More sunshine periodically penetrated the clouds today.
Jackie spent much of the morning on general garden maintenance while I wandered around with a camera. Apart from the rhododendrons in the two pictures above
I focussed on two more flanking the Gazebo Path.
Bees were very busy. One filled its yellow sacs while flitting from one bristly borage plant to another.
The wisteria is really past its best, yet still interested a larger apian specimen.
Was it an attempt at camouflage that caused another to colour coordinate with its target orange poppy? On the left of this picture stands a spent seed head which will need decapitation in order to promote a new flower.
Clematises are today represented by Marie Boisselot scaling her obelisk above her Erigeron carpet;
by Niobe, seen against the kitchen wall alongside
Star of India scaling the wisteria arbour;
by Dr Ruppel (see doesitevenmatter3 comment below)
climbing above the Brick Path;
and by one of the Montanas supported by the now fading lilac.
Iris reticulates are quite prolific.
Offerings from the Rose Garden include
For Your Eyes Only,
Gloriana,
and Festive Jewel.
From the Pond Bed towards the copper beech the eye is taken back to the Rose Garden.
While I stood before the wisteria arbour horizontal rockets zoomed over my shoulder aiming for the bird feeders beneath it.
One of these was a wing-flailing Nugget
intent on giving his offspring a taste for his favourite suet pellets.
Now, “Where’s Nugget?” (75)
This evening we dined on spicy pepperoni pizza with plentiful fresh salad, with which Jackie drank Heineken and I drank Patrick Chodot Fleurie 2018
I knew where to look for the little fellow this time – he has a preference for that particular area it seems.
Great shots of Nugget in-flight and Nugget-avec-suet!
Thanks very much, Liz. I was especially pleased aves the suet pic.
I’ll bet it was a difficult one to capture.
I sat and waited and hoped for a result.
People talk much at the moment about ‘a new normal’ and there is much trepidation about how we might adapt. Looking at all these glorious pictures and reading your commentary brings home to me how I have adapted to a new normal of somewhat different seasons here on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The lilac is only just beginning to bud, irises will not flower until June, Clematis similarly and we are still enjoying vibrant displays of daffodil and narcissi (sadly tulips don’t thrive here but one or two clumps are valiantly standing their turban-tops to attention. Hyacinth are still in bloom. The leaves on the birches are finally apparent and the willow is beginning to transform from bare to barely-there leaves – it will be another week before the sweeping swathes are once more rippling in the breeze. The first Spring I spent here I really struggled with the lateness of it all, winter like a tiresome guest just wouldn’t take it’s leave. Now it is simply my normal. I have adapted – rather than witter on about what I was used to for all those decades, I take delight in the speed with which the Springing forth takes place here. A new normal. In the end it is just the normal. Those shots of Nugget are astonishing.
Like you, I am in a place where spring comes late – and I was used to an early and extended spring when I lived in California. It’s such fun to experience a longer, sooner spring with Derrick’s pictures and descriptions, isn’t it?
🙂
Beautifully penned comments, Fiona. I was very pleased to get the pellet in beak shot. Thanks very much.
So lovely. I spy Nugget on the watering can.
Well spied, Leslie. Thanks very much.
So very beautiful each capture.
Thank you very much, Rupali.
Just glorious Derrick
Thanks very much, Sheree
I also found Nugget on the watering can. He is quite the character, isn’t he? Today Sher and I saw a Downy Woodpecker on a branch of the tree where our new flower plantings are located. We have heard the staccato but just today were treated to his appearance.
Well spotted Maj. Thanks very much.
Our birds won’t touch suet. Very fussy.
They all seem to have their favourites, Gary. Thanks very much.
What a heavenly place!
Thank you very much, Cindy.
All lovely, but particularly the Gloriana. I found Nugget too.
Well spotted, Sue. Thank you very much.
Damn. On my phone I can’t find him however I am mightily impressed by the number of watering cans.
He’s on one of them, Sue. Biggification would be required. Thanks very much.
I biggified on my computer and lo! There nugget was, as big as life. I could smell the wisteria this time, too. Your garden is truly an earthly delight, Derrick.
🙂 Thanks again
Another floral treat. What a tribute to the head gardener.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
I think Nugget wants to help out Jackie. Gorgeous shots, Derrick! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much, Jill
Hello Nugget, there perched on the watering cans….. and thank you for all the violet/mauve & purple colours this morning Derrick…..
Well spotted, Ivor. Thanks very much
I am always enamored with your photos and the descriptions of the various flowers. You are doing a great job learning from Jackie about the names of them all. I appreciate learning them, too. Jackie has done such a good job of organizing the garden into various zones, putting together plants of beautiful compatibility. It’s so inspiring! Thank yo for sharing, Darrick. Hugs to yo and Jackie. <3
Derrick… slip of the fingers… not Darrick. Sorry!
