Our good friend Carole has given me the perfect illustrated information on yesterday’s mare and foal colouring. I have added this to the post which now reads: https://derrickjknight.com/2021/07/08/my-little-snipper/
Warmed by this morning’s sunshine I completed my work on the front garden gravel path, and, ignoring a nesting sparrow’s warning cry, and scattering slithering woodlice seeking safety, opened up the stepping stones to the compost bin that stands behind the hydrangea and the red carpet rose.
This afternoon I dead headed Félicité Perpétue and in the process stripped out yards of binding convolvulus. Much of this prolific white rambling rose needs tying back and pruning. This will be done tomorrow when I will also have to cut down many of the Leucanthemum Superbum marguerites in the corner which obscure Jackie’s view when driving out.
After this I settled down to watch the second Wimbledon Men’s Semi Final between Novak Djokovic and Denis Shapovalov. During a tie-break in the first set we experienced an hour long power cut. There was nothing for it but to go into the garden and clear up some of the debris from Jackie’s all day long weeding, pruning, and planting. The following photographs are hers:
The first two images are of the Pond Bed which appears at the bottom right of her work in progress along the Brick Path.
She is very pleased with her dahlias, kniphofias, and day lilies.
The Westbrook Arbour has received further planting; the Shady Path Bed’s recent planting is flourishing; the Owl Urn has been cleared of a surfeit of obscuring Japanese anemones, and the bed fed with compost.
These giant mulleins seem to reach the top of the greenhouse; The Head Gardener is particularly pleased with the arching diorama; the plentiful Polish Spirit clematis; the climbing Brownie rose;
and most of all with the Japanese maple that, as a spindly seedling, she dug out of a gravel path and has nurtured into life.
We had our electricity back in time for me to watch the second half of the match.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s tasty cottage pie; crunchy carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli, and meaty gravy, with which she drank Blue Moon and I drank more of the Cotes du Rhone.
Blooming beauties Derrick!
Thank you very much, Cindy
I was surprised to see your mullein. We have a native — Verbascum thapsus — that certainly looks the same. It can grow to quite a good height, too: as much as eight feet. One of the common names (and a humorous one) is ‘cowboy toilet paper.’ The reference, of course, is to those very soft leaves.
I’d never heard of “cowboy toilet paper”!
It’s really as soft as Charmin!
I’ll take your word for it!
🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Linda
Bloomin’ gorgeous garden. And the fully mature Arab horse was gorgeous too. Who knew? My hair is taking a similar path through life.
Mine, too, Gwen. Thanks very much
Jackie has every right to be pleased with her loving garden care 🙂 Even Mrs Owl on the wood stump appears pleased.
Thanks very much from us both, Rosaliene
Wow! So many gorgeous shots, Derrick. Everything looks lovely.
Thanks very much, Jill
The garden is looking particularly beautiful today! The Head Gardener’s efforts are on full display.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re most welcome, Derrick.
Well done Jackie, I do love saving little seedlings from alien spots and nurturing them back to life …
Thanks very much, Ivor.
Me too Ivor, I see my gravel paths as a nursery, it seems that seedlings much prefer to grow on paths than in the flower beds that I provide! this little baby tree was found under the beautiful bright yellow maple, I hope that it comes true to the parent.
Such a pleasurable find Jackie, and it’s so heartwarming to see them prosper .. Cheers ?
I love all the paths through your beautiful garden. Good luck with that little maple. Looks like it’s off to a good start!
Thanks very much, JoAnna
That little Japanese sédling is so sweet.
Should be “seedling.”
🙂
Thanks very much, Laurie
I’m always impressed at the amount of work you and Jackie put into your beautiful garden.
Thank you very much, Sue
Your garden is a riot of colour
Thanks very much, Sheree
Maybe Jackie turned the power off because you hadn’t finished your chores!
🙂 Thanks a lot, Andrew
Derrick, I’m curious, how large is your property? Is it ‘Huuuuuga’ (a local car dealer’s expression), or a small parcel that you have artfully and tastefully decorated? I like the small stones, pebbles. We use them in some areas to decorate and keep down weeds. We refer to them as ‘pea stones’ for their size. More in stones and rocks another time. Who won the match? I haven’t paid much attention to sports this year.
Djokovic won. Our plot is 1/3 of an acre, including the back drive and the house. Thanks very much, Steve
Such beauty. It certainly is a passion of love. We built a berm a few years ago and planted Juniper trees along it. They’re deer resistant with pretty berries. Lo and behold , we started getting what appears to be, baby Junipers sprouting in the area if one or two of the trees. Any advice on digging a few of them out to transplant elsewhere? I’ll send you pictures later. No surprise about Djokovic, eh?
No surprise, indeed. I’m not sure about what to do with junipers, but I’d like to see the pictures.
Will send
Beautiful pictures Derrick
Thank you very much from us both, Bridget
Thank you for adding the additional information from Carole.
Your garden is so beautiful. Jackie should be pleased with both garden and photos. I really love how it’s set off with the pathways, and seedlings that grow there get replanted.
I’m glad your power wasn’t out for very long.
Thank you very much for us both, Merril
You’re both very welcome.
All looks beautiful, Derrick and Jackie. I especially love the rescued maple seedling, having done that myself with trees from time to time.
Thank you very much from us both, Lavinia
Polish spirit sounds interesting!
It is very prolific, Amanda. Thanks very much
Congratulations to Jackie for nurturing the Japanese maple seedling. I hope it will turn into a substantial tree some day.
The walk along the brick path must be delight.
Thank you so much, Nicki, rooms both
Your garden is beautiful and vibrant.
gorgeous shots in the garden, as always, Derrick! that maple seedling is thriving so well! 🙂
No power? No problem! The garden is always a good place to spend the time ? Absolutely beautiful!
Quite so, Ribana. Thank you very much.