Yesterday’s winds had in fact reached gale proportions.
This morning I joined Jackie in the garden and carried out a dead heading operation.
Roses New Dawn, Alan Titchmarsh, Créme de la Créme, For Your Eyes Only, and Winchester Cathedral were among those that received my attention.
Taking a break for lunch and cutting my hair, Jackie continued until early evening. Among her achievements were
the creation of a new bed opposite the greenhouse door; bringing one of her dragons further into view by providing him with a pedestal; and progressing the clearance of the stepping stones through the Palm Bed.
This latter project could be seen from the decking on which we took our pre-dinner drinks in gathering gloom, as could
the tall sunflower, and these two garden views.
My afternoon was spent producing https://derrickjknight.com/2021/07/29/a-knights-tale-6-spanish-flu/
This evening we dined on pork chops coated with mustard; new potatoes, crunchy carrots, and firm broccoli, with which Jackie drank more of the Rosé and I repeated the Recital.
Immediately afterwards, having now learned that tomorrow’s gentle breeze and light showers has transmogrified into the end of Hurricane Evert, we set about once more laying down the garden furniture raised this morning.
Garden is definitely showing the TLC. Maybe a few more dragons for protection.
The dragon collection needs no encouragement, Pat 🙂 Thanks very much
LOL Sounds like an opinion being expressed.
🙂
lol
The garden is looking good despite the tempestuous weather. I hope your hair is looking as good as the roses.
Thanks a lot, Quercus. Jackie does a good job. When we were younger she always cut my hair.
As I have aged my hair has become a lot quicker to cut. Some parts merely require a quick rub down. 🙂
🙂
This is funny. Michael and I dated for years in high school (and we lived on the same street.) He had wild curly hair which he hated and I always cut it for him back then. He has since discovered clippers and is happily on his own in the hair department.
I’m glad that your garden survived the winds, Derrick. I had to look up the storm you mentioned. I had no idea that the UK is affected by hurricanes. I wonder if the hurricanes that move north along the US east coast can make it to the UK?
Hi John, We are often affected by your east coast hurricanes BUT they have been downgraded to ‘storm’ by the time they get to us, today the western side of the island(poor old Wales) is to expect 75 mph winds, we are a little further east and will get 56mph winds, so we have battened down the hatches and will retreat indoors for the day!
Amazing! I had no idea these storms could travel so far! Be safe. ❤️
Jackie has ably answered this, John. Thanks a lot
More spectacular roses
Thanks a lot, Sheree
I always believed nature needs a thunderstorm once in a while. Natures way to weed the plants. Dead and wilted leaves can’t withstand the wind and fall to the ground, the rest gets dusted off and polished a bit, to shine again when the sun comes out.
You have a point, Bridget. It would be good, though, if Nature did the clearing up afterwards 🙂 Thanks very much
The cleaning part, yep, that’s a total failure.
I love the delicate pink of the New Dawn rose!
Yes. We have two. They have a delicate scent, too. Thanks very much, Liz
Even better!
The flowers look beautiful, despite the weather!
Thanks very much, Merril. Perhaps I should have posted before dead heading 🙂
🤣
I remember using your dragon pedestal for one of poems, but I think he was a ‘Frozen Dragon’ … Today your article’s Title ‘After the Storm’ immediately reminded me of a poem from my book Derrick .. “Decades of Storms” it’s only a short piece so I’ll paste the poem here for you ..
“Decades of Storms”
Over the decades
I’ve lived through many storms
Yesterday
I read about an Atlantic island storm
After midnight
I had a dream about my life’s storms
At dawn
I shall open my door to the storms
I will then wait for my storms
To vacate the dark
And ask the morning sunlight
“Am I still the pilot”
Another good one, Ivor. Thanks very much
My pleasure Derrick ..
Your weather seems to be particularly unsettled at the moment.
It is, indeed, Tootlepedal. Thanks a lot
oohh. Sunflowers. I scattered sunflower seeds yesterday. I hope they grow. Last year only 4 came up but they were a small variety. Although, one flower was the size of a dinner plate.
I really like Jackie’s attention to details.
Thank you very much from us both, Chrissy
It all looks beautiful, Derick and Jackie. I love the garden dragon! I hope the end of the storm is kind to you, and just brings refreshing rain for the garden.
Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia. This morning I observed that all Jackie needs to do to summon rain is to plant a new bed 🙂
I love the new bed and especially the dragon on the pedestal. He or she seems to be looking for a bug to pounce upon.
Thank you very much from us both, JoAnna
The flowers are lovely — but you’ve really had a rough go with the weather recently!
Yes – very sudden ebbs and flows. Thanks very much, Janet
‘Transmogrification’ — of of the very best words in the world! It was fun to see it here, tucked in among the roses.
So pleased you liked it, Linda. Sometimes they just come to me 🙂 Thanks a lot
Rose New Dawn is especially lovely. Hope the storm wasn’t too bad.
Thanks very much, Laurie. We’re not going out to look yet 🙂
That tall sunflower is a beauty.
Thanks very much, Anne
I’m afraid I find it rather scary that we now have winter gales in the summer when trees are still carrying an enormous weight of leaves, We have three trees in our garden and neighbours have their own trees, and there’s always the fear that one of them could be severely damaged or worse.
It is, indeed. Thanks very much, John
I really like the way that your garden is perpetual work in progress.
So kind, Andrew 🙂 Thanks a lot
All things bright and beautiful all creatures great and small – All things bright and beautiful your garden shows them all!
The hymn just came into my head while admiring your garden images. 🙂
Thank you so much, Sue 🙂
Lovely to see your tall sunflower happily bobbing her head over your wonderful garden, despite the worryingly inclement weather we have had.
Your gallery of roses is superb – congratulations to both Head and Under gardener.
New Dawn is one of my absolute favourites.
But now you have introduced me to For Your Eyes Only – gosh, that’s a stunner in a much simpler, very elegant and quietly colourful way… it’s on my list! 🙂
It also goes on giving throughout the summer and is gently scented. Thanks very much, Emma
Grand flowers standing tall and smiling after the storms. 🙂 The dragon, too…good to see him standing on his pedestal guarding the garden! 🙂
Great gardening groove* going-on! 😀
(((HUGS))) 🙂
*routine, work
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Especially for groove X
Gosh those rose pictures are stunning. I keep photographing flowers like a crazy obsessive person.
Thank you very much, Sarsm. I have to restrain myself 🙂
Sometimes I wonder how those delicate flowers withstand the fury of winds? Meanwhile, Jackie keeps making headway faster than spreading overgrowth.
She does, indeed. Thanks very much, Uma
I wondered how you were faring when I heard about the storm. Fingers crossed today’s post will look as good as this.
🙂
Thanks a lot, Susan
Your devotion to gardening is wonderful, Derrick. My mom was a keen gardener but she has issues with her one hip and left leg now which creates problems for her. I have someone to help her now so she can still enjoy her garden without hurting herself.
Thanks very much, Robbie. Jackie and I have one good knee between us, and it’s not mine “)
Oh dear.
🙂
I hope your garden weathers the storm well, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Dolly. We are going to have some work to do tomorrow.
Not too much, I hope.
What a precious dragon!
Thanks very much, AnneMarie
Such beauty in your gardens.
Many thanks, Mrs W
Your welcome.
That dragon on the pedestal is absolutely magical!
Thank you so much, Ribana