🙂
I loved all that purple and seeing Nugget in action!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
Your roses are splendid. Derrick! So are all the other flowers, but I am partial to roses.
Mr Nugget is sitting on a watering can (I assume that’s what it is, but I am not sure) which stands on a bench under the feeder.
Well spotted, Dolly. Thanks very much.
I see Nugget by the yellow hose this time! What a lucky bird to have made a home in such a beautiful garden tended by caring humans!
Thank you so much, Lavinia
Jackie is busy as a bee for whom the entire garden is a flower. Those photographs present a wonderful vista. Nugget is on one of the black pots to the left of the door.
Thanks very much, Uma. Well spotted
Oh these flowers and photos! Those two rose photos, the colors! Just love them!
Thank you very much, Luanne
Jackie is of course invited to the Elf house. No need to bring a bottle, just a pair of secateurs. Garden looks magnificent.
I put some suet out for the friendly blackbird but got a magpie, a crow and a mouse. I have cleared it away now. Birds are welcome, pests not!
We have had all those pests, Andrew. Thanks very much for the invitation 🙂
I am using infused garlic to try and deter the slugs and snails and extra strong mints to keep the mice away.
Derrick, let me be the very last to say, “Less, Less”. There is just so much that the lover of gardens can take. But I’m glad you took that shot of the Niobe Clematis. I would have delighted in a post where you just showed me that one flower and that nuggety little red robin.
🙂 Thanks a lot, John.
Your bee photos bee bee-utiful, Derrick!
🐝🐝🐝
So good to see Mr. Nugget! You clicked at THE exact right time to catch him with a pellet in his beak! Love that shot! 🙂
I wonder how that Clematis got the name Doctor Ruppel. ???
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to name flowers…or crayons…or paint colors…Ha! I think so! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. I was very pleased to catch the pellet. I couldn’t discover anything about Dr R. X
I found this:
“‘Doctor Ruppel’ was introduced here in the UK by Jim Fisk in 1975, reputedly through plants sent to him from Argentina by Doctor Ruppel himself!”
On this website:
https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/clematis-doctor-ruppel
But I can’t find out anything about Dr. Ruppel.
Well – that is more than I found, Carolyn. I will alert readers to your comment
While I haven’t been able to confirm, based on the dates it is highly likely that Dr Ruppel was one of the few thousand Germans & their allies from across Europe who were able to escape to Argentina after WW2.
Thanks for this, Anthony. I couldn’t confirm it either
That little Nugget is great at blending in with his surroundings, but I found him! It’s a good thing we are able to enlarge your pictures!!
Thanks a lot, GP. It is good 🙂
Nugget’s a gem, and your photo of him with the suet pellet is so fine. Still, I’ll admit to being caught by the comment about Jackie doing “general garden maintenance.” The more I look at your photos of that beautiful place, the more I realize just how much work has to be involved in keeping things (1) under control, and (2) beautiful. It’s always a pleasure to have a new view to enjoy.
Very many thanks, Linda
I like the way Jackie’s flowered shirt blended in with the garden flowers. Nugget is quite a character. I like the shot of him with the pellet in his mouth, and found him once I biggified.
Jackie liked that blending, too. I had planned a “Where’s Jackie?” until I got the Nugget one, which well spotted. Thanks very much, Merril.
Just beautiful, that stunning iris, the intense colour. I love the way your wife’s blouse makes her look like some of the garden flowers.
That was surely a happy garment, Libre. Thank you very much
So. Much. Loveliness.
Thank you very much, Julie
The garden is really shaping up! And I love to see Nugget! We have a lot of bees around our new house and I’ve been trying to capture them, but so far they are either moving a little too fast for me or my small lens doesn’t want to cooperate. I’ll try again this week – in between the expected rain we are supposed to get.
🙂 Thanks very much, Lisa
Such exquisite roses and other blooms, Derrick. Wonderful captures of dear Nugget. He’s got a beautiful home and suet pellets to boot. 🙂
Thanks very much, Sylvia
I have a soft spot for poppies. Yours are very pretty against the greenery.
Thanks very much, Cindy. There will be many more later on.
I’ll add my “Lucky Nugget” to the comments. And a garden that welcomes birds is a very good garden indeed.
Thank you so much, Laurie.
A new favourite perch for the lad, I see. 🙂
Yes, indeed, Widders. Thanks very much.
Gorgeous! Seems the Nugget was thirsty also 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana
Hello Derrick
I love this beautiful wisteria that frames the door (of the kitchen?) Of the house. This plant is a prettiest ornament in the garden
Thank you so much, Yoshimi. That door led into the garage which has become a library.
Such a beautiful spring garden! Great photos of Nugget, he is becoming more glamorous by the day.
Thanks very much, Sylvie.
🙂
I just love Wisteria. Such a gorgeous specimen of flowers! Loved the remaining photography too. Thanks for sharing
And thank you very much, Geetha
Welcome Derrick