This morning my gardening occupations combined dead heading and making photographs.
These roses Summer Wine and Altissimo, both coming again, were too high for me to reach with hand secateurs, and I couldn’t be bothered to fetch the steps.
Bigifying will probably be necessary to appreciate these bees on bidens, on Japanese anemones, and coming to land on crocosmia. Just click on any image to access the gallery and enlarge further with clicks on the ‘view full size’ box underneath and again if required. The bees swarming the Japanese anemones must be welcoming the plants’ early blooming.
Crocosmia blend well with other plants such as these bell-like alliums and the Japanese maple with its fingers singed by recent violent winds.
From beside this latter crocosmia I was able, through the maple, to view the petunias and pelargoniums featured alongside the kitchen wall.
We haven’t identified all the clematises in the garden. The first of this triptych above, for example, is a Lidl unnamed purchase; we do know that it is Niobe who shares the arch with the fuchsia, Chequerboard; the Head Gardener was determined to track down ‘clematis viticella purpurea plena elegans’, which took her some time, because when we arrived seven years ago this then weakly specimen was ailing in the rubble jungle that we eventually turned into the Rose Garden – it was fostered out in another bed until we returned it to its native soil, and has taken three years to reach the top of its supporting beam.
One of these yellow evening primrose blooms has survived the night well; this phantom hydrangea is also a survivor – it is the plant after which the eponymous path is named – first planted on one side of the Phantom Path it was really rather poorly for its first two years, until Aaron moved it into Margery’s Bed where it has enjoyed more light. We hope it will soon be in the shape in which we bought it.
Hemerocallis still thrive and we also have stargazer lilies in the main garden.
Four hours later, in mid afternoon I set out once more with my camera, giving me shifted lighting conditions.
A bee did its best to weigh down a verbena bonariensis.
Niobe could now sunbathe, and the clematis at the barrier between the garden and the back drive enjoyed light and shade;
the freckled lilies kept out of the direct sunlight;
sweet peas and hollyhocks could take it stronger.
My lens found the white flowers the best beneficiaries: sweet scented petunias, powerfully aromatic phlox, a clutch of dahlias, different Japanese anemones and the phantom hydrangea sheltered in shade this morning.
This evening we dined on prawn fish cakes, peas, and fresh crispy bread and butter with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Carles from a second bottle.
Such a beautiful, beautiful garden makes me start looking forward to the late spring and early summer, by which time I feel sure we must have received some rain!
I do hope so, Anne. Thanks very much.
<3 freckled lilies <3 🙂
X Thanks a lot, Pauline
Love the photography of the bees. I could not enlarge on my computer but was able to from my iphone. Quite impressive the bees. Loved all the flowers as well. Glad that Aaron rescued the hydrangea
Thank you very much, Geetha. That is odd that you couldn’t enlarge on your computer.
Yes I know. I wondered why. There was also no box underneath to allow enlarging
The box should be underneath the right hand side of each image – labelled “view full size”
There is none that I can see. So weird!
Yes. I’m sorry it doesn’t work. Sometimes WP blips sort themselves out.
WP has so many quirks but we have so many good authors on it that it is worth it anyway
🙂
So gorgeous and colourful I’m almost, but not quite, lost for words.
Thank you so much, Sheree.
You did a terrific job with the photography again today, Derrick.
Thank you very much, GP.
These days such a lot of bloggers use their phones, not just for replies and notifications but also to view other blogs.
Generally, in the evening and first thing in the morning, I use my iPad to check my reader and view everyone’s posts. This evening I’m still seated at my computer, and I can only say to those who use their phones…
You do not know what you are missing!
Derrick, viewing your garden on my computer screen is a treat not to be missed – absolutely stunning!
Thank you so much for saying this, Sue.
My pleasure, Derrick, and sent From my phone ?
🙂
Same here, Sue. My tablet just can’t compare to the larger screen. I do a preview on the tablet and a proper look on the laptop.
Derrick, you do find some interesting wines.
The Head Gardener would love the challenge at my place; the yard is still a blank canvas, awaiting my son having time to get a native garden going. I do have 2 celery plants growing in a pot, they were starrted from the bits I cut off the bottom of celery bunches.
I spent years arguing with staff members against tablets. I argued there was a place for tablets but never should we treat them as a replacement for a computer. Some thought otherwise, but tell that to a developer and programmer… Not a chance for the professionals.
So pleased to read this. I work on the biggest Mac, and just use my phone to make and receive calls and texts – nothing else.
Thanks very much, Yvonne. The only blank canvas we had was the Rose Garden which we had to clear of rubble and junk like a buried bath. Most of our wines now come from Lidl who have an excellent rating system and are quite the cheapest. We thus have bottles we’ve never heard of before.
I also wait until I am at my computer, hooked up to the large monitor, so I get to see the photos in their intended glory. As well, with the new WordPress format, the image boxes tend to sit on top of the text and/or each other when I’m reading Derrick’s posts on the iPad.
