We had fun this morning helping Louisa – on the telephone, of course – to provide clues for an Easter Egg Hunt for Jessica and Imogen. Jackie came up with one of the best: ‘Toying with this clue will shed light on the answer’ would lead them to the toy shed in the garden. Because there are no sport programmes on Sky, Errol has cancelled his subscription to the sport section of that provider. Louisa and I between us managed ‘Not so much Sky can be seen here. Poor Dad’ – this for the family T.V.
This afternoon I entered the front garden with the intention of watering the pots. I found Aaron had already done it. That was a result.
Jackie took the garden photoshoot today, so all I needed to do was put all this together.
It was a good wheeze to place tulip pots on a table to obtain these angles.
As can be seen from these shots and the view across the garden to the bare copper beech, Aaron moved the blue wooden table and chairs back onto the patio for the summer.
A range of daffodils continues to delight.
For her focus on honesty the Assistant Photographer chose the bed beside the greenhouse and the Dragon Bed. This year she could have found it almost anywhere.
Her ammi seedling is progressing nicely.
Ajugas are often small and retiring. This one stands proudly erect.
The large wisteria is sending out its grape-like blooming bunches.
Buds about to burst include perky peony
and ornamental onions.
Stained glass songbirds swoop over a startled metal owl.
Erigeron bend well with either iberis,
or osteospermum;
angels wings contrast with red Japanese maple and carmine pelargonium.
Jackie is particularly enamoured of the yellow maple in the Palm Bed
Aubretia brightens edges of paths.
Whoops. I pressed publish prematurely. We are having wholesome soup for dinner this evening. Like me, you will have to guess what it is.
Playing games with clues is good exercise for the brain. 🙂 Happy Easter.
Thanks very much, Oglach, You, too
Your weather is way ahead of ours! That peony has a nice fat blossom. Ours are still just shoots about an inch high.
That’s another mistake I’ve made, Lavinia. I will go and give the peony its correct name 🙂 Thanks very much.
?I, too, was a premature pusher yesterday. As for today…Beautiful garden. Beautiful flowers. Beautiful people. Happy Easter, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Donna. Happy Easter to you, too.
I always enjoy your lovely flower photography, Derrick! Happy Easter. ????
Thank you very much, John. And Happy Easter to you, too.
Wow just beautiful.
Thanks very much from us both, Rupali
Such gorgeous tulips.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
I can understand why the maple is a favourite. Its dark stems make a nice contrast with the leaves. The parrot tulips are looking particularly vibrant and I loved the glass birds.
Thank you very much, Susan
I meant to wish you both Happy Easter – that premature push pressing again!
Many thanks, Susan. You, too.
I’m sure the soup and dinner were delicious. The Head Gardener did a splendid job with the photos, and it sounds like you both had a good time with the Easter visit phone call.
The yellow maple is beautiful–but there is lots of beauty in your garden.
Thank you very much, Merril. The chicken and vegetable soup was delicious.
Beautiful photos, Jackie! What a bright spot in the day. It’s rainy here with severe storms in the forecast. Happy Easter!
Many thanks, Jill. You, too.
Love the tulips in the header – I was thinking Jackie was getting very artsy photographer lying down to get these shots. Thank heavens for pots 🙂 Now is that particular ajuga supposed to do that? Or is it really rising above its station? Your clues for the hunt are so good. I used to love writing out the clues and setting up the egg hunts for my kids when they were young. I felt all nostalgic reading of your combined efforts. Happy days!! <3
Thank you very much, Pauline. Apparently that is what ajugas are supposed to do. X
Is that right! I used to have a whole load of them in one of my gardens and they never did anything more than crawl around close to the earth…. I had duds!!
Maybe there is more than one variety.
Your garden is already Easter-y!!
Thanks very much, GP. It ia
I loved those feathery tulips. Enjoy your soup!
Thanks very much, Sheree. We did. 🙂
Derrick, thanks for brightening a gloomy overcast Easter Sunday here in my part of the world 🙂
I love Jackie’s closeups of the tulips. My compliments on her photo of the Erigen with Iberis. An excellent composition! I couldn’t resist saving a copy to my file of pictures.
Thank you very much from us both, Rosaliene. You are very welcome.
I’m not sure what delights me more … the egg hunting clues or the photos. Sending warmest Easter Wishes to you all over there for me over here (no chocolate … the stores were pillaged before we thought of our own desire for a bag of Cadbury mini eggs ☹️). Derrick, might I have an email address for you. I have something I want to ask privately. I can’t find one on your site but perhaps you could send it to osyth.storyteller@gmail.com. Nothing sinister, I promise!
Thanks very much, Osyth. Have sent e-mail.
Someone has taken away the display of daffodils from the entrance to our estate, so I thought the ones in my back garden were late. From your photos it would seem not! The white and green tulips look amazing.
