This was another fine, but cool, day.
As usual when Jackie stepped out of the stable door to fill the robin family’s breakfast tray
Nugget appeared in the wisteria before she had opened the cereal jar.
Soon after the Head Gardener had attended to her ever-multiplying avian infants we set out on what was planned as a garden centre crawl. In fact there was such a dearth of bedding plants which were all we could possibly make room for, that we stopped at two.
Ferndene Farm Shop presented its usual, smoothly moving, orderly queues, masked members maintaining mandatory distance. I loaded bags of compost while Jackie paid for it and added a considerable quantity of bird food.
The next stop was Redcliffe, where there was no queue
and Jackie acquired a few flowers. Needless to say, like all other eating places, the Tea Room was closed.
This afternoon I dead-headed a number of roses.
The climber on the front trellis isn’t quite ready for the treatment, neither is
Perennial Blush along the back drive.
Also in the front garden we have calendula Orange Flush and deep red sweet William. The Euphorbia Mellifera in the background is just one of those we have whose honeyed scent lives up to its name.
The large blousy orange poppy, now past her bloom of youth nurtures a bud to take her place, while
the fully mature rose Margaret Merrill shares her bed with crisp offspring, with younger buds, and with an older relative whose time is done.
This was past siskin siesta time, so greenfinches were up and about drawing upon verdant leaves for camouflage. The clamour of a host of birds and their young filled the air around me.
The owls in this view of the Weeping Birch Bed looking northwards remain silent.
The peach rose beside the patio is pretty prolific.
If this is a bee on an erigeron
what is this?
Nugget Junior now fends for himself
while his Dad continues
to cater for his younger brothers and sisters.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome chicken, bacon, and vegetable soup with crusty bread from the freezer, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the El Zumbido.
You, Jackie and Nugget all know exactly how to stay busy – no matter what the weather or quarantine situation!!
🙂 Thanks a lot, GP. Mind you, Nugget is making me feel tired.
So happy to see how well your garden is doing. We can only now safely plant anything in our gardens. Many people are happy that the garden centres are open as of today but I’m a little worried about the crowds. I think I’ll wait a few days.
Waiting a bit seems sensible – as long as you don’t want bedding plants – going fast over here. Thanks a lot, Carol.
It’s a tough life being a fledgling robin. Nugget Jnr doesn’t look at all confident in his chances of getting a free breakfast. One starts to realise how very well Nugget Snr planned his life when he first started flirting with your missus! Is that a May Fly? I will have to pop back to see what the learned have to say.
Thanks very much, Pauline. 🙂 Nugget Junior is beginning to get the hang of it. We don’t think that is a May Fly.
Our village nursery opens tomorrow but we will give it a few days to calm down. Meanwhile we split garden plants to fill new spaces. Very hot again here today and no rain.
Sensible to give it a day or two, Andrew, but Jackie reports that even Ferndene, which was well stocked, has run out of bedding plants. Thanks very much.
We are in competition with all of the people who with time on their hands have discovered the joy of gardening. Even my own children (35 and 33) who have previously shown zero interest are now avid enthusiasts in their gardens!
🙂
That orange rose is glorious!
Thanks very much, Sheree
The garden is coming on so well! Happy weekend to you both 🌿
And to you and yours, Tiny. Thanks very much.
So good to see the owls on duty! 🙂
Nugget is such a good Dad! And I’m sure Mrs. Nugget has been a good mom! And they are all lucky to have a safe, beautiful, food-provided place with you and Jackie! 🙂
All the plants and flowers look beautiful…bright, cheery, colorful, thriving! 🙂
Good joy you did on the dead-heading of the roses!
HUGS to you and Jackie!!! 🙂
PS…”What is that?”… Did you mean who? His name is Iggy. 😀
Thank you very much, Carolyn. Now we at least have a name for Iggy. 🙂 X
The not bee is interesting. I don’t know what it is. The head gardener looks very imposing in mask and gloves.
You wouldn’t tangle with her for plants, although she’s a big softy really 🙂 Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
I especially liked the captioned photo with Nugget. Beautiful composition.
Thanks very much, Rosaliene. I waited for it but was still lucky to get it in focus.
I missed a few and came back to a new family! Cheers!
