Today, still cool, featured intermittent sunshine while cotton clouds pierced by cerulean patches sailed sedately overhead.
We carried out the usual garden maintenance including watering, planting, pruning, and dead-heading.
Jackie smiled when she first spied that I had come out to join her, but she didn’t see the camera hanging round my neck. I have taken to wearing it in order not to miss such photographic opportunities.
Here we have the peach rose, a couple of hemerocallis, sweet peas, white dahlias, sidalcea, yucca, and fuchsia Shrimp Cocktail. As usual each individual image is labelled in the gallery which can be viewed full size by clicking the box underneath it. Further enlargement is possible by additional clicks.
Mauve gladioli stand beneath the clematis covering the Agriframes Arch.
Shropshire Lad and linaria purpurea checked themselves out in the mirror placed to extend the Rose Garden views.
Here Jackie carried out pruning, the results of which I would clear up later.
The marguerites alongside the hydrangea in the corner of the front garden will unfortunately need to be cut down soon because they obscure the view of the Chauffeuse when driving out.
Bees enjoyed flitting from one verbena bonariensis to another.
We now have more robins than we can identify. This is not Nugget.
It was a good gardening day.
For a while now, it has not been pleasant enough for us to enjoy our evening drinks in the Rose Garden. This changed today.
From my seat in the north east corner I could see the hemerocallis in the Cryptomeria Bed and the lilies above Mamma Mia catching the evening sun.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty lamb curry; savoury rice; salt and pepper prawns; and vegetable samosas. I also enjoyed the chilli bhaji. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank Corte Aurelia Squinzano Riserva 2015.
A beautiful day to show off the garden, Derrick!
Yes. Thanks a lot, GP
It had to happen. The ‘l’ word popped up. 🙂
It can’t be kept away for ever, Yvonne 🙂
What a joy to be able to have your drinks outside in such a beautiful garden!
Thank you very much, Anne.
As usual, your camera took me to your garden paradise, and I enjoyed seeing the gorgeous results of all your & Jackie’s hard work. The fuzzy little bumblebee tickled my fancy today! Have a great Friday, Derrick! <3
Thanks very much, Jan. X
So beautiful! And clearly Not Nugget!
Thanks very much, Sandra.
Agreed – not Nugget! I wonder if the plethora of young robins are all his offspring though. No wonder the poor old thing is looking aged! It’s always lovely to see Jackie beaming at you – and therefore us. I have just received my early birthday present from the two of you – ha-ha! Delightful!! I am so going to enjoy reading this one. Thank you xo
So pleased you got it, Pauline. Thanks very much XX
You have so many wonderful places to sit out and enjoy an aperitif in your gorgeous garden
Thank you very much, Sheree.
You had a good time with alliteration again. It must be good spirits from a beautiful day. 😀 So many beautiful photos–I can’t pick a favorite. I do like “the marguerites alongside the hydrangea,” so I’m glad you got this photo before they’re cut back. The “Shropshire Lad and linaria purpurea ” in the mirror is also lovely.
The robin looks like a young one to me? In any case, it didn’t look like Nugget.
You are probably right about the robin, Merril. Thanks very much 🙂
A gorgeous day and the flowers also are enjoying the weather along with you and Jackie… 🙂
Thank you very much, Maniparna
That is a great photo of Jackie, and I always appreciate the garden tour 🙂
Thanks very much, msw.
Jackie: Your beautiful smile brightens the garden, and you AND your garden brighten my day! Thank you! 🙂
Lovely photos, Derrick! Oh, the sweet peas and fushcias are gorgeous!
“Hello” to Not-Nugget. Not-Nugget looks young! Might he be a relative of Nugget?!
YAY for a good garden day!
Is all the chilli bhaji making your cheeks rosy?!? 😉 😀
Your opening sentence was alliteratively wonderful! I can envision the clouds!
Considerable-n-cheerful comments compliments of Carolyn. HA!
Clutches-n-Clasps!!! 😀 HA! 😛
Thanks a lot, Carolyn. Given where the robin was it was difficult to be sure if it was one of Nugget’s brood – close to the south end where another family lives. Your own alliteration is pretty good, too. X
Word has traveled around The Robin Community that your garden is wonderful, beautiful place to live and thrive and be loved by you and Jackie. 🙂
We’ve decided this was probably a Nugget junior.
Splendid profusion of colors with a lovely delicate peach rose. Could this robin be one of Nugget’s offspring?
We have decided this is probably a Nugget junior, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
It certainly does look like it was a beautiful gardening day, Derrick! And of course Jackie looks beautiful as usual. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous photos.
And thank you very much, Jill. (I wondered whether you might find the lilies jigsaw-worthy 🙂 )
Most definitely!