Their garden is so worth it isn’t it? Mine is mainly lawns and pots!
🙂
I have one pot plant. And even I don’t take care of that.
You can’t have time for more than that, Garrulous – always gallivanting around Australia. 🙂
I’m happy being a cocooned home-body at the moment. Haven’t even gone down to tonight’s happy hour. But it’s a zygocactus, so can survive non-watering, and in any case, neighbours baby-sit.
BUT! I’m not sure it will survive the haircut Bill gave it months back. It’s looking pretty sad, but what can I say when I leave all the care to him?
🙂
Thank you both once more.
Such a flourishing feast for the eyes, Derrick, and such a shame that internet does not convey scents.
Thank you so much, Dolly.
My pleasure, Derrick.
Lovely captures as always, Derrick. We don’t know all the varieties and even species but we know they are beautiful!
Thanks very much Maj and Sher. I’m learning as Jackie goes along. 🙂
So many beautiful shots, Derrick! Thanks for sharing.
And thank you very much, Jill.
Such stunning flower (and bee) photos–I can’t pick a favorite–but I think perhaps I prefer the shifted afternoon light. The freckled lilies are beautiful.
Thank you so much, Merril. I’m with you on the light. Those lilies looked so dull in the early morning.
Oh–interesting!
I love petunias but they make an awful mess after the rain especially along the concrete path.
Beautiful photos as always.
Thanks very much, Chrissy.
The freckled lilies were the pick of the bunch for me today.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. They were popular, so you are in good company.
As coincidence would have it Derrick, here I am viewing all your gorgeous summer flower photos, while here I am listening to the Kink’s “Sunny Afternoon”…
https://youtu.be/2EHXH0hYkuU
I’m always up for the Kinks!
Yeah?
Yeah.
🙂
A great song, Ivor. Thanks a lot.
The freckled lilies are my favorite out of this group. They seem to be longing to be orchids!
Thank you so much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Great job with those white flowers.
Thanks very much, Laurie.
Your gardens inspire me Derrick ? each morning and each day I’m puttering…smiles Hedy from my garden in the north ☺️☀️
Thank you so much, Hedy. 🙂
what a wonderful treat to bask in the beauty of your garden! the flowers are exquisite and you photograph them very well! thank you 🙂
And thank you for this comment, Lola.
I got to know so much more about those legendary blooms. Phantom Hydrangea is apparently the star. I guess white flowers are the one who need maximum sunlight, which is why they are white.
Thanks very much, Uma. Yes, yet are so difficult to photograph in direct sun, I find.
Thank you for making a happy place for bees to be bees. 🙂
And thank you for this, JoAnna.
Lovely floral post.
Thank you very much, Sherry.
The freckled lilies are really lovely.
Thanks a lot, John
OH! The freckled lilies! How wonderful!!! 🙂
One of my best friends, whilst growing up, had freckles splashed across her nose and cheeks! I found them so beautiful! 🙂
You do such a fabulous job of capturing light (and shadows) in you photos, Derrick!
I love that your garden is a feast for the bees, Jackie! 🙂 And don’t think me any weirder than I already am…but, upon seeing certain photos of certain flowers I take a big sniff and I’m sure I can smell their lovely scents! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…ooh, we made salmon patties/cakes last night, with a colorful salad. Tonight was homemade chicken soup with chicken, onions, red and green peppers, black beans, brown rice, tomatoes, etc. 🙂
Thank you so much from us both, Carolyn X
A visual flower feast, Derrick and Jackie! The light and color has graced my morning!
It topped 95 degrees here yesterday. It was a hot one.
Gosh, that was hot. Thank you very much from us both.
Beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend.
Many thanks, Mrs W. You, too
Your welcome.
utterly splendid; I admire the patience to track down names… that is beyond my will power. I have a question for you, maybe Jackie! We’ve had it confirmed that the no. 1 son’s wedding will now be held late August next year and they’d really like to have the reception in the garden, having been spliced in our rather gorgeous local church. Which has put us into a bit of a tizz about maximising garden colour. Given you have created our aspirational cottage garden with light and shade and all conditions in between we’d love to know what you think will be at or near their best based on your experiences, or can be brought to that state with a ‘Chelsea cut’ or similar for the last weekend in August. Consider that your homework….!!
Will consult with the Head Gardener and post something on that weekend. Thanks a lot, Geoff.
Great range of photos Derrick. Love the lilies.
Thanks very much, Quercus
Hope you have a great weekend
You, too, More. Thank you very much.
You’re welcome
So many of my favorites! Thank you Derrick ❣️
Thanks very much, Val.
Impressive.
Thanks a lot, Roland
You’ve captured the light so wonderful! What an amazing collection of flowers ??
That crocosmia it looks so delicate but I love its bold orange colour ?
Thank you very much, Ribana
Love the little anemone…and you certainly have a beehive of activity going on in your yard.
Thanks very much, Cynthia.