Once again we struggled in unaccustomed heat to thin out the rampant wisteria, and compost and bag up the clippings.
Jackie did most of the pruning and photographed the process before
and after her efforts.
As she said, she was no longer working in the shade.
Although the bulk of the composting and bagging fell to me,
the Head Gardener put in a chopping stint after lunch, when
we made more progress.
Fortunately we have secured a cancellation spot at the dump on 22nd.
The evening light as, in T-shirt temperature, we took our pre-dinner drinks on the patio, fell on
two socially distanced wood pigeons perched on the lopped cypress on the far side of the garden.
One flew of; the other remained unperturbed.
It was good to see that potted petunias and pelargoniums and fuchsia Delta’s Sarah.had perked up after recent watering.
We dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away second sitting with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Alma Da Vinha Douro Doc 2018.
delightful share
Thanks very much, Tanvir
My pleasure π
A lot of work taking care of a garden, but just look at the results!!
Thanks a lot, GP
“the bulk of the composting and bagging fell to me” – well I hope you did it properly. All great artists need a competent assistant.
I’ll leave it there. I’m sure Jackie will be able to interpret my comment… π
I’m sure she will, Quercus π Thanks a lot.
π
Since I was at work, my husband enlisted the resident neighborhood gardener who went crazy cutting and pruning. Came home to find my prized bougainvilleas cut to the tree trunk. I cried. Its our Spring but not for my garden this year. π
Oh dear. Thanks very much, Kavitha.
Oh, what a shame!
oh no…reminds me of the year, I came home and the lawn care guy decided I didn’t need my grapevine, not only had he cut it back because his mower wouldn’t get to the fence, he got out his spade and dug it all out π I de-employed him by phone that night!
I should think so, too.
Lots of plant material suitably removed. The pics of Jackie are exceptionally good, Derrick. And I have never before seen an unperturbed wood pigeon. Wait, I’ve never seen any wood pigeon before, perturbed or not. π
We have a lot in the garden, Maj. Thanks very much.
You two share a lovely avocation.
Thanks very much, Cindy
Jackie is a busy little beaver. I think she’s the prettiest flower in the garden. π Hordle Chinese Take Away sounds yummy!
Thanks very much, Jill. The best Chinese Takeaway I’ve ever found.
The garden is still looking so beautiful. So much hard work to get to that stage.
Thanks very much, Gary
Ξ riot of colour and a pure delight!It is good to see the sun’s autumnal rays before breathing their last in the coming months.I just love the photo with Jackie trying to shield her eyes from the relentless glare of the sun. Thank you for sharing!
And that you for reading and commenting, Sofia.
‘A cancellation spot at the dump’? Wow, that’s an orderly arrangement.
The garden refuse collection service has been stopped and we can only get half hour slots – Covid driven we think. Thanks very much, Peggy.
You two put in such hard work and your beautiful garden shows the beautiful results! π
Please stay safe in the shade on the hot days!
The wood pigeons are handsome and colourful! They probably flew home and talked about the two unperturbed Human-Beans they saw sipping drinks in the garden. π π
BTW: Do they leave deposits?!
BTW, too: Do you know what they call the poem a stoned pigeon wrote?
A High Coo π
You know I always love seeing the fuchsia!!! π
HUGS!!! π
Do they leave deposits? They certainly do! usually all over the chairs! I love the sound they make, tho’ so that’s alright.
HA and Yikes! But not surprised to hear this. π
Yes, their singing is comforting to me…a joy to hear. π
Thanks very much Carolyn π Jackie has given her views on pigeon deposits. X
Groan at your punny pun!
π
Another busy day for the Head Gardener and Assistant! I’m partial to the wood pigeon photos.
Thanks very much, Liz. We should finish the job today
From reading your latest post, I’d say that you did!
π I got into trouble for photographing the arbour before the Head Gardener had swept it out and put the bench back. Thanks very much, Liz.
Oh oh . . . .
Not serious trouble – I like to show work in progress – the Head Gardener likes to display the finished article. We can mange both. π
I am in awe of the hard work you both put in during such heat!
We had an a cloudy much cooler day today but have been assured of sunshine tomorrow! Can’t wait.
π Thanks very much, Sue
A job well done – it’s not easy keeping wisteria in bounds. It’s such a beautiful plant when it flowers.
