Golden Showers

While watering the garden this morning Jackie photographed

a bee on a thistle;

and the goldfinch chicks in their nest – as soon as she did so all three flew off.

Later I watered and dead-headed a little on the Back Drive, before we set off for Ivy’s birthday barbecue at Newbury.

Our great-niece Ivy is now one year old. Her mother, Jane, looks rather happier about it.

Helen and Bill were unable to attend, so Shelly and Jackie thought their sister would like to see that they needed their fans.

After our great-nephew Rory had tried out all the buttons on my camera and been foiled by joint darts from Jackie and John in his attempt to speckle my white trousers with chocolate

the least I could do was photograph him while he was planning his next foray.

The event was so well attended that it wasn’t conducive to me staggering about with a camera trying neither to tread on little children nor to elbow others. There was much convivial conversation, eating of tasty sausages, burgers, fried onions, and salads, and drinking of wine, beers and soft beverages, followed by cakes and sparkling wine.

On the A3057 while returning home we joined a short convoy following a long container lorry spreading golden showers every time its load of hay scraped overhead branches as it contributed to the inevitable shaving of tree tunnels.

There was probably relief all round when the articulated juggernaut turned off in the direction of Mottisfont.

Needless to say we needed no more sustenance than cold water this evening.

72 comments

  1. Interesting to see how your hay was bundled. Most here now is bundled in large rolls that are carried about in flatbeds somewhat smaller than this one.

      1. That reminded me of the hay bales I bought for seating at my son’s casual outdoor wedding. (In Queensland, home of that Golden Shower acacia.)

  2. Big trucks on small roads are difficulties waiting to happen. Golden hay showers were not what I was expecting when I first read the term.😉

    1. Same here! 🙂 However, we do have an acacia in Queensland which has cascades of golden blossoms, and we call it a Golden Shower tree. So, I had two choices to consider. Neither of them were what Derrick had in mind, it seems.

  3. Fun gallery of birds & bees, family portraits and agri-transportation. Those large wire-tied bales are indeed quite large. Wondering if they are baled straw vs hay? The color points to straw…

  4. That first photo of Jackie’s is rather magnificent and so lovely to see that the baby birds are ready to flee the nest.

  5. Beautiful photos, Jackie and Derrick! So wonderful to see the baby birds! And the busy buzzy bee!
    Happy Birthday to Ivy! Sounds like a great 1st birthday party! 🙂
    Rory does look like he’s quietly planning his next move! 😉 They are always thinking! 😀
    Hey, it’s hay! HA! 😛
    (((HUGS))) 🙂 ❤️

  6. The goldfinch chicks grew up quickly! It sounds like a wonderful time with family, Derrick and Jackie. The children are adorable!

    The big hay and straw trucks are something we see here, too. They leave a lot of pieces of straw behind, and it accumulates along the roadsides.

  7. I love seeing very young fingers! Your descriptions of situations are always a joy to read and I like the pictures of the golden showers.

  8. It sounds and looks like such a delightful family gathering, even with needing the fans.

    I laughed at the comments about “golden showers.” My first thought when I read the title was “Derrick can’t possibly mean that!” I thought then perhaps it was pollen from the bee Jackie photographed. One doesn’t expect to be showered with hay particles. 🙂

  9. That truck has quite the load! When we travel to the mountains, it seems we always get behind the loggers, which is unsettling.

  10. That first part of the post has an album of interesting portraits. The source of the golden shower is an overwhelming presence, caught astutely by your camera.

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