In the murky light of an overcast shirtsleeves-warm morning I photographed a few garden views from the windows above.
I then dead-headed some of our roses, and
photographed a few still flourishing. The first is Compassion, from above; the red carpet rose is in the Weeping Birch Bed, as is Rosa Siluetta Lavender; the pink Festive Jewel, yellow Absolutely Fabulous, and red/gold Mamma Mia are all in the Rose Garden.
The first of these dahlias was also viewed from above.
Begonias white and pink continue to thrive.
Red/purple Army Nurse, pink and white Garden News, and the ubiquitous Delta’s Sarah are long lingering fuchsias.
These yellow chrysanthemums and red cyclamen will hopefully be safer than the recently planted tulips of which Jackie bought a number in three figures.
Some time this morning the bulbs began to be exhumed and eaten, we suspect by a squirrel which can read the labels. They have already ravaged the area around the patio. Even if these animals are illiterate they will probably eschew daffodils to which they are not partial. If not squirrels, who knows?
This evening we dined at Rokali’s where the food and service was as good as always. I chose methi goust; Jackie, ponir shashlik, and we shared sag rice. I drank Kingfisher and Jackie drank Diet Coke. I may not have mentioned before that the knives actually cut and the forks and spoons do not bend.
A squirrel that can read? Wow! The garden looks great, guys, great work! ❤️😊
It is no wonder that the squirrel chooses your lovely garden 🙂
Many thanks, Agnes
I enjoyed the views from the upstairs window. Your garden is looking very good, repaying all the work that goes into it.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
Smart squirrel! I would chose your lovely garden too!
Thank you very much, Donna
Sigh … some unscrupulous and scampish squirrels, I suspect …
Thanks very much, Ivor. Such splendid susurration
Whoops … I had to look that one up … thanks Derrick
I’m sure you could use it
I’m sure I will …
There’s still lots of beauty around your garden. Sorry about the tulip bulbs 🙁 Squirrels can be so cute, but they also have families to feed.
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
The roses! I need to go and check the situation regarding the roses in the botanical garden
Thank you so much, Sylvie
Beautiful views of the garden from above! Oh, those pesky squirrels. Hopefully, they don’t get in your attic to chew the wiring.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Do you have chipmunks? Squirrels dig up lots of our bulbs, but we had chipmunks that kept digging up our planters and making a mess. Cayenne pepper worked. Beautiful photos. I can’t pick a favorite.
Thank you so much, Merril. We don’t have chipmunks
You still have a lot going on in your garden for this time of the year – no doubt from all the TLC you give it!
Thank you very much, Barbara
Beautiful flowers! I always enjoy yours views from above. Hope the squirrel doesn’t bother your pots again.
Thank you very much, JoAnna
I just came across a review of a book that I thought might interest you. You can find the review and more information here. It’s rather a different view of England!
Certainly fascinating, Linda. Unfortunately I stopped acquiring books about 15 years ago because I will never have time to read everything I already have. Thanks very much.
Chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, rabbits? Are there any pea size poop balls around? Maybe sprinkle some peppermint oil around the pots and garden edges.
Thanks very much, Chrissy. Of that list we only have rabbits in UK. Jackie has ordered some repellant
I enjoy your recommendation: “I may not have mentioned before that the knives actually cut and the forks and spoons do not bend.”
Thanks very much, Anne
Derrick, this is important; are they English squirrels or important invaders from the Americas? And does someone need to start a political party?
They came from America in the 19th Century and wiped out our red ones. Maybe we could have a party to send them back where they came from. Thanks very much, John
Your above the garden photos are always so very beautiful!
Well, squirrels are squirrely! 🙂 And other animals enjoy sneaking around gardens and partaking.
What you said about the dining-out knives, forks, and spoons is so important! 🙂
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
Thank you very much, Carolyn XX
It sure looks like the work of squirrels!
Thanks very much, GP
Dan Antion (Thursday Doors on WP) has bunnies and other critters who plant pumpkins. At least he gets some food and not just surprises. You could setup a spy cam. LOL
Thanks a lot, Sherry
Derrick, no doubts squirrels destroyed these pots with tulip bulbs. Here in our place this animal is nightmare. They ruin all the beauty in our garden.
Thank you very much, Alexander. Jackie has bought a gadget that emits sounds not heard by humans which many small animals can’t stand. We will report on how it goes
It would be nice to hear about this device.
I will report on it
It is a solar powered – motion activated animal repeller – emitting a sound they don’t like but we can’t hear. It has worked today.
Thank you for update!
Hmmm … knives that cut? How unique! Yup, we have those here in Switzerland, too! Oh, and those flowers? Magnificent!!
Thank you so much Jan
Derrick, When we lived in Monterey, we used to have a racoon that would crawl up on the back deck and eat tulip bulbs which had been planted in a pot. I agree that squirrels would be my first suspect.
Thanks very much, Pat. No racoons here 🙂
These image looks all-too familar. I stopped planting most bulbs because the squirrels dig them up. Squirrels tend to avoid: Daffodils, Scilla, Colchicum, Grape hyacinths, Fritillary, and a few others.
Useful information, Alys. Thanks very much
My pleasure. I felt like I had unlocked a secret once I understood what I could plant undisturbed.
I loved seeing the views of your garden from above.
Thank you very much, Alys
Those are great aerial shots that made me wonder if a drone was pressed into service. The brazen robbery of bulbs calls for the perspicacity of the Belgian gent you have been occupied with of late. Maybe a mousetrap with a bulb dangling inside will unravel the mystery.
Thank you very much, Uma. The Mousetrap was a neat link
The garden still looks wonderful and colorful! “a squirrel which can read the labels” too cute 🙂
We have witnessed squirrels digging in our garden pots on occasions. They are particularly fond of tulip bulbs.
So we have discovered. Thank you very much, Sue
Yes, probably squirrels. Those rascals!
I particularly love that red cyclamen! We have also experienced the bulb eating problem. Seems to be mainly voles and mice in our case. We see very few squirrels here. I don’t know if you have chipmunks in your area, but they can be destructive, too.
We don’t have chipmunks, but ours claims to be effective for voles and mice, too. Thanks very much, Lavinia
I’ve been told that if you grate soap round the area it will put them off. We tried it when we had a squirrel problem about twenty years ago. They went away and never came back. Wire mesh over the tops of the containers works too. We have had squirrels all over the garden at the new place so it will be interesting to see what happens when we start planting bulbs.
Thanks very much, Quercus. Our repellent is working
That is good. They can be very persistent.
A naughty squirrel that can read sounds intriguing.
As always, I enjoyed photos of your glorious roses, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly
You are very welcome, Derrick.
I find the rooks root out ours and fly off with them, so I’ve abandonned bulbs on the terrace
The rooks are a surprise, Sheree. Thank you very much
Dang squirrel!
Thanks very much, Ed