As the temperature continued to rise and no rain fell on yet another very hot day, Jackie and I were relieved that we managed our gardening tasks in the earlier part of the day. While she occupied herself watering and planting, I, inhaling the glorious scents of the roses, weeded and dead-headed.
This peony, clearly self-seeded and flowering for the first time, without the strength to lift its head from the Brick Path, stretched out from the weeded area of the Dead End Path Bed. Gave it a lift with a green tie.
On the opposite side of the lawn, suspended from the peeling eucalyptus, Jackie has planted a cluster of mesembryanthemums in a basket.
Clematises and a day lily claimed their own gallery,
while roses, Paul’s Scarlet, Ballerina, The Generous Gardener, Mum in a Million, Summer Wine, Rosa Glauca, Special Anniversary, Winchester Cathedral, Félicité Perpétue, and Compassion (all entitled in the gallery) warranted their own;
it was appropriate for Hot Chocolate to reach her peak on such a day.
Later, Flo put some finishing touches to her delightful Fairy Garden, which will reward enlargement by clicking on one of the pictures.
This evening we dined on roast chicken thighs seasoned with garlic; sautéed new potatoes with onions; crunchy carrots; firm cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts and flavoursome gravy, with which I drank Collin-Bourisset Fleurie 2021 and no-one else did.
It is uplifting to see so many beautiful flowers all in one place! Flo’s fairy garden is delightful, and it must be rewarding to see another generation starting their own garden on the same homestead.
I am glad you got your garden work done early, and were not out long in the heat. We are fortunately in a cooler, cloudier period now, though it is very dry here. Annual drought conditions have come early for us this year.
Thank you very much, Lavinia. I am pleased that your weather is more temperate at the moment
Really wonderful!
Thank you very much, Luisa
My pleasure, Derrick!
Love Flo’s Fairy garden
Our weather is brilliant and sunny too, just not at summer temperatures!
Thank you very much, Catherine
You’ve taken so many beautiful photos once again, Derrick! I love your garden, guys, well done. ☺️❤️????????
Thank you very much from us all, John
You are welcome, have a nice weekend. ☺️
This is such a beautiful garden. So uplifting! Thank you for sharing it.
Much appreciated Retirement Reflections
I love Flo’s fairy garden! It turned out beautifully.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Such beautiful flowers. The roses and the peony are gorgeous, and Flo’s fairy garden delightful, but I was especially taken with the mesembryanthemums (I will never remember that name!). They look like purple stars falling from the basket.
Thank you so much, Merril
Magical captures Derrick.
Thank you very much, Val
I never thought to grow mesembryanthemums on a basket. I love that fairy garden.
Thank you very much, Chrissy
All gorgeous flowers! You know I enjoy knowing their names.
Flo’s Fairy Garden is spectacular! What a wonderful creation! I bet when no one is looking…or in the light of the moon…the fairies are active! I know Ellie will enjoy it someday very soon!
(((HUGS))) ????
PS…
“Advice From a Fairy…
Remember the little things.
Take care of what you love.
Step lightly on the Earth.
Believe in magic.
Express your playful nature.
Know when to wing it.
Be spritely!”
Thank you so much, Carolyn X
Glorious pictures. Love the fairy garden. Ellie will love and or terrorize it.
Probably both, Pat. Thank you very much
Oh my goodness, don’t you wish you were a fairy so you could frolic along those darling paths? Love the baskets and the moss covered tree trunk and all the plantings. Lovely job, Flo. <3
Jackie's hanging basket is a treat – rustic and colorful and just perfect.
And your photos and narration were top notch today too. Every paragraph was a gem, as was Hot Chocolate. <3
Thank you so much, Jodie. I am pleased especially that you noticed the paths. X
The paths are everything, Derrick. As in your own garden, they are the welcome to exploration.
I am impressed not only by the wonderful roses and your excellent pictures of them, but also by the fact that you know their names.
Helped by having planted those in the Rose Garden – I know from their positions 🙂 Thanks very much, Tootlepedal
Love the garden and especially the fairy garden.
Thank you very much, Sherry
The flowers are beautiful, but that fairy garden stole the show. Yay, Flo!
Thanks very much, Laurie
I adore Flo’s flowery fairy garden and I am impressed with the head- fairy-gardener’s shiny shovel, sparkling like a wizard’s wand …
Thanks very much, Ivor
Flo’s fairy garden is delightfully inspiring! I love how she used the old stump and made a ladder going up the side of the basket.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
She will need a bigger plot sometime soon.
No rain. I have been away for a few days and came home to a mammoth watering operation.
Same here, Andrew. Thanks a lot
It’s hard not to recall Keats’ words: A thing of beauty is a joy for ever, and all it’s associated connotations, and I say this not just thinking of your passionate pursuits of gardening and photography, but my own indulgence with your picturesque blog.
Very many thanks, Uma
Having just posted pictures of my rather drab winter garden, it is a delight to see all the colours in yours 🙂
Thank you so much, Anne
The fairy garden is really nice. Do you think that “mesembryanthemum” is the longest flower name?
An interesting question, John. Thank you very much
Pretty pretty blooms.
Thank you very much, Arlene
All your hard work is being rewarded. We are finding the same work hours here – everything HAS to be done in the morning!
Absolutely, GP. Thanks very much
Lovely flowers and a beautiful fairy garden.
Thanks very much, Lakshmi
Eloquent narration throughout and amazing you know the names of the flowers. Flo’s fairy garden is delightful.
Thank you very much, Eugi. Sometimes I have to check the names with the Head Gardener. 🙂
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Lovely fairy garden
Thank you very much, Geeta
What a great place for kids to look at fairies. 🙂
Thank you very much, Bridget
Very beautiful. Love the purple day Lilly and the fairy garden.
Tanks very much, Andy
You’re welcome.
Flo’s Fairy Garden has its own charm 🙂
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
The suspended mesembryanthemums pot photo is so lovely, as they all are! I love the names of the roses too, and the cute fairy garden 🙂
Thank you very much, Nicole
Flo’s Fairy Garden is a delightful addition
Thank you very much, Sheree
Absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you very much, Zakiah
I’m sorry to hear about the heat, Derrick. It saps one’s energy and makes it hard to spend time outdoors. Flo has done a masterful job with her fairy garden. It won’t be long before Ellie takes an interest, too. Your roses are stunning and I can just imagine the scent. Sending wishes for a cool downpour soon.
Thank you so much, Alys
Hi Derrick, the fairy garden is delightful, as are the many roses.
Thank you very much, Robbie
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Enjoy the warmth and you glorious garden.
Thank you very much, Lindsey
Absolutely gorgeous! A fairytale!
Thank you very much, Ribana