When I began my perambulation round the garden this morning Jackie observed that I was photographing similar subjects to her. She had taken her walk even earlier.
We therefore each produced a gallery in changing light.
This is Jackie’s set. The galleried images each bear identifying titles, some with further descriptions. Click on any image to access them. Each may be viewed full size by clicking on the boxes beneath them. Further enlargement may then be achieved.
Here are my offerings. Please don’t miss what I think is a meadow brown butterfly – see Tootlepedal’s comment below – it’s a Small Heath.
Our HSL chairs were delivered today. We are both more comfortable and, for the first time in my life I have a high enough seat, enabling me once more, post surgery, to rise without the use of my arms.
Afterwards, Jackie carried out more weeding and planting; I cleared refuse to the compost,
and Nugget clamoured for his close-up.
This evening we dined on Tesco finest Pesto & Parmigiano reggiano breaded chicken perfectly heated by the Culinary Queen who served it with buttered Jersey Royal potatoes; roasted chestnut mushrooms; firm flavoursome carrots; and tender runner beans, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Cotes du Rhone.
I absolutely love the hydrangea. I used to have so many of them. The brown butterfly was also pretty.
Thank you very much, Geetha. Strangely enough, we haven’t had many butterflies this year
Welcome Derrick. I saw a few butterflies hovering on my flowers on the balcony.
Absolutely stunning.
Thanks very much, Gary.
Nugget is I think a poseur ( but in a good way)?
🙂 Thank you very much, Sylvie.
Your garden looks fabulous whatever the light or weather. Fantastic close-ups of Nugget!
Many thanks, Sheree.
Nugget is going grey! But he’s still so handsome 🙂 A perfectly captured shot of the butterfly Derrick – she too was posing for her closeup. And the garden looks just amazing – not a corner left untended!
Thank you so much, Pauline. We all lose our hair colour 🙂 And I can’t dye mine purple.
Shame! You’d look quite dashing.
🙂
Some great shots of Nugget – no problem finding him in these. He seems to be wearing a lacy shawl in the last. My favourite flower combination today is the erigeron and the verbena bonariensis. And the borage…! What a wonderfully curious flower that is.
Thank you very much Susan. The plumage patterns are indeed fascinating. (I must learn to put the first ‘i’ in bonariensis)
I had not noticed it was missing – I must have been concentrating on the scene.
🙂
That chair will make life easier, Derrick ? And Nugget is a real star. He’ll be giving autographs next!
Thank you so much, Sandra
Lovely flowers.
Thanks very much, Rupali.
Always knew Nugget was a ham at heart. What a lovely montage of you and Jackie’s Heaven on Earth. We always enjoy your posts!
Thank you both so much, Maj and Sher, from us both.
Congratulation on the new chairs, Derrick! I laughed at Pauline’s comment about nugget going gray. That photograph is fantastic! That would make a great jigsaw puzzle.
If I’d thought of it years ago I might have tried to market jigsaws. Thanks very much, Jill.
It was fun to see the photos that both you and Jackie took of your beautiful garden. And it’s always a treat to see Nugget.
Thank you so much, Merril, from us both.
You’re welcome! ?
I wondered if the butterfly might be a small heath.
You are right, Tootlepedal. Google would agree. I’m going to change it. Thanks very much.
One of the few that I know.
🙂
I think we just got two tours of your splendid garden for the price of one, with Mr Nugget’s close-ups as a finishing touch. Lovely!
You did, indeed. I almost made it two posts, Dolly. Thanks very much.
My pleasure, Derrick.
Here, looking out of my window, dawn is sliding through, and the morning light is grey. I’m appreciating appreciating your bright and colourful photos Derrick….
I’m pleased, Ivor. Thank you very much
Simply stunning, both of you. Our modest efforts have been drenched oop here in t’frozen north!
Thanks very much, Mike. We are so lucky with our climate down here.
I was going to go with the dalias (yours and Jackie’s) as my favorites, until I saw the Meadow Brown butterfly on verbena bonarensis. It’s good to see Mr. Nugget in fine fettle in his close-ups.
Thank you so much, Liz. It is good that you had a choice of favourites 🙂
😀
I do love those photos of Nugget, but I especially liked the Meadow Brown’s photo. That’s a different kind of verbena; I don’t think we have it. I’ll have to do a search. The sheer variety in your garden’s overwhelming; what a pleasure it must be!
Thank you very much, Linda. The verbena adds wavering height and self seeds.
Wonderful close-ups of Nugget! Like the square perspective.
