On a sunny and mild morning I spent some time dead heading and transporting clippings to the compost bins.
Jackie pruned and tidied the lawn area, keeping me supplied with bags of refuse.
The eucalyptus has now been adorned with its pendant baskets.
Nugget played his game in “Where’s Nugget?” (84) and (85). A click on either image will access the gallery each picture of which can be viewed full size by clicking the box beneath it on the right and further enhanced if necessary.
Later, Jackie added twelve begonias to the now weeded bed above. This activity, of course, produced more robin fodder.
My dead heading took me through the Back Drive entrance arch scaled by clematis Margaret Hunt and along these borders containing fuchsias, poppies, antirrhinums, phlomis, and much more.
In the Rose Garden I focussed on the strongly scented Absolutely Fabulous, Deep Secret still bearing the raindrops that fell overnight, and Crown Princess Margareta; the bright magenta petunias in the urn; and the gentler, drifting, scent of Rosa Gallica.
Elsewhere the red bottle brush plants and various hemerocallises bloom.
It is well known that Jackie finds birds becoming imprinted on her.
What do I find?
Well, this afternoon, as I left the kitchen to offer the Head Gardener some water, I heard a buzzing in my hair, which has not been cut since the lockdown began. I could feel nothing, but gave it a good finger rake and shook it all about. I walked through the garden, still hearing buzzing. I raked once more. I returned to the house, poured some water for Jackie, carried it outside, returned, and settled with Virginia Wolf on my lap.
A fat, drowsy, bee dropped from my locks onto my shoulder. I flicked it into the fireplace and forgot about it. It must have been three quarters of an hour later when the creature clutched at my T-shirt. This time I flicked it onto the carpet and continued with my book.
When Jackie came in it was still crawling about. With the aid of a glass and a birthday card she carried it into the garden whereupon it flew into a spider’s web. You just can’t help some people.
After the excitement we dined on Jackie’s super spicy chilli con carne with her flavoursome savoury rice, with which she drank Becks and I drank more of the Douro.
I enjoyed the tour of your gardens again, Derrick and Jackie. It has gone back to cool and rainy here, and your sunshine-filled floral photos are a real treat!
Bees do get into trouble, don’t they? I have seen them many a time get ambushed by crab spiders in our roses. The roses have been under heavy attack by deer here this year. We may not get to enjoy many blooms in 2020. A doe, followed by a buck, came through this morning.
Given how many deer there are in the forest, I guess we are fortunate that we don’t have them. Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia.
If you and Jackie would like a CD, let me know. No need to review it or post about it. Just a thank you for all these beautiful garden posts. 🙂
That would be lovely, Lavinia. derrickjknight@btinternet.com. (You can’t expect me not to post about it 🙂 )
Just sent you an email. 🙂
You guys have a very beautiful garden, wow! Always nice to visit you from afar. Be safe and well! 🇬🇧
Thank you very much, John. I’m pleased.
Nugget in the flower beds, Virginia in your lap, a bee in your hair! My word! How fortunate that you have your glorious garden to soothe the soul after all that!
Thanks very much, Sandra. I’m pleased you spotted that.
😊
Oh my, I chuckled out loud after reading your “You just can’t help some people” comment about the bee. 🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Maj.
Found Nugget in both pictures!
Well done, Laurie. Thanks very much.
I found him too. You were quite lucky you didn’t get stung. I had one tangled in my hair a bit back and I couldn’t find it and it eventually stung. My sweetheart was looking for it too and saying ‘there’s nothing there!’ but it was buzzing really loud so I knew there was.
Thanks very much, Susan. It made me think I was imagining it – but I knew I wasn’t.
If they didn’t buzz, they might be able to sneak in, but as it is…
I’m glad to see Nugget is still coming around, especially as his Jr. died yesterday.
Much appreciated, GP.
So appreciate the eucalyptus tree and surrounding baskets, flowers. And what a good story about the bee in your hair–with a nature-made ending! (Good you didn’t get a sting.)
I’m lucky I wasn’t stung. Thanks very much, Cynthia.
Everything is looking beautiful! I especially enjoyed the second photo of Jackie.
I like that one, too, Jill. Thank you very much.
what a lovely lazy afternoon read… sends hugs your way..
Thanks very much, Dymoon.
You were lucky to escape being stung. It would have been a poor reward after being so helpful in the garden.
🙂 True, Tootlepedal. Thanks a lot.
Must have been a buzz of a day. 🙂
🙂 Nice one, Chrissy. Thank you.
Well, your garden is beautiful and full of scents and sounds–birds and bees. I chuckled at your story.
Thanks very much, Merril.
