Jackie spent most of this gloriously sunny and warm spring day working in the garden.
In the front she photographed budding Amanogawa
and crab apple blossom,
and a row of different coloured cyclamens.
I took tours before and after lunch, choosing to focus first on a variety of daffodils;
these, alongside the Dead End Path, are strongly scented and aptly named Park Perfume;
iberis cascades over the New Bed wall in front of more;
nodding to the dreaded all-pervading white allium another masquerades as a cheery scarecrow.
The sunshine has encouraged one of yesterday’s tulips to open wider,
to blend nicely with these marigolds.
Camellias continue to shine and to discard their heavy blooms, some of which persist in
growing old gracefully.
Varieties of wallflowers are blooming;
these yellow ones kneel at the feet of euphorbia in the back drive border.
Honesty is bursting out all over. It will be a brave individual who sits on this chair in the Weeping Birch Bed.
The burnished Japanese maple near the Fiveways corner
takes the eye across the Gazebo Path to North Breeze,
skirting the peeling-pastel-sheathed eucalyptus on the lawn, beside which
clematis Cirrhosa Freckles still festoons the iron gazebo.
Looking south east from the above-mentioned maple takes us into the Rose Garden whence
we have a view towards the house. I will be in dire trouble for leaving that blue plastic trug in the shot.
Given that during the Covid-19 pandemic bedding plants cannot be purchased
Jackie’s pelargonium cuttings in the greenhouse are even more important than usual this year.
They are even attracting ladybirds.
This view from the Kitchen Bed leads to the Nottingham Castle bench;
this one across to the greenhouse.
It is through a kitchen window that I managed to catch Burt, the long tailed tit, playing on his honeysuckle trellis. Like a child who will run endlessly up the steps for another go on a slide, Burt swung through the air time and again, incessantly hopping back up for a repeat performance. The bird can be seen peering in beside the window catch – it is well worth bigifying.
The Head Gardener’s main task today was cleaning out the weedy Frog Pond. This is how she pictured it this morning,
and this with clear reflective water this afternoon.
This evening we dined on roast duck breasts; roast new potatoes; meaty sausages and fried onions; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; and tender cabbage, leeks, and runner beans, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Shiraz.
A dlightful tour of the garden. My favourite photograph is that of the backlit camellia.
Thank you very much, Anne. For some reason WP rejected that one. I had to try 3 times to load it.
Perhaps the spelling gremlin noticed I had left the ‘e’ out of delightful.
Thank for brightening the day again. Look after yourself sir.
Thanks very much, Gary
You have such lovely blooms! Your daffodils seem to be blooming a very long time. Or do different varieties bloom at different times. I biggified for Burt, definitely worth it! Do you have frogs in your frog pond, or it named for the statuary?
Thanks very much, Liz. The daffodils do all bloom at different times. Some are still to do so. Thwe name of the pond – just a small cistern in fact – is for the salutary which we found in the undergrowth when we arrived 7 years ago.
Ah, I see!
That shot was definitely worth “bigifying!” With all your paths and trails, your garden seems huge. I love all the little nooks. Thank you for the photo tour, but what stood out for me what your line about the flowers persisting “in growing old gracefully.” That could be a lesson for us all.
🙂 Thanks very much, Merril.
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Yes to both the garden seeming HUGE and the “growing old gracefully” comments!
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We didn’t get the especially good weather as promised but now the forecast says that it will be with us tomorrow. I took the opportunity to Karcher the paving slabs and the patio. I hate that job. Kim painted one of the garden fences. I prefer Karchering to painting fences!
Our local nursery delivered me 6 bags of compost and has promised deliveries of summer bedding in May.
Your garden is an inspiration.
Thanks very much for the ‘inspiration’ comment, Andrew. I’m pleased about your deliveries
Thanks Derrick. Everyone is delivering it seems. Vegetable plot preparation for me today. Enjoy the summer weather!
🙂
I never tire of looking at your charming garden.
Thank you very much, Sheree. We are lucky lockdown has come now.
Blue skies, bright colorful flowers, and Burt, beaming in your window. It is a real pleasure to take a virtual tour of your gardens!
Thank you so much, Lavinia.
I was so pleased to see your very nice gum tree; a little touch of Australia. Do you have any idea of its age?
It was pretty tall – we’ve trimmed it a bit – when we arrived 6 years ago. We love it – and it blooms. Thanks very much, Yvonne.
I like it’s gnarly base, and I see the bark is shedding nicely. Gum trees are just wonderful.
They really are
Gorgeous, Derrick! Thanks for the tour. It looked like a glorious day.
It certainly was, Jill. Thank you very much.
Another great day.
I planted a few bulbs a few days ago. I’ll guess I will see what I actually planted come early spring. Nice pond. 🙂
It is a ceramic cistern, Chrissy. Thanks very much
Andrew is correct, your garden IS an inspiration.
Many thanks, Sue.
Gosh that is a wonderfully blue sky! And I think Burt is wondering what on earth you are up to on your side of the glass. It must be so lovely watching him run through his acrobatic repertoire. One of my daily pleasures in the middle of winter is browsing through your summer garden. I shall enjoy to see how Jackie compensates for the lack of pre grown plants and seedlings this year. I doubt she’ll be much fazed!