🙂 Thanks very much, Cynthia
Your not-bee looks like a fly of some sort, but that’s the best I can do. We had quite a blow, a lot of rain, and a power loss this afternoon, but it seems as though most of the flock is present and accounted for. The rain stopped very late, so I’ll have to wait until morning to see if they all did well. Nugget’s progency is looking quite spiffy.
Thanks very much, Linda. His progeny is looking better than Nugget is at the moment 🙂
The wonderfully picturesque photo through the archway to the view of the Weeping Birch Bed, is picture perfect Derrick……
Thank you very much for that, Ivor.
The image of Nugget in the wisteria is like a watercolour painting. Glad I am to meet his wards further below. I am excited by the fresh procurements by the Head Gardener.
Thanks very much, Uma. I think we are going to have to try a couple more garden centres today
Hard to beat roses, but I do believe Nugget in the wisteria edged them out. Such a wonderful picture.
Thanks very much, Laurie
I loved that blousy orange poppy. And Nugget Junior looks quite cute.
Thanks very much, John
The photo of nugget in the wisteria is enchanting. I’m glad his family is going well and that you and Jackie got out for some fun.
Thanks very much, JoAnna.
As our garden – not fully recovered from the prolonged drought – eases its way into winter, it is delightful to see the variety of flowers in yours – and Nugget, of course!
I still cannot get used to climate difference. Our roses are not out yet and neither are the rhododendrons.
Yesterday Daughter Sophie went to the large garden centre near her house. She said she didn’t put on her mask because everything and everyone was well spread out and it wasn’t busy. One of her first tasks will be to redo the plant pots next to my husband’s grave.
Despite having a good supply of gloves and masks I shall remain at home until the three months are up and reassess the situation then.
Fully understood, Sue. I am apprehensive about even our short trips. Thanks very much.
We live in concerning times! The odd thing is I don’t mind staying home, though I would welcome a restaurant cooked meal!
Realistically, the virus is likely with us for a long time to come and I think we’ll all need to learn to live our lives differently, I cannot see any of us returning to what was our normality.
You are right. Age and a garden helps us be content at home.
Thanks for reminding me I need to dead-head some roses tomorrow.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Peggy
Beautiful images Derrick.
Our tulips are not yet open and we have snow today 🙂
Thanks very much, Rupali. That is a shame.
Nugget as a dad. It’ll be interesting to see if his offspring stick around.
Thanks very much, Leslie. It would be unusual
That’s what I figured.
Looks like a wonderful start to the weekend. I am going annual flower shopping today.
Thanks a lot, Mrs W. Have a good shop
Your welcome. We have a pick-up bed load of landscape timbers, rock, potting soil, weed barrier. The backseat floor of the pick-up is loaded down with plants.
Excellent. Have fun.
Thanks.
I love that picture of the peach rose!
Thanks very much, Barbara
Aw, lovely to see Nugget Junior. Glad you managed to get a few plants – we came across a community shop today which had some plants but nothing that grabbed my attention.
Thanks very much, Helen
Your garden is a sensory delight of sight, scent, sound, and color. I can tell that you had fun, once again, with writing your descriptions of the flowers. All those family members sharing a bed!
The photo of Nugget in the wisteria is enchanting.
Thank you very much for your careful observation, Merril
It is good to see all the flowers, especially the roses, on such a grey day here, rain imminent. It will be June before we see any rose blooms.
That is a lovely photo of Nugget in the wisteria! Nugget Junior looks a bit forlorn, no one to attend him. Nugget is busy hot-footing it, or rather hot-beaking it, at the feeder with all those hungry siblings. 🙂
He is indeed, Lavinia. Thank you very much.
Your roses are breathtaking, as always, Derrick. It seems that Nugget Junior is gaining independence and pretty soon will go off to school
Yes, he is, Dolly. Thank you very much.
My pleasure, Derrick.
So so beautiful 🌸🌸 That roses are stunning! 🌹
Thank you very much, Ribana
With regard to your bee and fly question. I don’t think your bee is a bee; it is a hover-fly. You can usually tell by the eyes which are large and often are joined together on a hover-fly but are smaller and separate on a bee. Your fly is a dance fly or dagger fly ’empis tessellata’ https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/empis-tessellata
Apologies for visiting so late, Derrick
With that useful information, Clare, you are even more better late than never. Thank you very much.
You are very kind, Derrick.