Thank you very much, Helen. Our daffs all come out at different times
Well, that is useful to know. Thank you, Derrick.
Fun that you could help from afar with the Easter egg hunt. Those white and green tulips are striking. Wonderful photo of the dragon.
Thank you very much from us both, Laurie
Jackie outdid herself with the tulip photos–although there were too many contenders in this group to choose a favorite.
Thank you very m much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I loved the tulip pictures at the top of the post but Jackie has done the garden justice throughout.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal.
Thank you Mr T, I love to look at your garden too.
Stunning sir.
Thanks very much, Gary.
Oh, what an exquisite spring garden! 🙂
Thank you very much, Sylvia.
The tulip angles I think were worth the wheeze. I have never heard of an ornamental onion. I assume it will flower? Sounds as if you and yours had a Blessed Easter, even with the long distance stuff.
The onion does flower, as you will no doubt see, Maj. Thank you very much.
Ornamental Onions are usually called ‘Alliums’ I suppose it sounds prettier. Those are something ‘ giants’ The label blew away!
The tulip angles I think were worth the wheeze. I have never heard of an ornamental onion. I assume it will flower? Sounds as if you and yours had a Blessed Easter, even with the long distance stuff.
Those tulips are just amazing, as is the rest of your blooming garden!
Thank you very much, Lisa.
Although we are all dealing with CV-19 and we can never count on our economies bring robust from year to year, one thing I do know we can always count on yours and Jackie’s beautiful gardens from year to year..never disappoints us!
Thank you so much, Gary.
I’ll try not to disappoint, but with all my local garden centres closed I am having to get creative with the containers and baskets!!
You’re definitely being creative!! I miss my gardens, but a lot of work but nice to see and enjoy the the fruits of your labor, except when mother nature surprise yiu with something that makes a mess of every think you just worked so hard to clean up. I hated that part!!
So lovely
Thank you very much, More
You’re quite welcome, Derrick
I hope you have a great week
You, too
The head gardener did a wonderful job. Beautiful colors! I love the yellows and the purples. I can see why she is particularly enamoured of the yellow maple. Aaron is quite a good person to have around.
Many thanks, JoAnna. I am most fortunate.
Aaron is a star and has taken on every thing D used to do, I could not manage without him. (Almost every thing Derrick used to do!) He has also brought his varied talents to the garden, such as laying brick paths, fencing, hanging gates, painting fences, etc. etc. I have a notice at the back entrance that says ‘Aarons Garden’ !!!!
That’s wonderful! It sounds like he enjoys being part of the creative process. 🙂
That is a surfeit of flower portraits. Stained glass songbirds swoop over a startled metal owl could have been the opening line of an ode.
Thank you very much, Uma.
We must make to most out of our private moments Derrick… I’m off for a walk in the sun… 20’C here today…
Well done Jackie, the images of your garden are just beautiful!
Thank you very much, Sue
Glad you liked them Sue!
Excellent team work, Jackie and Derrick!
The garden colours in April are so stunning and give us hope and joy! The yellows and purples always make me sigh and smile! -)
Aaron is such a great helper!
HUGS!!! and <3 🙂
PS….was it mixed veggie soup, potato soup, tomato soup, spinach soup, onion soup, squash soup, bean soup, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink soup…
Okay, I'll stop now. 🙂
Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink with a little chicken. Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn ~:) X
Proud and erect are good things to be — good for the ajugas! Jackie captured your stunning yard occupants very well.
Thank you very much from us both, Rose
A fabulous gallery of pictures Derrick! Well done the photographer!
Many thanks from us both, Andrew
What a wonder! ???
Wholesome soup…hmmm…I’m sure was delicious ?
Thanks very much from us both, Ribana
I miss the egg hunts! Come on, grandchildren! I hope I am blessed with them also someday
So bright and cheerful! I did not go out yesterday, and I regret that. I will have to remedy that today and find something green and alive to enjoy–
Thanks very much, Rose
Your garden easily trumps mine! Thank you for sharing it.
In this lovely garden it is easer to stay isolated!
Indeed, Alexander. Thanks very much.
Lovely flowers
Thank you very much, Praise
Glorious photographs. You’ve got some high class competition there, Derrick.
Fortunately she’s not interested in competing. Thanks a lot, Roland
The tulips are stunning – the photographs look like a page from a botanical artwork book 🙂
Thank you very much from us both, Tiny. And from me especially for the catch-up.
It was really lovely, I nursed a cup of tea and spent a happy hour late one evening reading through a month’s worth of your words & photography. Thank you so much both x
Clever clue Jackie! The unruly tulips with lots of green in their petals are my favourite kind of all. We have a few tulip growers around here, and that kind of tulip always draws me.
Thanks very much from us both, Crystal