Behind The Scenes

I began another gloomy-looking day by printing a batch of photographs for my sister, Jacqueline, including

this one of her son, my nephew James and his son Shay at Michael and Heidi’s wedding on 5th October 1991.

Our blogging friend Carolyn began a comment on “Her Autumn Garden” with

a poem which I printed for Jackie to stick on her fridge. She photographed both it and a series of behind the scenes locations.

From the east front gate we see the Head Gardener’s Shed, greenhouse, and

potting up station where, perched on her kneeler she fills containers in the wheelbarrow from the fresh compost bags.

Behind the shed various implements are stored, and beside it potted items await their permanent homes.

Plants in need of more nurturing begin their lives in the greenhouse, also seen

beside the wisteria arbour.

Accessed from the west gates beside the house

the front garden contains a strengthened arch.

Later, we shopped at Otter Nurseries for Sharp Sand, pansies, and a hose attachment; posted Jacqueline’s photographs from Everton Post Office; and continued for a short forest drive.

Attracted by a fallen giant at Lucy Hill, I disembarked and scrambled into the

woodland where earlier casualties were in the process of being absorbed into last autumns leaves on the forest floor or draped in undergrowth to aid their decomposition and provide winter quarters for various insects and other small creatures;

and bracken was beginning to shrivel and turn golden brown.

Ever perverse, the sun waited for me to return to the Modus before sending weak streaks across the fallen leaves and silhouetting trees opposite.

Finally Jackie pointed out a door in a tree trunk behind which a Hobbit may have set up home.

This evening we enjoyed our second helpings of yesterday’s Chinese takeaway with which Jackie drank more of the Pinot Grigio and I drank Chevalier de Fauvert Comte Tolosan Rouge 2019.

94 comments

  1. Many people use a gloomy day as an excuse to lounge around the house and do nothing…not you and Jackie!
    I love that! My Mamaw always told me if you stop moving, it gets harder to get going again.

  2. Gardening command central! I love the photo “Trees in silhouette, particuarly when biggified. The voids beneath their lower branches form a very interesting pattern.

  3. I enjoyed seeing different perspectives of your garden, a glimps of the dragon, and the sweet poem about the Garden Queen. And I love the little door at the base of the trunk. It tickles my imagination!

  4. I am thinking how those back of the scene nooks and corners would have interested me more as a child. They have their own stories to tell. Carolyn has written a perfect poem.

  5. What a sweet father and daughter photo! And taken at such a special beautiful event! I’m sure this photo brings many precious memories to all of your family! 🙂

    I’m so humbled and honored that my poem is on your ‘frig! That makes me smile SO BIG! 🙂
    Jackie, I hope when you see the poem you are reminded of how beloved you are! You bring so much beauty, joy, kindness, hope, compassion, ETC, to the world AND to WordPress! 🙂

    Love the Behind the Scenes photos! 🙂

    Your forest photos are always some of my faves! There is such beauty and magic in the forest! Love the little door! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

      1. Aw, thank you so much! 🙂 It was such a joy to write about/for Jackie! I don’t think she and Derrick realize the great joy they bring to so many of us! 🙂
        (((HUGS))) to you!

        1. Thanks for the reply! And Carolyn – Would it be okay if I share this poem in a post later this fall? I am going to be featuring a mini interview with Derrick and this would be really nice to include ?

          1. yes – i am still planning a few things – but will bookmark this post to let you know when it unfolds more –
            have a great day carolyn and thanks for the replies here

          2. Oh, I would love for you to let me know! Thank you! 🙂
            You’re welcome! Hope you are having a wonderful whee-kend! 😉 Whee!!! 😀 Find the fun or make some fun! 😛

          3. 🙂
            I’m celebrating my birthday this week so there is some Whee!-ing going on! HA!
            I blogged about my birthday and asked everyone to do something to celebrate! I hope you will do something fun to celebrate with me, too! 🙂

          4. having some vanilla ice cream (keto version) in your honor – because birthdays are wheelie special – and hope your birthday week is a great one

  6. A lovely family portrait with many memories attached to it, I’m sure.
    Thank you for the garden tour. I’m with Tootlepedal–so much to your garden. I think I did see the tennis courts. 😏
    I particularly like the woodland photos–the trees in silhouette and the large fallen tree amongst the ones still standing.

  7. A very interesting post Derrick! Your gardeners seem to have a great place to do their work. What is Sharp Sand?
    I enjoyed your forest drive and the little Hobbit Hole!

    1. Quite fine sand, for horticultural use, I like to mix it with compost to use for taking cuttings, and I’m taking a lot of cuttings at this time!

  8. Oh I always enjoy the garden photos you share and I love the poem you printed from Carolyn – so fitting for the full and rich time of year for many gardens

    and like the photo from the 1991 wedding

Leave a Reply