Given the forecast (accurate) of the very hot day we gardened in the morning.
My contribution was weeding the central brick paving of the Rose Garden,
where, later, Jackie took a break sitting in the shade.
This afternoon my Chauffeuse drove me into the forest. A parliament of rooks was held beneath a dead tree alongside
Mill Lane, where walkers, cyclists, and motorists were to be seen. In fact many visitors were about this afternoon, so we kept away from the more popular areas.
A cricket match was under way at Burley. Jackie opined that one of the bowlers reminded her of me in my youth, which she described as tall and skinny. Having watched his action, I replied that I hoped not.
The only livestock out in the sunshine today appeared on Wootton Common.
A small Highland cow nibbled at the verge, with its crop of
buttercups, daisies, and ferns.
A while ago I had photographed a heron beside birches in the middle distance. Today I spotted
a bovine trio in the same place.
Remembering the heron and realising that there was concave dip beside the tree, I wondered whether I might find cattle in a pool. My reflection was rewarded.
A pony mare grazed on the sward, hoping to build herself up enough to satisfy her nearby foal.
The usual two little Shetlands accompanied a group of their larger equine cousins.
Early this evening we continued emergency watering which Jackie had been doing on and off all day.
We then dined on spicy meat feast pizza with plentiful fresh salad. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Doom Bar.
Sounds like and looks like you had a great day for photography. As always I’m delighted to see the ponies. Loving the cattle too.
Not quite as warm up here in the north but lovely to sit in the sunshine with a gentle breeze.
Thanks very much, Sue
The Head Gardener looking suitably regal as she surveys her domaine
🙂 Thanks very much, Sheree
I’m glad that you guys are getting some bright sunshine and less rain now, wonderful! 🇬🇧
Thanks very much, John
Our temperature has dropped twenty degrees since the beginning of the week. The air is cool and refreshing. Jackie looks lovely among the roses. I particularly like the black-and-white version of the dead tree.
Thank you very much, Liz. We are getting hotter by the day in the coming week
The black and white parliamentary meeting under the dead tree photo is quite striking. The small Highland cow seems to be posing. Excellent bovine reflections. 😀
I hope it’s cooled off a bit now.
Thanks very much, Merril. The evening was fine, but it will be hotter tomorrow 🙂
The Head Gardener does indeed look suitably regal – and in such a beautiful setting.
The weed free path contrasts with the sumptuously blooming flower beds!
Those poor Highland Cattle – good that some found a pool to paddle in and cool down 😉
I had not realised that the forecast was for an even hotter day tomorrow…
perhaps we’d better nip out now to get tomorrow’s gardening done whilst it’s a bit cooler?!
That’s our plan this morning 🙂 Thanks very much, Emma.
A hot day sounds like a good day for a forest drive, Derrick and Jackie. I enjoyed all the photos, especially the Highland cattle and ponies. That one Shetland looks like she might be heavy with foal.
It is warming up here a bit today.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia. We’ll keep an aye out for that foal.
Another enjoyable day, Derrick. It’s interesting to look at the black and white photographs – they really tell a story, or suggest one, don’t you think?
They often catch a form or a mood that is lost with colour. Thanks very much, Barbara
Jackie looks quite content relaxing in the shade. Beautiful shots!
Thank you very much, Jill
Jackie’s shady place amongst the roses, would be my sort resting spot Derrick ..
I like that one, too, Ivor. Thanks very much.
We’ll have to toss to see who bats first
Indeed – although it doesn’t much matter 🙂 Thanks a lot, Ivor
I think you taking care of the weeds this morning made Jackie very happy. 🙂
Certainly did!
Thanks very much, Bridget 🙂
Jackie looks quite comfy in the shade. That is one effective looking tool laying on the bricks! Weeds don’t stand a chance against it, do they? 😉
The deeper ones do put up a fight, Maj. Thanks very much.
Hahaha…tall and skinny sounds like a younger you 😉
Great photo of that Highland cow 😉
🙂 Thanks very much, Ribana
Phew! Sounds as though it’s pretty darned hot if emergency watering is necessary. Been very dry here. Thank God we have hoses for the gardens out front.
Thanks very much, Laurie. We’ll need twice a day watering in the containers soon.
Holy cats! That must keep you busy.