In fact one bloom still flowers and has been left. Thanks very much, Susan.
Unlike many people, those pigeons know a thing or two.
π They do. Thanks a lot, Laurie.
Do you have white wisteria there? I’ve only seen it twice: once in the garden of a local Buddhist temple, and once in a pecan orchard in Mississippi. It’s as lovely as the lavender, but where it was close enough to sniff, the white didn’t seem so fragrant.
Yes we have quite a lot of white, over here, several different types, a wisteria with no scent is a waste of space, I think. I love the perfume and sit under the wisteria a long time when it flowers!
We do have it over here, but not in our garden. Thanks a lot, Linda.
So wonderful to be able to have the dinner on the patio enjoying this gorgeous garden and its animals and birds πβΊοΈ
Thanks very much, Ribana
Both of you work so hard in this heat! It must be quite rewarding to see tangible results of your labor.
Jackie is particularly pleased, Dolly. We should finish today – and it seems cooler. Thanks very much.
I am sure the Head Gardener is pleased; her shining smile attests to it.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I hope you enjoyed a relaxing evening. It was nice of the pigeons to visit. Sounds like going to the dump could be a welcome excursion considering you got a cancellation spot.
Thanks a lot, JoAnna. The slot will help a lot but we won’t get everything in the car in one trip, and won’t be able to return until we get another booking. π
Thanks for doing the best you can.
π
Jackie has carved out a fairy ring of a sky in the wisteria, no wonder she faced the heat! Wood pigeons are sentient beings, patient and persistent, like the potted petunias and the pelargoniums.
Thank you very much, Uma. A fairy ring in the sky is good – as is your alliteration extension π
Darn you took the words right out of my mouth!
π
That is such a good photo of Jackie!!!
Your posts always make me hungry–with no cure, as I’m on a fasting diet where I fast for 18 hours a day and I can’t eat for 16 more hours!!! I can, however, always go out with a flashlight and enjoy the flowers! (It is nearly 11 P.M. here.)
Thanks very much, Judy. I’m sorry to tease you π
Actually, you have the most interesting menus==and varied. And you obviously enjoy them. I can tell by the way you describe them.
π
Beautiful as usual.
A booking for the rubbish tip? WOW never heard of here. Then again, local council often have special clean up days where residents can put all their accumulated rubbish, unwanted furniture and garden refuse on their front drive and it will be collected on the designated day for their street.
Beautiful spring days here gives us plenty of opportunity to eat breakfast, lunch or tea in various parts of our garden now.
π
Thanks very much, Chrissy. We are hoping ours is just a Covid system
Pruning is the bane of my life – except that the results of that hard work can be instantly admired.
Thanks very much, Anne
Now my decision to be a non-gardener has been reinforced. Work … ugh. π
π Thanks very much, Yvonne
A busy day.
Yep. Thanks a lot, Sherry
Beautiful–as always! I love the header shot of Jackie. The socially distant pigeons, too. π
I hope the weather cools a little bit, but not too much, for you.
Cooler today, Merril. Thanks very much
The portrait “Under the England Sun” is awesome!
Thank you very much, Alexander
what a labor of love you put in your beautiful garden, Derrick! always a delight to see Jackie! and the pigeons are a wonderful bonus! π π
Thanks very much, Lola
If I were a bird your garden would be my favorite refuge.
Thanks very much, Leslie
Wow, beautiful post. Nice clicks.
Hi dear
Would be glad if you follow my blog. Would love to have you as friend. Will follow your page too.
Thanks very much, Tina. I followed before I read this. My earlier post https://derrickjknight.com/2012/10/31/curry-a-biography/ should show you why.
Looks like a good day.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
Such a lovely post. And we shall enjoy these last warm days as long as we can. T-shirt weather indeed! We just planted some fall flowers in our front porch planter, while listenIng to the doves coo while the leaves start yellowing and falling. Boo Hoo.
π Thanks very much, Pamela
You and Jackie are such hard workers. Your garden shows the love you put into it. I love the petunias and pelargoniums and fuchsia. They love your climate there, too, obviously. Thank you for sharing your beautiful oasis! <3
Thanks very much, Jan. X
Your pigeons are nicer than ours, Derrick. We have no sun today and it’s chilly!
Not so good, Barbara. Thanks very much