Storm Jorge is not due to hit us until tomorrow. Just to get us in the mood, dispiritingly drizzly rain seeped from solid slate skies throughout the day. Even heavy rain would have been more stimulating.
Mostly I read, except when I donned a raincoat and wandered around the garden testing my camera’s imperviousness to the water that
glistened all surfaces
and bejewelled crocuses sagely keeping closed;
camellias on the bushes and
on the ground;
head-bent hellebores –
even those standing proud.
I realised today why these flowers invariably hang their heads.
They come equipped with their own umbrellas.
Daffodils,
primroses,
and mahonias brighten
the beds.
Raindrops cling to boughs until sliding down to drop to the ground.
This evening we dined at The Wheel Inn. Portions are so plentiful that we both opted simply for mains. Jackie enjoyed the thick, meaty house burger with chips and salad while I chose beer battered cod, chips and peas with tartar sauce. The crispy batter was better than most fish and chip shops could produce. Mrs Knight drank Kaltenberg and I drank Rioja.
Such a lovely and peaceful garden Derrick.
Thank you very much, Cindy
Who would have guessed that England in Winter would have so many blooms?
Not me. Thanks a lot, GP
Your garden looks like mid-spring! My children spotted the owl ornament 🦉
I thought they might, Tiny. Thanks very much.
Those daffodils are so jaunty! Another storm. What the heck. It seems like you’ve had one after another. Hope it isn’t too bad.
Three in less than a fortnight. This one reputed to be less severe than the last two. Dead still at the moment. Thanks very much, Laurie.
Phew! Take care.
You’re ahead of us by a small margin. Our daffs haven’t made much of an appearance yet though haven’t the hellebores been helleinteresting this year?
They certainly have, Geoff. You are doing amazingly for a London garden. Thanks a lot.
Your beautiful photos of your beautiful flowers bring smiles and warmth to me on this cold winter night! Thank you! 🙂
Love nature’s umbrellas! Also, that last photo is so beautiful! Looks like the boughs are decorated with little lights!
Your meals sound delicious!
How are Mr. and Mrs. Nugget doing?
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you for these comments, Carolyn. We haven’t seen the Nuggets for a day or two and hope they are otherwise engaged.
I hope Jorge doesn’t disturb your beautiful garden. Those camelias are so colourful.
Jorge is expected to be less severe than the last two. Thanks very much, Sheree.
A wonderful and inspiring garden
Thanks very much, Gary.
I shall look at hellebores in a new light. Your garden looks very good for the time of year.
Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal.
Despite the dreary drizzle, you got some lovely photos. I like your glistening path and the drops on the blooms–and so many blooms! It’s definitely spring in your area of the world. I hope the storm is not too bad.
The experts seem to think it will be less severe than the last two. Thanks very much, Merril
In spite of the weather, your garden still has several hot spots of brilliant color. Love the hellebore umbrella! Just perfect for Thumbelina 🙂
Thumbelina is a nice touch, Rosaliene. Thank you very much.
She was one of my favorites as a kid 🙂
Beautiful garden photos! I hope the storm doesn’t hit you too hard.
All calm this morning, Lisa – so we’ll see. Thank you very much.
Your late winter flowers look beautiful, even in the rain! The fish & chips also sounds good. It is hard to get good fish & chips here.
Many thanks, Lavinia. The pubs have really upped their game in the last few decades.
It’s been a long day, Derrick…this is just what I needed. Your photos are gorgeous! Now I want some fish and chips…yum! 🙂
Many thanks, Jill. You are having a few tough days lately.
I guess it was one of those weeks, Derrick. Sorry to sound bleak on your blog. 🙂
You didn’t – you explained how my posts cheered you up. 🙂
How did you get to J? The last I remember, you were only at D. Here’s hoping you don’t get to W, Y, or Z — even your flowers would be depressed by that point!
Well spotted, Linda. No idea. Thanks very much.
Hopefully you will not have t endure the alphabet of storms all the way through to Z! Your garden almost appears to be weatherproof.
Thanks a lot, Anne. The garden is surviving well. Yesterday Jackie tipped water from some of the potted plants for fear of overwatering. As far as the alphabet is concerned we have gone from D to J – so we’ve missed a few storms it seems 🙂
Your garden is looking lovely, no Nugget?
My daffodils are not quite out, almost but not yet.
For some reason, in the autumn I failed to plant any winter blooms, I usually have a number of pots outside each of the doors and full of cheerful colour. Perhaps it was because the extremely wet autumn.
He tends to disappear when it is very wet – but we haven’t seen him for a day or two. Hopefully he is busy nesting. Thanks very much for asking, Sue. Jackie is tipping water out of pots!
I bet she is. The thought of flooded pots also occurred to me!
Today I think we’re getting your weather from yesterday. Intermittent rain and grey skies.
I read the news recently that with all these fields flooded for such long periods, a good few butterfly species will be pushed close to extinction. Apparently they spend the winter as chrysalises in the roots of grass and other plants and will be killed by the water. How very sad. They brighten up so many summer days.
That is sad, John. Jorge is just hitting us as I type. Thanks a lot.
I’m a bit late looking at your blog, so Jorge might almost have arrived. I hope you don’t have damage in your lovely garden.
Still rather quiet. Thanks a lot, Jane.
Thank you for the morning brightener!
🙂 and thank you for your regularity, Liz.
It’s my pleasure, Derrick!
The rain has not dampened your spirits Derrick as your images have brightened my day as you share your beautiful garden full of glistening colour..
Thank you my friend.. We have a break in the cloud right now and the Sun is shining… We make the most before more stormy weather..
Take care Derrick.. and thank you for your wonderful photos 🙂
What an usual winter you are having. The silver lining must be the pretty blossoms.
I hope the winds have calmed down in the New Forest as they have here and that no damage has been done to your beautiful garden. The rain has been the most trouble again. I love the umbrella analogy, Derrick!
Not too bad, Clare. Much less rain. Thanks very much.
Oh good! 🙂
Hope Jorge is kind!
Not too bad – more wind than rain, Leslie. Thanks a lot.
Your garden is a wonder. There is something about a cloudy day that intensifies color and your camera picked that right up!
Very many thanks, Lisa.
That camellias are gorgeous on the bushes and on the ground 🌸🌸
I’m in love with your garden 🌸🌸
That is much appreciated, Ribana. Thank you.
May your hatches stay battened for the duration. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Widders
I chuckled at the owl ogling bright yellow daffodils, Derrick. The pink camellias, minus those natural umbrellas, do not bend their pretty heads for the rain.
Thank you very much, Dolly.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Spring is on it’s way! Get ready Derrick.
Thank you very much, Sumith
Gorgeous! The garden looks amazing
Much appreciated, Lynn
Hang in there spring is coming.
Yep. Cheers, Lindsey.