The very dull, dark, morning gave way to at least a lighter afternoon on which Jackie drove me to Patrick’s Patch and back. While she trawled Fairweather’s Garden Centre across the road I wandered around this community garden.
An early autumn fall of crab apples were attracting insects like the fly at centre right;
small pumpkins looked past their best;
a figure of a little girl with pigtails and blue wellies
was glimpsed behind a couple who were pleased to have discovered this garden;
a flower pot man displayed aged globe artichokes;
while a stylish lady invited us to look out for ladybirds, of which I found a few
fashioned from painted pebbles;
Aunt Sally and Worzel Gummidge tentatively held loving hands;
nearby apples ripened;
someone had gone home without a teething ring;
their dahlias looked much healthier than ours which have suffered from the drought, and
sunflowers bloomed in several beds.
On leaving Beaulieu we passed a pair of cyclists from earlier eras. Jackie just had time to drive on ahead and point her camera before these faster than expected wheelers whizzed on by.
Ian returned this afternoon in time to join Becky, Jackie and me for dinner. The young family ate separately this evening.
The rest of us enjoyed chicken marinaded in Nando’s Mango and Chilli sauce with Jackie’s savoury rice cooked in my stock from yesterday’s roast meal. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden; Becky drank Diet Coke; Ian, Moretti; and I, The Swashbuckler Western Cape Pilotage 2021.
What a fun day of discovery. Sounds nicer than ours where we drove an hour for brunch to discover that for the first time in several years they asked if we were members or staying there. We were neither so they would not serve us. Rhetorical question, then why was it ok to come for brunch last Sunday?
Quite, Pat. Thanks very much.
😉
What a pleasant surprise this post is – filled with fun and interesting photographs 🙂
Thank you so much, Anne
I love the garden and the figurines! Those high-wheel bikes are amazing. Great photos, guys! ❤️🇬🇧
Thanks very much from us both, John
You’re welcome!
Thanks for sharing a delightful walk through a local community garden 🙂 I should consider painting some ladybird pebbles. They have become a rare sight in our garden. We’re on severe heat alert here in Southern California where the outdoor temperature in now 95 degrees Fahrenheit. No gardening for me this weekend 🙁
I enjoyed the tour through Patrick’s Patch, Derick and Jackie. The bicycles from another era were also interesting to see. A rare sight these days!
My mistake! The comment was not meant as a reply, but since I did, I can add that I have not seen many ladybugs up here in my area of Oregon, either.
Thanks again, Lavinia
Thank you very much, Lavinia
You certainly are suffering over there. We only had a brief taste of it. Thanks very much, Rosaliene
I still haven’t figured out how someone can ride a penny-farthing without seriously injuring himself.
Nor me, Liz, but he looked quite comfortable
Yes he does.
He does look comfortable. I suspect my feet would not reach the pedals. 😏
I don’t think I could even manage to get on the fool thing. It must have been fun riding way up high, though. 🙂
Now that you mention it, I probably wouldn’t be able to get on it either! 🤣
😀
The chap on the tall wheeled vehicle has what appears to be a wide grin on his face. He seems to be enjoying his ride into the past. Great image.
Thank you very much from us both, Maj. Cyclist: “You’ll have to be quick”. Jackie (clicking) “Gotcha”
I love the various sculptures that enhanced the garden.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
What fun photos! A beautiful garden with wondrous “peoples”, ladybirds, Human-beans, that fly, etc., to see! 🙂 The flower-pot-man is so fun! 🙂
And I love the fellow on the tall-bicycle! What a smile! 🙂
We have some community gardens here that are huge veggie gardens and we (volunteers) work the gardens so we (volunteers) can donate the food to local families who are in need of food. We have farmers in the area who donate land, and even donate fruit and eggs to add to the bounty we grow. I’ve really enjoyed helping with this!
Our area, also, has community gardens like Patrick’s Patch. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂 ❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn X
I enjoyed seeing the photos from Patrick’s patch; it must have been fascinating looking around the garden. I managed to get some of the names wrong didn’t I?
The speed with which you did the job exonerates you, Sue. 🙂 Thanks again XX
Thank you, Derrick – it’s my pleasure. 🙂
I’ve always thought that the penny farthing looks like the most dangerous means of transport ever invented…..bar none! And certainly, rather them than me!
Thanks a lot, John. Me, too, but that man seemed in complete control
This bicycle with a large wheel and a small one is called in France “le grand bi “, Derryck . This was used for races at the beginning of the 20th century.
Compliments to Jackie to seize this historical photo.
In friendship
Michel
Thank you very much from us both, Michel, our friend
That looked like a very cheerful community garden. I have a friend with a penny farthing but he doesn’t ride it. There comes a time when it is too far to fall.
Or to get on and off, I imagine. Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
So many fun photos, Derrick! I love that boots( boring name) are “wellies!”
Thanks very much, Jill. It was Sue, who is still helping me, who drew attention to the wellies
I’d never heard the phrase ‘penny-farthing.’ Now, I’m educated, or so I think. I found this online; is it correct? “The penny-farthing got its name from its two differently-sized wheels, with the front wheel likened to a penny coin and the much smaller rear wheel compared to a farthing (a quarter of a penny).”
It is, Linda. I have never seen one in action before, and was amazed at the speed this man got up – faster than the traction engine we saw a day or two ago. Thanks very much.
Patrick’s Patch is a fascinating community garden Derrick, well worth a visit ..
Thank you very much, Ivor
Such a beautiful place, thank you for sharing Derrick. The cyclists took me back to the long ago days. 😊 . The ripe apples look delicious. My daughter says they grow on the trees by the roadside and anyone can take them, like our mango trees 😊
This is much appreciated, Lakshmi.
Wow! What a lovely place! And that bike, really from earlier eras 😉
Thank you so much, Ribana
Love the photos of old bikes, particularly the penny farthing
Thank you very much from us both, Sheree
What a wonderful place! And a good spot with the bikes.
Thanks very much, Sandra
What a delightful garden. Thank you so much for the photographs I think I like the little girl in the blue wellies the best of the lot
Much appreciated, John
Wonderful post with wonderful photos by both of you. That shot of the man grinning from high atop his penny farthing is so good. The community garden is lovely. It’s looking very autumnal there.
Thank you very much from us both, Merril
What a lovely day out!
Thank you very much, Val
I love that stone ladybug! I will have to get Dan to make a family of them for our Genie💞
Thanks very much, AnneMarie
Love that old-fashioned bicycle!
Thanks very much, Barbara
Thank you for this enjoyable post, Derrick. I love the whimsy, the gardens, and the taste of autumn. I’m so ready!
Thank you so much, Alys
What a fabulous garden.
Thanks very much, Andrew
Fascinating photos and the rider on the penny farthing must be a brave soul.
Thank you very much from us both, Eugi
Most welcome.
It’s so nice to see signs of autumn. The cyclists were a delightful suprise!
Thank you very much, JoAnna
Wonderful photos.
Thank you very much LL/PS