At the moment she is clearing vine weevils from most of the pots and putting them on Nugget’s tray. He is ignoring them. She does miss her trailing lobelias, though. I’m very pleased to brighten your winter, Pauline. Thank you very much. XX
It is quite depressing in a way to look at your garden full of flowers and then look at our chilly desert but on the other hand it is quite cheering to look at our chilly desert and then look at your sun filled feast of colour. Thank you.
And thank you, Tootlepedal, whoever way you look at it.
A circus tit, how splendid. Looking good guys. You’ll be watering tomorrow if the temperatures are as predicted…
I think we will, Geoff. Thanks very much.
Another fun tour, and thank you Derrick for it. Burt, when biggified, certainly broadcasts the flavor of a little scoundrel flitting around looking for mischievous deeds to perform.
🙂 Thanks very much, Maj and Sher
Nice comment!
Thank you Derrick, for a magnificent range of beautiful flowers, and a very pleasant Sunday morning tour of the garden….
And thank you, as always, Ivor
I assume the sandstone princess basking lazily in the sun is waiting for the frog to appear. The garden is as busy as ever, and captured tirelessly by your cameras.
Thank you very much, Uma. That is a very nice interpretation: https://derrickjknight.com/2014/05/29/jatties-sculpture/
Excellent.
So many beautiful pictures, I’m jealous of people who have gardens at the moment – although luckily our local parks are still open. The daffodils are gorgeous.
Thank you very much, Kathrin. I hope your parks stay open.
“Frog Pond” is not bad as a name, but “Naked Lady Leprechaun Pond” might attract more tourists.
🙂 Thanks a lot, John. You might be right.
Funny
Oh, the Frog Pond looks beautiful now! And I know the frogs are smiling with gratitude! ? 😉 ?
The plants, flowers, trees, and birds burst with beauty and joy to thank you and Jackie for your tender loving care of them!
Ha! The photo of Burt and his expression made me laugh! 😀
The little LadyBirds are cute! 🙂
Oh, did you get into dire trouble?! 😉 😮
(((HUGS))) and <3
I did, indeed!! 🙂 Thanks very much, Carolyn X
I love the backlit camelia. And cleaning out a pond is a great way to start the vegetable garden off.
🙂 Thanks a lot, John
Great enjoyable relaxing post in these times Derrick, love your eucalyptus, they are iconic in our streets and gardens here, cheers.
Cheers, Ian
Incredible, Derrick! I think you have more plants in your greenhouse alone than I have in my garden…jeez I miss having more property!!
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/fun-day-1.jpg
🙂 Thanks very much, GP
Spring is popping up all over in your garden! This was an ambitious posting, Derrick!!!
What a delight as always to see the garden looking so bloomin’ healthy. And the long-tailed tit is too cute!
Those daffs are a cheery sight, but oh do I love that frog pond.
I’m pleased. Thank you very much, Laurie
Is Burt keeping an eye on his reflection? He does look funny. Also are the white Narcissus ‘Thalia’? That is what came to mind as soon as I saw them. The view towards the house is lovely and I salute Jackie for de-ponging the frog pond.
Burt was playing again this evening – repeatedly. You are right about Thalia. Thank you very much, Susan.
“the dreaded all-pervading white allium” made me laugh. I have a few plants like that, too.
Thank you very much, Jodie.
<3
I so enjoyed the tour of your magnificent garden, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly. My pleasure.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
It’s not just your wonderful photography and your beautiful garden, and the wonderful photos of your neighborhood and community taht keep me coming back to your blog, Derrick; it’s the comments of your followers, your responses to each one, and your phenomenal awareness of every flower’s name. You’re amazing! I love seeing Nugget and watching for what Jackie is up to in the garden and the kitchen each day. You’re such an engaging blogger, Derrick. You give us a chance to know you and your wife… and to experience your life. Soooo delightful! Thank you, dear friend. <3 Hope you had a blessed Palm Sunday. <3
That is a very lovely set of comments, Jan. You have picked up all I aim to do and expressed it beautifully. Thank you very much indeed. X
You’re welcome! I am always uplifted by your posts, Derrick.
With or without that blue plastic trug, all the shots looks gorgeous! ???
Burt is so so cute ?
I would love some new potatoes now ?
Thanks very much, Ribana. Our early ones often come from Jersey or Egypt.
Looks like Burt is masterfully emulating his namesake. 🙂 … I found myself saying ‘glorious’ at every picture. 🙂 … so, GLORIOUS!!! 😀
Very many thanks, Widders.
Why the ‘Nottingham Castle’ bench?
It is a copy of those that stand in the castle grounds. I brought it down from Newark and reassembled it. Thanks very much, Helen.
I couldn’t see the bench in the photo but nice idea, Derrick. Good to have a spot to sit down on in the garden ?
https://derrickjknight.com/2014/07/25/a-manly-garment/ I hope you have time to look at this – when I was rather more flexible 🙂
Amusing post Derrick. And now I know the history behind the Nottingham Castle bench ?
Thank you for following up and commenting, Helen.
My pleasure, Derrick ?
Fabulous guided tour of your garden ?
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
Beautiful flowers – a really uplifting sight.
Much appreciated, Quercus. Thanks a lot.
Thanks to you and Jackie for providing them. You are cheering up a lot of people around the world Derrick.
That is very pleasing.
🙂