Beautiful post, and I especially enjoyed the first sentence. 🤗🌷
Thank you so much, Sally.
Among the feast of colour, I liked the maúve dahlias best.
Thanks for that, Tootlepedal. I suppose I asked for it. Jackie noticed it too. Now corrected.
Lovely blooms! The pink and white lilies are my favorite.
They are so huge, Liz. Jackie can’t remember where she bought them. Thanks very much.
Do they propagate themselves?
No. Jackie planted two and they both come up each year.
Ah, I see, thanks.
“Today, still cool, featured intermittent sunshine while cotton clouds pierced by cerulean patches sailed sedately overhead.” a great opening to a book.
Robins have definitely found a home in your garden.
Thank you very much, Chrissy. I wondered whether that opening might be OTT, but it has gone down well. 🙂
The first sentence was fun to read, especially. Your garden has that old-fashioned feel… makes me feel nostalgic for “days gone by”….or the lovely idea of romantic days gone by! :). Painterly, I would say, actually! Winslow? among others?
Thank you very much, Cynthia. I had to google Winslow 🙂
Nope, not at all like Winslow, a painter of many other things-ha!
🙂
Wonderful garden, happy gardener, perfect photos.
Many thanks, Gary.
I smiled at the photo and reference to the fuchsia ‘shrimp cocktail.’ I just cooked a couple of pounds of shrimp, and I’m very glad indeed that they didn’t turn out to be fuchsia. The photos of Jackie are splendid — full of life and smiles.
Thank you so much, Linda.
That is a very poetic opening line. Some of those photos have 3-dimensional feel about them. Some of them are poetries written with flowers. Mr Not-Nugget is clearly not Nugget. Your chronicle is an encyclopaedia of flowers and plants, and a manual for gardening. It’s a pleasure to be here morning after morning.
My pleasure that you visit, too, Uma. Thank you very much.
Wonderful picture of Jackie! Glad you could enjoy your drinks in the Rose Garden.
Thanks a lot, Laurie
Your cup runneth over with beautiful flowers, and Jackie’s smile fits right in. 🙂
Thank you very much, JoAnna.
Gorgeous day and garden
Thanks very much, More.
You’re welcome
Splendid – just splendid.
Thank you very much, Sue.
Looks like weather is about to improve, which means loads and loads of planting for us.
The garden’s looking good Derrick.
Improvement is promised. Don’t work too hard. Thanks a lot Mhf.
I feel like I’ve sat on my butt for a week, so a day of exercise wielding the spade will be a great way to loosen up the joints.
Lovely colours!
Thanks very much, Rupali.
Lovely. Someday I hope to visit the UJK again and see my family and the countryside. I’d love to see your garden and meet you in person if permitted.
That would be very welcome, Sherry. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
What a lovely set of photos. It is good that you remind of the work it takes to make a garden look so gorgeous. You seem to be invaded by robins now.
I’ve noticed that for some reason wordpress keeps unfollowing your posts and I have to keep following all over again when I catch up with your posts over weekends.
I’m sorry about the WP glitches, Geetha, and appreciate your perseverance Thank you very much.
Most welcome Derrick. It is hardly something any of us can do anything about.
Nugget Jr has a look of awe in his expression. one of “Wow what a blessing that this is my habitat!”
Thank you very much, Maj
Gorgeous photos Derrick. July, to me, always seems the month when the more delicate looking flowers come out – your garden is a treat 🙂
Thank you so much, Tiny
Dead heading and clearing up – you get all the best jobs Derrick!
Unskilled labour. 🙂 Thanks a lot, Andrew.
Love that smile, so many blossoms and the nuggetinis around!
Thanks very much, Val
The photos are showing up for me very nicely today. Such a beautiful and restful tour through the gardens! All so lovely, and I especially love that orange daylily. That is a rather striking composition.
So you are becoming a haven for robins!
Thanks very much, Lavinia – especially for persevering with the photos. This robin, we now think, is Nugget Junior II.
Jackie’s smile lights up the whole garden. What beautiful flowers you enjoy too. Your dinner sounds so yummy too. 😃
Thank you so much, Sylvia.
You have such a lovely garden
Thank you very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
thank you for another tour in your beautiful garden! lovely photo of Jackie and a robin friend 🙂
Thank you, too, for reading and commenting, Lola.
Hello there, Not-Nugget. 🙂
Tweet, tweet, Widders.
😀
Another lovely day in your garden!
Many thanks, Barbara.
Beautiful Derrick
Thanks very much, Julie
What a delight for the eyes 🌸🌸🌸
Thank you so much, Ribana.
This is beautiful 😍
A delight – as ever.
Thanks very much, Roland
A lovely peaceful day in the garden.
Thanks a lot, Quercus