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Early this morning, we drove Sheila to Brockenhurst for her return home. Apart from Jackie’s planting , and my occasional wander round the garden on this overcast day, we spent it flopping.
We have blooming clematises
Niobe and Arabella on the kitchen wall;
Comtesse de Bouchaud sporting a fennel veil;
Durandii, making its way above geranium palmatums playing host to a bee in the rose garden;
Margaret Hunt;
and this one Jackie recovered after finding that a creature had burrowed underneath it. We had wondered why it wasn’t doing anything.
The recently flowering rhododendron blends well with the Clematis Star of India, the ubiquitous geranium palmatums, and poppies against Jackie in the background.
Here are more poppies leading us to the Rose Garden,
where Laura Ford is reflected on the side of the potting shed;
and where thrive, among others,
Shropshire Lad,
Crown Princess Margareta,
Mamma Mia,
Gertrude Jekyll,
and Mum in a Million.
This red rose was rescued from the jungle by Elizabeth;
this scarlet one stands in the Oval Bed;
and this pink one in the small triangular bed outside the stable door.
The tall scarlet rose is evident in this view of the Oval Path.
Honeysuckle
now climbs above the entrance to the Rose Garden which is visible
from the entrance to the Back Drive.
A bee is flagged up in the text. Three roses each bear a fly. Can you find them?
Mr Chatty Man provided our Hordle Chinese Take Away meal this evening. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Chateauneuf du Pape.
I see where pink is once again beginning to dominate. No wonder most bees (being girls) come into the garden. The bee attracted to the blue Durandii must’ve been a drone.
Mama Mia and Shropshire Lad have tiny visitors and I think there might be a ladybird on the red [rede] rose? She’s very blurry and super tiny even biggified …….
You are quite right, Pauline. I must look closer myself. And thanks for the poof redding
😀
.Chateauneuf du Pape!? Crikey ….
It must have been on offer, Yvonne. Thanks
A wine somewhat over-rated in my opinion. However even I bought a bottle when it was on offer at Lidl just after Christmas.
That is, in fact, where we got ours, Sol
I’ll try any wine once
Sunningly beautiful flowers (and I love their colours.).
Thank you, Val. Most of them are scented, too
So many beautiful flowers…I’m unable to pick a favorite tonight, Derrick. I did linger on the Gertrude Jekyll.
Gertrude sprawls over quite an area. Thanks, Jill
Awesome.
Thanks, Weekly
Sounds as though you had a good rest after your guest!
Well spotted Lisa 🙂 Thanks
In total agreement with Pauline’s answer to your insect question…and I didn’t know most bees were girls until I read Bruce’s comment. I still don’t know.
Quite, Cynthia. You’d be daft to believe our friend. And you are both right about the ladybird/bug
what a gorgeous variety of flowers, really stunning!
Many thanks, Lynn
Most welcome
I do like the use of mirrors in your garden.
Thank you, Mary
I guess the breeders of these flowers choose the names, but what’s up with Gertrude Jekyll? What kind of name is that for such a beautiful rose? (Sounds like the name is saying that women have split personalities.) And I’m not sure your scarlet rose is really scarlet. Looks more like reddish orange, or maybe like a blood orange. Your camera is so much better than mine at picking up reds. 🙂
Thank you, Johnna. Gertrude was one of our great gardeners. Dunno about the scarlet
A beautiful garden tour, Derrick. I see a fly each on Shropshire Lad and on Mamma Mia but I also found a ladybird on Elizabeth’s jungle rescue and I think there’s a second bee in the geraniums 🙂 I loved the fennel against the clematis and the honeysuckle is wonderful too … I can imagine the scent …
Very many thanks, Peggy. There just might be a second bee. A fly has also been spotted on Mum in a Million. I missed the ladybird 🙂
🙂
I hope your beautiful garden is still OK. We have had very strong rain for quite prolonged periods, and, presumably because it is warm, plenty of episodes of thunder and lightning. At the moment, it’s still solidly overcast.
Thanks, John. Rain here too at the moment – but no damage
All that hard work on the garden has really come up with dividends! Big pat on the back for Jackie!
Many thanks, Sol
Gorgeous blooms! I scrolled the page up and down a few times to just enjoy the beauty.
That’s good, Inese. Thank you
It’s really a spectacular garden, Derrick. So beautiful!
Thank you very much, Merril
What a delight to walk through your abundant garden in full flower Derrick .. The Rain I am sure if you are getting any down South today will be doing those roses good, as I know they get thirsty as do the Clematis,
Such beauty to walk through and sit in each day..
Enjoy a peaceful Sunday my friend.. And thank you kindly for your lovely comment..
Sue 🙂
Thank you, Sue
Have I missed the background story on Mr Chatty Man? Perhaps one day he’ll join you and Jackie for the meal too? 🙂
I love the honeysuckle over the archway and the Margaret Hunt is gorgeous. And while we’re on Margaret’s – the Crown Princess Margareta is a stunner too.
Many thanks, Mek. It is only the second time I have used Jackie’s name for the very small Chinese man with a very loud voice who runs the outlet. He is very chatty.
Beautiful and bountiful. We had a cool, rainy Spring. The roses/flowers are abundant, but there is a bumper crop of flies this year. Any connection ? You seem like the right person to ask…☺
I imagine there is a link. It is the same for us. Thanks, Van
Absolutely lovely Derrick! Such beauty and color – it brings joy to me seeing these wonderful flowers. Have a happy day my friend! 🙂
Many thanks, Terry
It’s been a while Derrick, but your shots picked up right where I left off – so beautiful. The walkways are very special. Congrats to you and Jackie, all your hardwork is paying off in dividends.
Many thanks, Mary
Beautiful rose shots, Derrick.
Great light and the colours are gorgeous.
Thank you, Vicki
I think the flowers are one of the main reasons I have a bias towards your garden. Really gorgeous images. Your photographs are so alive one can feel what it must be like to walk through it and smell it as well as see it.
Big thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
Beautiful garden, and great pictures of flies. I’m struggling with camera shake on the new camera – either from the massive magnification of the lens or increasing age. 😉
There is that advantage in a little point and shoot.
And there was me imagining you with a tripod, glass plates and one of those cloths over your head. can’t argue with your results though, always great.
Many thanks, Quercus
Heavens! You have a floral fantasy jungle at your feet. Amazing! Does it take every waking hour to manage it? Just beautiful Derrick! I especially love Gertrude Jekyll roses and have photographed them many times. I’ve never tried to grow one due to our climate but I always love it when I see one. I also had a bit of a ‘ahhhh ha!’ moment when I saw your mirror hung there. I have a wall of sweet pea’s that I can’t see from our back deck as it’s around the corner. Now if I hung a giant mirror on the fence, voila!! Instant3 sweet pea view. You’ve hatch a plan for my own garden, thank you! x B
Many thanks, B. I have to say, now the really heavy stuff is over, it is Jackie who spends every waking hour in there. Well, someone has to record and post the work 🙂