For some days now a pair of robins have approached the stable door at the back of the house, settled in the wisteria, and drunk from Waterboy’s shell.
Another flits around the front garden, unwittingly taunting me through the window as I begin this draft.
The couple are becoming interested in Jackie’s continuing clearance of the Pond Bed and tolerate her talking to them but are not yet ready to pose for photographs. My sightings are far too fleeting for my trigger finger.
The Gazebo Path meets the Oval Path at the entrance to the Rose Garden. That is the point I had reached when a welcome shower drove us both in this afternoon.
When we first arrived in Downton we thought the little white onion flowers that came up after the snowdrops were quite charming. Little did we then know how invasive they are. One bulb can produce 300 babies. The first of the pictures shows a plastic bucket with part of Jackie’s collection; the second some with a cluster of pendant offspring all of which I attempted to prize out with a fork – I have no doubt I didn’t unearth them all.
Laid out on a shove halfpenny board with a 1p piece and a normal sized matchstick for scale Jackie has photographed in ascending sizes the allium vineal (wild garlic) and allium triquetrum bulbs with which we are dealing.
A brief period of sunshine followed the rain, giving me the opportunity to photograph raindrops, like these on tulips
or the feather lying among the weeds on the Oval Path, which will probably be my next targets.
Clematis Montana Mayleen is beginning its climb up the Cypress stump, beside which a freshly blooming rhododendron is poised to replace a fading camellia.
The Palm Bed photograph displays a spreading spirea, the rusting Ace Reclaim bench which has to be replaced, and the alliums triquetrum requiring eradication,
which also nestle annoyingly beneath another burgeoning rhododendron, a yellow Japanese maple, and the tulips Lilac Wonder.
Longer term readers will be familiar with Jackie’s pet robin who didn’t make it back this spring. He had, however, nurtured three broods before wintering in the forest. This was Nugget, at least three of whose progeny have returned in his stead. Let us call them collectively Nugget Junior.
While we prepared for dinner in the kitchen a sunshine-shower sparkled in the garden, refreshing Nugget Junior who is perched on the stone urn roughly in the centre of this image which can be enlarged with a couple of clicks.
Readers will also remember the game of Where’s Nugget? Much nearer to the house I am happy to present Where’s Nugget Junior? (1). If enlargement doesn’t reveal the robin, try looking through the second window pane in the second row.
Dinner consisted of spicy pizza with plenty of fresh salad. Jackie likes extra cheese on her pizza. I don’t, so she gave me a side dish of crispy bacon and mushrooms. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.
So much work, a labor of love for you both! So beautiful. ā¤ļøš¬š§
Thank you so much, John
So happy that “Where’s Nugget” is back. He is hard to spot as he’s lost in the background behind the owl.
Well spotted though, Maj š Thanks very much
Your constant work produces the beautiful garden! I’m sorry Nugget has gone, but I’m happy Nugget, Jr. has returned.
Thanks very much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick.
It’s great to see the return of a Nugget Junior. Jackie does an amazing job in clearing overgrowth.
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
I am bowled over by the beauty of the tulips.
Thank you so much, Anne
Ah, Nugget lives on in his progeny. More hide and seek fun!
Thanks very much, Sandra. š
Your garden is such a beautiful pandora’s box –
a cornucopia of treasure and testament to Jackie and her Assistant Gardener š
– So interesting to see the sizes of the Alium bulbs.
I’m afraid I’m still at the innocent stage where I think Wild Garlic is wonderful, and carpets of it, with that familiar heady smell, a total delight!
Maybe it is different in the wild on its own. Thanks very much from us both, Emma
Kudos to Jackie and you for all the hard work.
Thank you so much from us both, Rupali
Oh dear, poor Nugget. Three babies. Itās like when Charlotte lived on in Joy, Aranea, and Nellie! (Charlotteās Web)
Thanks very much, Luanne
Springtime brings a lot of work, but it also brings wonderful beauty! Lovely flowers blooming and more to come.
Dwight
Thanks very much, Dwight
Your are welcome!
How do you deal with weeds? Chemicals or hard labour?
Chemicals on the paths after an initial spring clearance, but as this is a crowded garden, the beds have to be hand weeded as any chemicals would affect other plants, not much hope of clearing all the unwanted alliums, so and exercise in control.
I am not really keen on chemicals but I use them on driveway and paths.
Mostly hard labour. Thanks a lot, Andrew
Glad to hear it Derrick
YAY for the Nugget Junior(S) returning to your beautiful safe garden! š Their Daddy taught them well! Such a beautiful little robin and such a joy to find him in your photo(s)! Bring on the Where’s Nugget Junior in the weeks ahead! š
I can smell the wild garlic! š š
HUGS!!! š
Thank you so much, Carolyn. Well spotted š X
I have to hand it to you, the pair of you work so hard in your gorgeous garden and it was lovely to see Nugget Junior which ever one he or she is.
