’m so glad! 🙂
Hope all of you, Mr. and Mrs. Nugget, and all of the plants and flowers are safe in the coming storm.
We’re supposed to have rain and snow on Monday and Tuesday.
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…Oh, Nugget…your rear-end is butt-iful! 😀 HA! 😉
Thanks very much, Carolyn 🙂 X
A lovely, gentle, family day – and that is an impressive amount of flowers you have for February 🙂
Thank you very much, Peggy
The storm is raging here and kept me awake most of the night listening to the fence panels rattling and plastic plant pots blowing around the garden.
I hope you didn’t suffer any damage.
Thanks a lot, Andrew. We have it now. Jackie has drawn the sitting room curtains so she doesn’t have to watch.
A good plan!
I saw spring flowers in Central Park. Way too early. Hope the storm isn’t too bad.
Thanks very much, Sherry. In the midst of it now.
Does my memory fail me, or is the garden doing much better this winter than last?
Mum is still looking terrific and please wish Elizabeth a very Happy belated Birthday!!
Thank you very much, GP. Will do. The garden is the best it has ever been in February.
Your garden looks beautiful, and Nugget quite handsome. I hope there is not much storm damage.
A belated happy birthday to your sister. Your mom looks well.
Thanks very much, Merril. Storm still raging. Will pass on your birthday wishes. Mum was having a good day.
Do you know how many years it takes euphorbias to flower? I’ve yet to see one on mine.
Anyway, lovely to see all your flowers. I hope they are still in good shape following today’s storm!
Thanks very much, Helen. All I can say is that ours were here when we came 7 years ago. Jackie says the flowers do tend to look a bit like leaves.
Thanks for enquiring with Jackie. I had a quick look but I think I just have leaves!
Back view or front view Nugget is still gorgeous 🐦😍
A wonderful spring garden you two have there! So so beautiful! 🌸😉
I’ll echo the others about your gardens. Hope they didn’t get hammered by the storm. A little giggle about lasagna being a foreign food. But then I think about all the things I eat now that I had never heard of when I was young. So…
Thank you very much, Laurie. Very little damage. Same here, re dietary changes.
Glad there was little damage! Funny how our diets have changed, isn’t it?
Yes, indeed. At 2.30 p.m. I am sitting typing by my window – daylight has darkened, hail lashes the panes, and I am going to have to get up and turn the lights on.
What an amazing variety of flowers in your lovely garden, Jackie and Derrick. Hope you both cope well with Dennis this weekend.
Thanks very much, Clare. Overnight winds and rain were the worst we’ve had – and Dennis is not expected yet
The winds have been quite awful recently. Even last night was noisy and it was difficult driving my daughter to the station this morning in the wind and driving rain. I hope things calm down next week.