I thought you might 🙂 Thanks very much, Laurie.
You have both gleaned the riches of what is rightly termed as the golden light in photographic parlance. The changing light has given depth to the photographs in full focus. Those shot in close focus have very pleasing bokeh.
Thanks very much, Uma – especially for reminding me of the word bokeh, which I couldn’t dig out of my brain a day or so ago.
We seem to have certain telepathic connection!
That is good
I very much enjoyed the rick textures in these photos, especially the Allium Mood Dance seed heads, the fennel, and expressive Nugget. He looks so intelligent.
Much appreciated, JoAnna. Thanks a lot.
Marvelous! All your hard work has paid off.
Thank you so much, Cindy.
A beautiful set of photos from both of you, Derrick and Jackie! Such a lovely garden space, and of course little Nugget! I hope he is getting enough worms for himself these days. How is Nugget Jr.?
Nugget Jr is fending for himself, but not as friendly as Dad. Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia.
I enjoyed my stroll through your garden.
Thank you very much, Sherry. That is good.
Gorgeous photos of the garden and of little nugget! How wonderful! Thank you for sharing them with us! What a breath of fresh air.
Thank you very much, Lisa. I’m pleased.
Absolutely lovely. I loved the closeups of Nugget too.
New chairs and high seats! Sounds perfect. I swear my sofas are getting lower!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Sue
Meadow Browns are becoming very rare as far as i know. Something to do with the excessive flooding of agricultural land in recent years apparently. The excess water drowns the caterpillars and /or chrysalises.
OH! We had a gloomy rainy day…we needed the rain…but, so lovely to see the light and colours in your garden! Thank you, Jackie and Derrick! 🙂
So very good to see Mr. Nugget! When you see him again, give him our love! <3
YAY for the new chairs! Wonderful! 🙂
Nice to see Florence and some owls…and keeping watch in the garden. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you very much from us both, Carolyn X
Beautiful! Nothing can soothe our senses more than a colourful garden. The brown butterfly is cute… ❤
Thank you very much, Maniparna.
Love your beautiful garden and your little bird is darling!
Thank you very much, Dwight.
Love those purple and white petunias, Derrick 🙂
Thank you very much, Barbara
your garden is absolutely stunning! and, nugget is simply photogenic! thank you for sharing 🙂 🙂
And thank you very much, Lola
Beautiful gallery. Your garden is such a refuge. I’m glad to visit it again!
Thank you very much, Lisa.
So beautiful…
Thank you very much, Julie
Congratulations on the comfy new chairs. 😀 … when we used to visit the rellies (before Covid-19) I had them well-trained never to offer me a seat wherein my bum ended up closer to the floor than my knees. 🙂
Nugget is looking rather dashing, in a going-grey-around-the-temples-distinguished-gentleman, kind of way. 🙂
Thank you very much, Widders. We think the poor old boy has fed three broods this year. He now seems to be able to enjoy his own food.
That biological imperative can be tough. 🙂
🙂
What stunning photography! Your garden is so captivating. Touring it with you is a perfect way to end a very full July 4th here in Montana. And your Nugget is quite the character, isn’t he? Seems he loves being photographed. I love seeing him! Thanks, Derrick & Jackie. <3 Have a peaceful Sunday. <3
Many thanks from us both, Jan. You, too
Magnificent garden gallery by you two. You must spend hours pruning and preening it. Well, bravo! I also enjoyed your little Nugget. I don’t think we have anything Nuggets here. At first I thought it was a tiny Robin. I had a Robin near by for weeks and he’d sing his heart out every morning and evening. The perfect start to my day, but he/she seems to have relocated or found a less rainy locale. We’ve had just an obscene amount of rain here as of late. Good for gardens I suppose but not to much for golfers, ha! Cheers xK
Thank you very much, Kelly. Nugget is a robin – much smaller than yours, and known here as the gardener’s friend. Strangely enough for us, we haven’t really had enough rain. X
Such a beautiful garden you have, Derrick. No wonder happy birds keep stopping by.
Thank you very much, Alys.
A peaceful oasis very well captured by both photographers!
Nugget is really a model! ?
Thank you very much from us both, Ribana
Love pictures of your flowers and Nugget.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
Gorgeous garden! And the little Nugget is the cherry on top 🙂
I like the thought of Nugget being the cherry on the top. Thanks very much, Inese.
It’s bloomin’ beautiful Derrick.
Cheers, Lindsey
Thanks so much, Gary.
Thanks very much, Gary