Thank you so much, Sue. Nugget senior was easy to sex because he spent so much time in the early days trilling out his war cries.
More Nuggets! Yay! Oh, the view outside your window is like magical!
Thank you so much, Jill. We never forget you named him š
Just the most amazing garden
Thank you so much, Gary
I was happy to have a go at where’s Nugget Jr. I have missed pictures of Nugget Sr.
Thanks very much Tootlepedal
Thanks for the morning stroll through the garden. It’s seems I’ve inadvertently keep your posts to enjoy after breakfast (except for Koala Hospital days) I can spend more time enjoying your posts after breakfast.
Would Alium bulbs work better in a single pot for mass blooming without taking over the garden? Nugget Junior looks like his/her father. š
Thanks for my daily fix.
Thank you so much for all this, Chrissy. I think you are right about containing the bulbs – that works well with mint. You have hit on why we can’t yet tell the difference between the Nugget Juniors š
Right, I am off to develop my coat of arms. The Field of Azure will display an Allium Rampant. The motto will be
Puer aeternus nusquam iecur š
Of course I had to look that one up. I was so hopeless at Latin at school that they transferred me to geography. I suppose I’d better thank you for reading, Yvonne
I hope you were able to get a translation of the last two words!
Of course š
Great to know you still have a Nugget.
Thanks very much, Peggy
Beautiful. I have pictures to share of my flowers my next post. Spent the morning doing maintenance in my beds.
I look forward to those, Mrs W. Thank you very much
Thank you.
I love the photo of the purple tulips, very striking. I’m so glad that we can look forward to appearances by Nugget, Junior! I’ve missed little Nugget.
Thank you so much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
With your help, I found Nugget Junior. Sorry about Nugget Senior. A hard world for little birds. On a happier subject…that tulip picture is beautiful.
Well found, Laurie. Thank you very much.
I enjoy those window views. The robins know where to come for good company.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
There are so many things blooming in your garden. It’s hard to keep up with it all. Spring is such a beautiful time, but with all the blooming of flowers, the weeks aren’t far behind.
Thank you very much, Nikki
So glad Nugget is back. That tulip photo is gorgeous!!!
Thank you very much, Judy
Nugget Junior is perched on the head of an owl.
Your purple tulips are stunning, Derrick, and I hope Jackie is planning to do something with this abundance of wild garlic, rather than throw it away.
Well spotted, Dolly. Jackie is sick of wild garlic š Thanks very much.
Jackie could share some with me; I’d gladly take it.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
š She did put them in salads once.
I gather you are not avid garlic eaters such as we are. I would pickle the whole lot and then use them for pickling other vegetables.
We do love garlic, but the Culinary Queen doesn’t like the taste of these š
I see.
My Dad had “Clematis montana” in his garden. I hadn’t thought of that phrase for nearly fifty years.
š Thanks very much, John.
How lovely that Nuggetās progeny have returned. Garden looking fab as always.
Thank you so much, Sheree
trigger finger!!! that is the term I was looking for when trying to capture a frontal picture of the wood duck.. trigger finger.. thank YOU.. waves…
š And thank you for this, Q.
I have missed Nugget Senior, and I suspected it may have been lights out for him when he didn’t winter over as he did the year if memory serves me correctly. So glad to see the line continues. Now, to train them as well as their Dad. Hopefully they like to eat allium bulbs
That would be a real bonus, Gwen. Thank you very much
delightful photos from your beautiful garden and Jackie toiling away. i love the stunning view from your kitchen and the golden japanese maple. both are glorious! thank you for sharing š
And thank you for your appreciation, Lola
I found Nugget Junior with your assistance, Derrick! It is good to see robins in your beautiful gardens. I hope Jackie has an attending robin soon. š
Fingers crossed, Lavinia. Glad you spotted him. Thanks very much
Alot of work but such a beauty your garden is.
Thank you very much, More
You’re welcome Derrick
So good to see Nugget Jr making appearances in your garden.
The Japanese maples are wonderful.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie x
Welcome to the beautiful garden, Nugget, Jr. I needed directions to find you, but I’m glad to see you. How nice to get some rain, Derrick. I’m happy for you.
Thanks very much and tweets, Akys.
Yay! Welcome Nugget Junior š¦š
Those tulips are absolutely gorgeous! š·
Thank you so much, Ribana. Well spotted
I love the raindrops on the tulips. I learnt through this blog that Japanese maple is not always red!
š Thanks very much, Geetha
Such endearing little birds, they must be a joy to have around.
They really are, Lindsey. Thanks very much.