Mostly Jackie, I have to say, especially if I have done a good stint of weeding 🙂
That Jackie’s a dynamo.
The parliament of rooks benefits from black and white rendition, Derrick. You rose garden is as splendid as ever, and the perfectly clear reflection of the cow is marvelous.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Winter has deserted us this week in favour of temperatures akin to your summer! We have been hovering around 26 degrees C and are enjoying the respite from the cold – as I have enjoyed your selection of photographs today.
Thank you so much, Anne. We might get to 26 tomorrow
Oh your garden! ♥♥♥♥
Thank you very much, Sonali
My pleasure ♥♥
The Brick Path has been shorn of rogue weeds and the relief is reflected in Jackie resting in the chair under the shade. The “parliament of rooks”reminds me of the human equivalent in my own country! The Mill Lane shots are fantastic.
Thank you very much, Uma. Nicely observed
Loved the reflection photo. And there is nothing to compare with a cricket match on a green field. Magnificent
Thank you very much, John
Your B&W photos and reflection photos are fabulous! That tree is amazing! So much life it lived and it still has great character even in it’s current “season”.
So glad The Head Gardener has a comfortable shady resting spot! She earns it every day! 🙂
Those cattle have quite the hairdo going on! 😀 Coop had a similar hairdo but he got it cut recently! 😉
Please stay safe and cool on these very hot days.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS…we dined on roasted chicken and salad…the salad was chopped kale, zucchini, two kinds of cabbage with some pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries thrown in. 🙂
I like a nice bit of crunch in my salad. 🙂 Thanks very much, Carolyn X
We do, too! We often put raw nuts and seeds in our salads!
I’m a little surprised that there are no Cattle Egrets yet in your neck of the woods. They breed in Cornwall, Somerset and Norfolk (at least) and would find easy pickings with all of those various quadrupeds.
I’ll look out for them, John. Thanks very much
Seems like a hot/layback day we often have here in summer. I just wish we had the animal population you have!!
Thanks a lot, GP
Wonderful pictures. I garden early and did errands and such in the heat of the day. And worked in the garden again in the evening.
If weeding paths were an Olympic event then you would be a cert for the gold medal.
Thanks a lot, Andrew. Paralympics, possibly
Even though the area seems quite crowded with tourists already, I contemplate adding to it every time I see your garden and pictures of the forest. It could be a while, though, so I’ll just visit your blog for now.
🙂 Thank you very much Lisa. We would, of course, love to see you
These are lovely pictures, Derrick. Your cows have much more shaggy coats than ours, but that is to be expected.
Thanks very much, Robbie
You DO have a fabulous new tool to teach me about! Thank you for leaving it there, despite Jackie’s misgivings about untidy pictures. I have never seen anything like that. I always just use my weeder stick.( What ARE those things called? They have a handle, about a foot long neck and a fork on the end.) Anyway, your tool looks perfect for the job! I just googled “path weeder tool” and all kinds of exciting things came up – many of them similar to yours. I just never thought to look for anything better.
Jackie looks wonderful in her garden, and I LOVE that black and white picture of the tree! Great job “reflecting” on the heron. Your wording is often so clever.
I’m so pleased, Jodie – that I could be of help re tool and that you appreciate my wordplay. Thanks very much
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If you ever need one, that weeding hook you picture is available with a long handle too – less bending. 🙂 Garden is looking good. Jackie really needs a cold drink in her hand for that picture to be complete. You may wish to consider that if you try to repeat the shot. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Quercus. I’ll investigate the long handle
Burgon & Ball £24.99. Worth every penny.
https://www.burgonandball.com/collections/weeders-edgers
Brilliant. Thanks again
🙂 My pleasure.
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Wicked gardening tool…that first photo looks like the beginning of a whodunnit.
What a good thought, dunelight. Thanks very much
What a great, shady corner Jackie has. Almost as if she’s sitting upon a throne, casting her eye over her domain.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
It has been hot and sticky, hasn’t it? I wonder that you could bear to be out at all but then it can be cooler than in a building.
We chose the cooler times (if there were any). Thanks very much, Helen
It looks like Jackie is wearing a pretty blouse with purple embroidery along one side! Perhaps this is how fashion ideas are born? Lovely photos, as always, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Lys. Good idea.