Resisting The Elements

Knowing that we were to expect another leaden afternoon of rain Jackie spent a couple of hours in the garden setting gale damage to rights. I joined her and transported some refuse to the compost while chronicling the event. This was before we visited Mum in Woodpeckers.

Our mother, sporting another of her best outfits was on good form. She got the joke when, after the carer came to warn us that we had another four minutes, I said that would be enough for her to run a mile. This puzzled the carer, so I added “like Roger Bannister”. She was still puzzled but laughed anyway. Of course, the first four minute miler was Derek Ibbotson, but I wasn’t sure Mum would know that.

After lunch I set about drafting the garden report.

Although I focussed on some of damage, like this pot and its contents blown of its brick plinth,

there were plenty of undamaged plants like these two varieties of dahlia.

Although a few gladioli had succumbed, others had stood firm.

Lilies, including the ginger variety in the second of these images, have survived.

The Brick Path won’t even need sweeping.

I picked up a fallen owl and replaced it on its perch beside another toppled pot.

The owl above was perched at one end of the Pond Bed, the rest of which was undamaged.

The Rose Garden didn’t fare quite so well.

Here Jackie indicates the damage to the top of one of the twin planters, which also lost its pot of petunias. The other stand was not damaged but its blooms were battered a bit.

The sweet peas were dragged down and the blooms shredded; some rose stems were bent over, so Jackie decided to give them their autumn hair-cut. Mamma Mia in the second picture here is quite intact.

Here is one of the trugloads I emptied.

The gauras and some clematis clung to life;

although one obelisk slipped a bit. Many pelargoniums remained reasonably intact.

Some views like these of the lawn bed, from the Dragon Bed towards Mistletoe Cottage;

and down the Gazebo Path are unimpaired.

This pot slipped off its plinth in the front garden, but its pelargoniums,

like other plants, such as Japanese anemones were unbroken.

Once again our garden has largely resisted the elements.

I have struggled with an intermittent internet connection throughout the drafting of this post, and we are on our way to our first lockdown-easing meal at Lal Quilla. If I find we have no internet when we return I may descend into a rant, so the restaurant meal will feature tomorrow.

87 comments

  1. We had some wind damage yesterday ourselves and I sorted through the pots and plants today as well. Our garden is tired, it’s getting ready for autumn and a long sleep through winter.

  2. I am glad that your wonderful garden has emerged relatively unscathed, Derrick. I am sorry about the roses, but I am sure they will recover under the Head Gardener’s tender care.

  3. Whatever your meal out tonight I feel sure you will both enjoy the novelty of being able to enjoy a ‘proper’ meal out at last. Despite the damage mentioned in your report, the garden still looks beautiful.

  4. Nothing is more annoying than an intermittent internet connection. At least if it drops entirely, you know where you are. I hope that the meal was adequate compensation for the annoyance.

  5. Now what do you know that I don’t, re the four minute mile? Ibbotson held the world record for a time in ’57 but Bannister first held the sub four minute in ’54, surely?

  6. I’ve been dealing with internet issues for two days. The problem isn’t at home, it’s with my employers remote connection. Major nuisance. The flowers are looking pretty today!

  7. I’m glad the storm didn’t too much damage.

    We have had a number of planned in advance power cuts lately, Always an inconvenience!

    1. They are limey wimps Gwen, I am always amazed at the resilience of the average Brit over here, they will enjoy their holidays in rain and wind, you see whole families out in shorts and skimpy summer tops, with umbrellas or plastic emergency raincoats, still laughing and on the beach or queuing for icecreams etc. The ones that stay over here are a tough lot!!

      1. Haha. I remember the first day I arrived. It was 13’c and my friend chattered about what a lovely day it was, while I sat in the back of the car with my teeth chattering. But four years later, if the temp reached 13’c I’d stick my bikini on and go lie in the sun.
        Oh, and then you get some tales of the English migrants not coping here because there was too much sun and sand, e.g.. https://www.hachette.com.au/stephanie-bishop/the-other-side-of-the-world

    2. You see- You toughened up too! I don’t think that I would cope with the heat that you get in Australia, I pass out at about 19c ! I actually like the winter.

  8. So odd how parts of the garden were ravaged and others unscathed.

    Those dahlias are spectacular! Every Japanese anemone I’ve planted dies. Gardening can be mighty cruel.

  9. I’m glad to see that your garden emerged relatively enscathed. I’ve been losing internet off and on for the past several days. I thought it was just my house. I guess not! It was good to hear that your mum continues to do well.

      1. You’re welcome, Derrick. I’m glad to hear your internet is fine now. Isn’t it remarkable how we’ve come to need immediate, uninterupted access to the internet to maintain our equilibrium?

  10. It sound like our garden is doing better than the internet. It’s a good thing we can go look at the flowers when the internet is not cooperating. Thank you for persevering and sharing your abundance of grace.

  11. The Damage Report brings forth the grit of some of the flowers in the face of debilitating gales. Is that barn owl an indicator of the extent of damage? I am sure these reports call for follow up Maintenance Reports.

  12. I am glad the damage was not worse! We can get some pretty good windstorms here, occasionally a tornado down in the valley.

    I hope the dinner out was enjoyable, though I bet dinner out is never as good as Jackie’s home cooking. 🙂

  13. A restaurant?! Yay! I have stepped inside three of them at this point. I am disproportionately excited each time.

    Oh, Derrick, I love your garden so. It’s on my bucket list. Today I feel like I am obligated to go see my friends when I’m released from this virus captivity. You two in England (and Andrew of course), and Laurie in North Carolina, and Maureen in New Zealand. I suddenly feel the importance of you all. Thank you for living through these times with me.

  14. Glad there was not a lot of damage. Whew!
    Thank you for rescuing the owl.
    so so SO glad you got to visit with your Mum!!!
    We desperately need rain….could you box some up and send it our way?
    HUGS!!! 🙂

  15. i’m glad your beautiful garden survived the strong winds. thanks for all the pictures, as always, simply delightful. 🙂

  16. Happy to note most of your garden survived the windstorm. I wonder how you and Jackie do it season after season despite the uncooperative elements to keep your garden in such good shape.

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