Poor bee. It just wasn’t his day. Was it? 😳 Your description of your walk in the garden made me believe I could actually smell the fragrance of the beautiful flowers all around you. 😍
That’s good. Thanks very much, Sylvia.
That was one determined bee.
Love that smiling photo of Jackie. That pretty much made my day.
I’m pleased. Thanks very much, Lisa.
That the bee appears to have identified your locks for a possible abode for its clan is apparent. I would recommend the Head Gardener have a go at it!
Jackie has often cut my hair, but I am quite enjoying seeing how long it will get by 4th July. Thanks very much, Uma.
That a most noble and hairy ambition!
What a beautiful day in a beautiful garden . I can feel the warm weather from here.
Thanks very much, Sylvie. You must be quite cold by now.
That was an interesting bee story. Maybe bees just get old. Hopefully the spider appreciated it. I don’t like to kill bugs, but when certain types get inside the house, they are taking a big risk. If one happens to get squished, I often take it outside to be part of the cycle of life.
As you see, I tend to leave them to find their own way. Thanks very much, JoAnna.
Your Absolutely Fabulous roses are absolutely Fabulous, Derrick, and so are the rest of the roses – breathtaking. Mr Nugget is sitting on the grass in the first photo, but I couldn’t find him in the second. Sorry, Mr Nugget!
Thanks very much, Dolly. 50% is not at all bad.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Sounds like a lovely day
Indeed, Mrs W. Thanks very much.
Thanks.
Ah, the poor hapless bee. It may have had a short life, but in your garden, it was definitely a lovely one.
Thank you very much, Lisa
Another delightful visit to your garden – such tonic when ours is in full winter mode. Only the aloes are out to provide colour.
Thank you very much, Anne.
Those petunias are a beautiful colour. I’m sure I’ve seen the Queen in a summer coat somewhat like it.
Wow! A bit strong for her. Thanks very much, John.
Another lovely tour of ‘Gardener’s World’ I found Nugget in one picture but struggled in the other, though I may have spotted half of him! 🙂
You probably got him, Sue. Well done. Jackie couldn’t 🙂 Thanks very much.
Really? So pleased! 🙂
It is always a joy to see your garden Derrick. Hello Jackie. Couldn’t see you Nugget, are you hiding again?
Thanks very much, Arlene. Nugget even defeated Jackie in the second picture.
If dead heading was an Olympic Sport then you would surely win the gold medal Derrick!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Andrew
Beautiful garden…lovely roses. I love deadheading. Today is Sunday and I only do the gardening I adore on that day of rest. I will clip off those spent blooms and dwell for a moment in glad anticipation of new bursts of color on my garden plants.
Thank you very much, Timelesslady
Man who lives next door to me was spraying wasp killer around his back garden this morning. Made me very upset all round as I expect he was actually spraying honey bees (not that he should’ve been spraying wasps anyway). You can’t reason with him. Not sure if it was a nest but don’t think so as I would’ve expected a lot of angry activity and there wasn’t any. However, my honey bees in the front garden swarmed about an hour later so not sure if it was connected.
I hope your bees are unharmed. Thanks very much, Michelle
Being bald, I do not present a safety hazard to bees. I note that you don’t just have hair, you have “locks”. You’re just rubbing it in as revenge for our chip shop being open, aren’t you?
Sussed. Thanks a lot, Quercus.
🙂
As pretty as your blooms are, my favorite photo of this group is the Head Gardener in full smile
Indeed, Liz. Thanks very much.
It’s the depth of your locks that prevented stings. As you know, my husband, Bob, is a beekeeper. When he was active in that profession, he went regularly to my hairdresser and had his “locks” curled. Short, cling-to-the-head hair is ripe for bee stings. But thick locks (like yours) or curly locks (like Bob was able to obtain with help) are a deterrent to bee stings. I’m glad that “fat, lazy bee” was able to drop out without stinging you. If she had stung, she would have died, and you would have had a much more uncomfortable coiffure!
Very useful information, Jan. Thanks very much.
I laughed pretty hard at your comment about how you can’t help some people. It’s so true–whether the person is human or a bug! I think I could smell the scents in this post, by the way
Thank you very much, Luanne.
Nugget really plays his game well. I found them both — 84 fairly easily, but 85 not so much!
Well spotted slmret. Thank you very much.
In the second one was pretty difficult to spot Nugget while he’s inspecting very carefully the Head Gardener’s work 😉
I guess it was a too fat bee 🐝 😣
Thanks very much, Ribana. Well spotted.
I loved the photography and appreciated the scent references.
I’m pleased, Geetha. Thank you very. much.
Thank you really Derrick and you are most welcome.
Jackie, thank you for your bee-ooo-tiful smile! You made my day!
And thank for trying to help all creation!
Buzzy-HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you so much from us both, Carolyn. X