“Where’s Jackie?”

Jackie spent much of the day tending to her hanging baskets and other containers, while I wandered about dead-heading and picking up debris for the compost bin.

I did, of course, have my camera handy. We have two new poppy varieties on display.

One is Californian;

the other I cannot name because it is a self-seeded volunteer which didn’t introduce itself.

For the first time this year geum Mrs Bradshaw has found a happy place in Margery’s Bed.

Another new bloom is clematis Warsaw Nike.

The Dr Ruppel I have been picturing recently scales the right hand side of the nearest arch spanning the brick path;

another is announcing its presence against the weeping birch trunk.

Jackie worked in the shade beyond these rhododendrons.

Here are some views of the Rose Garden.

In this one, “Where’s Jackie?”

After lunch Jackie worked

beneath a copper beech canopy

casting cool shadows.

Russel Crow, patrolling the roof of the house, panted like a dog to combat the heat.

Nugget did periodically investigate pickings from the pots, eventually taking off in search of fresh meat.

From this perch on the west side of the garden his food came in the form of flying insects at which he darted far too fast for my trigger finger – and for the wings of his prey.

The last two of these images show, on our right of Nugget’s plumage a little black mark which definitely identifies him.

This evening, on the patio before dinner, we noticed a nest of baby spiders, mostly clustered together.

Later, we dined on Jackie’s succulent sausages in red wine; creamy mashed potato; crunchy carrots; tender runner and green beans with cabbage; and firm Brussels sprouts. with which I drank The Second Fleet Limestone Coast Shiraz 2018.

112 comments

  1. So, does Russell just admire Jackie from afar these days? Nugget’s black spot is on the lower part of his red breast feathers? It’s a tiny identifying mark for sure – you will be honing your spotting skills! And that’s a delightful shot of Jackie peeping at us from the shadows. Visiting your garden is providing a lot of fun as well as horticultural beauty. A lovely way to start my chilly Saturday <3

  2. I have been noticing how advanced things are here this year, Derrick, but you are light yeras ahead of us! We still have a while to wait before buds begin to blossom.

  3. Oh, that shot of the arches and the brick path could be in a magazine. How magical your garden is!
    And I love that picture of “where’s Jackie”. (Her shirt gave her away.) She looks like she is saying “I see you over there taking my picture.” So fun.

  4. The California Poppy — the State flower of California. Last year the hillsides were blanketed with a “super-bloom” of California Poppies, and I understand our March and April rains created a similar effect this spring as well. I am happy to see that they grow in your garden!

    1. I’d love to have seen those poppies! I nurse mine and have just planted more seedlings to hopefully spread around the garden.

      1. Yes jackie, i feel so happy mentally walking through it. Youd love mine. Your hands would itch to take cuttings and baby them.
        Ps, Jackie i have a knife, bucket, paper and a trowel in the boot of my car… For plants shared and given.
        I also plant fruit trees in vacant spots. One day, someone will eat of it and think that the seeds were dropped by a bird!

  5. So many beautiful photos! I like the Where’s Jackie shot–she’s like a ghostly image in the shadows. I don’t think think I’ve ever seen a nest of baby spiders–I’m between ewwww and cool!

    1. I’ve never seen such a nest before, either, Merril. I’m only thankful they were not in the house πŸ™‚ I’m pleased your eye could penetrate the shadows. Thanks very much.

  6. Again, many congratulations to the Head Gardener (and her trusty assistant), the garden is looking splendid. It’s testament to her hard work, passion and undoubted skill.

  7. Beautiful photos of course.
    I haven’t seen a nest of baby spiders before and even though it’s a photo I am still frightened. ?.
    Hope you have a good weekend.

  8. Jackie is wearing Garden Camouflage! πŸ˜‰ But I found her! πŸ™‚
    Tell Jackie her beautiful smile made me smile and thank you for that! πŸ™‚

    OOH! A baby spider clump! Cool photo! I’ve never seen a nest of baby spiders before. It would be impossible to try to count them. We’ll just have to believe Mrs. Spider when the birth announcement says, “We welcomed 250 babies into the world!” Ha! πŸ˜›

    Love the shadows photo!

    And what woman doesn’t love getting a gander at Mr. Russel Crow! πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜€

    I googled Warsaw Nike and it said, “…from Poland and named after a memorial to Polish freedom fighters.”

    HUGS!!! πŸ™‚

    1. Thank you very much, Carolyn. I’m particularly pleased that you love the shadows photo. I felt it a risk converting it to B/W. The Polish specialise in clematises, but I didn’t know the dedication of that one. X

  9. I stole one of those Nugget photos for my blog today. Hope you don’t mind! Your garden is more beautiful every day!! <3 Love that clematis Warsaw Nike!

  10. I love Jackie’s smile even more than the fantastic popping poppies and the fascinating baby spider nest. πŸ™‚

  11. Jackie is too bright a star even in the shade. Perhaps if you hide Mr Russel Crowe in a similar patch my eyes would call it quits.

  12. Jackie is so elusive. I have to own to my own green shoots of envy following you guys around. Keep looking beautiful. The garden too of course

  13. You are sure getting pretty sneaky with your “Where’s…. ?” pictures! But I spotted Jackie’s lovely smile, despite your efforts!

  14. Found Jackie right off. That next of baby spiders is a fascinating picture. I have never seen them newly hatched and bunched together like that. Soon they will disperse, I suppose.

    1. I had never seen them either, Laurie. They were already dispersing, but a finger on the web sent them huddling together. Well spotted through the shadow. Thanks very much.

  15. Such lovely poppies and yes, i see Jackie surrounded by beautiful roses. I love that you named the crow ‘Russell’. Good thinking there. You’re so welcome to the batch of baby spiders, Derrick. 😯

  16. I spotted Jackie there in the shade! She and Nugget look like they had a wonderful time out there in the gardens.

    I love those little spiders. We are seeing hatchlings now too. I wonder if they are crab spiders?

  17. Stunning colours. I don’t know about anybody else, but not being able to get to the garden centre has made me more creative. Bartered some cuttings (exchanged using social distancing, of course!) and potted up some mint plants into the bare areas, plus some seeds I found.

  18. You have a garden bursting with loveliness!!! I admire those who like gardening… it’s quite a hard job, and not one I enjoy at all. But rather selfishly I do enjoy looking at other peoples gorgeous gardens and photographing the flowers. You captured some lovely pictures here… so full of fabulous Spring!?

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