Many of our paths and beds bear names that are historic because of changes we have made.
So it was with the Shady Path, originally named because the beds around it were so overgrown as to cover it in permanent shade.
Two days ago Jackie finished her work on clearing the path of weeds, especially pernicious minuscule onion bulbs. Readers may notice the section opposite the decking which had been infested.
Yesterday she cleared and removed resident ants which she found had shifted most of the soil from the roots of the plants in the urn covering the old well.
She lifted the plants, replaced the spoiled soil with fresh compost and settled the flowers back in.
Today she carried out the same process with another terracotta pot sans ants.
tells the story of the early transformation.
This afternoon I read more of ‘Anglo-Saxon England’.
Our dinner this evening consisted of pork shoulder steaks baked with mustard and Demerara sugar, topped with toasted almonds; Bramley apple sauce, boiled potatoes, carrots and broccoli. I drank more of the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Give Jackie a raise and a dinner out. 🤞 Impressed with the head gardener. Another delicious dinner.
WOW!! The path looks so good!
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
I have had ants colonize plant pots from time to time, too.
I enjoyed reading about the Shady Path. Jackie did a lot of hard work to clear that!
Thank you so much, Lavinia
Oh, Ants. Pee on them 🙂
😂
Interesting. I assume dog pee would work, too.
Not sure about that 🙂 But the main reason is ammonia and urea. I would say, do your morning stop where the ants are 🙂
Thanks very much, Ilze
I agree. All gardeners involved deserve a huge raise!
Thanks very much, Donna
Jacki, you are the master gardener! Looking great, guys. Pesky ants…
Thank you very much from each of us, John
You are welcome, guys! ☺️☺️☺️
She is a most painstaking gardener, but she gets the results to make the work worthwhile . . . and you illustrate them equally well.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
Jackie is such a hard worker and the results of her work are fantastic! Ants are the bane of my life! They are everywhere!
Thank you so much, Clare
Your garden has the perfect flow of natural tidiness.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
The weed-free Shady Path is impressive. Kudos to Jackie!
Thank you so much, Rosaliene
Nice touring your garden Derrick. Hi Jackie!😍
All that hard work has paid off. The paths are lovely.
Thanks very much, Alys
It seemed, at first, that you would tell us a story about how Jackie got lost in the shadow garden. But no! the cleared paths look magnificent.
Thanks very much, John
Wonderful work, Jackie! And all of your garden paths are lovely! 🙂
Love the photos in the older post where the sun and plants joined together to create artistic shadow-art on the path! 🙂
Garden paths are a reminder to us to slow down and enjoy nature’s beauty. Those paths can lead us to a place of serenity. 🙂
(((HUGS))) to both of you!! ❤️❤️
Thank you so much from each of us, Carolyn XX
Wow–that not-as-shady-as-it-was path looks great! Jackie is such a knowledgeable and expert gardener, and your photos show off her skillful work.
Thank you so much, Merril
All that work and an ultimate dinner too. Jackie, you’re amazing!
Thank you so much from each of us, GP
The first picture looks like the jungle corner in your garden. I like it. But it looks Jackie is trying to clean it up. It’s a lot of work.
That was 12 years ago. I was able to do my bit in those days, Alexamder. Thank you very much
Jackie wears many hats and wears them well. The garden is just glorious!
Thank you so much, Eugi
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Lovely scenes of your award-winning garden.
Thank you very much, Sherry
That is quite a transformation form 2014 Shady Path. Looks wonderful. Lots of very hard work!
Thanks very much, Dwight
you are welcome.
Gosh she’s done a fabulous job.
Thank you very much, Lindsey
I admire Jackie’s hard work and dedication to the garden.
Thank you so much, Sue
Fabulous transformation of the Shady Path – all to Jackie’s credit.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
A gardener’s work is never done. The shady path now looks magnificent.
Thank you so much, Sheree