CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED.
We spent the morning on garden maintenance tasks.
Jackie, with minimal assistance from me, retrained the Wedding Day rose
on the Agriframes arch.
We then reversed the process in that The Head Gardener weeded a route through to the red Japanese maple that was looking very poorly, if not somewhat wizened. She then stood ready for me to pass bits lopped or sawn off.
The final result didn’t look too bad.
We then finished rebuilding the pillar for the urn in the Rose Garden.
Here is a view across the grass patch between tulips and the eucalyptus.
This afternoon we went for a drive in the forest.
A stream kept one of the Brockenhurst fords under water. That is probably one SLOW notice that is unlikely to be ignored.
As I stood on the footbridge to take this shot, a family descended into view. Mother and son joined me on the bridge while father and daughter, dog in tow, entered into a coercive conversation. The dog appeared to want to go in the opposite direction.
It was not long before the reason for this became clear. These three dashed across the water filled ford. When I quipped “I didn’t get that. Could you do it again?”, Dad declined. However he did add “That’s what having a horrible daughter is like”. In the ensuing conversation I was given permission to post both the photographs and this statement.
An obliging motorist, without being asked, then drove his car through the water.
Further on, at Boundway, we spotted evidence that a child had left the woods sans socks and at least one shoe.
The high sun cast shadows of the trees onto the undulating leafy terrain.
A brimstone butterfly fluttered about. Can you spot it here?
Loggers had been at work above the gorse laden hills overlooking Wilverly.
I think the white figure here was one of a couple of cattle. They were a bit far away for me to be certain.
Soon after we left this area, Jackie alerted me to a wasps’ nest on an outbuilding.
This evening we dined on Mr Chatty Man’s Chinese Take Away fare with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden while I drank more of the madiran.
That Japanese red maple looks a whole lot better than ‘not too bad.’ Do you think one would survive in the Florida heat?
Looks like you had a few laughs at the bridge.
Thanks a lot, GP. Compliment much appreciated. I really don’t know how the tree would stand heat. It was great fun at the bridge.
That was lot of water to get through!
It was, No wonder he didn’t want to do it again 🙂 Thanks a lot, Laurie.
If I WERE to try to do it in a car – I would go fast, not slow. My thinking is, maybe I’d get through before the engine knew it had been flooded. But I am a certified disaster with cars – so always do the opposite of what I do.
I have become quite calm about driving through the many fords in the forest, only once have I refused to go through, about 2 winters ago after torrential rain and the ford was a torrent about 5 foot deep! I chickened out of that!
I’m with you!
LOL – Jackie – you are a nut. Here in the USA we are told to avoid all puddles lest we be instantly swept away to our watery death.
I do love Japanese Maples – yours looks a lot better for the care you just gave it. Family fun and games at the ford, though I noticed a miscount with the dog, father and horrible daughter. I’m pleased to report my eyes are good enough to spot the brimstone butterfly without enlarging – though I couldn’t have named it.
Very many thanks, especially for the correct sums, Pauline. Now corrected. I don’t know where the four came from 🙂 Congrats on the brimstone
Great action photos 🙂 We seldom see good reddening of leaves here in harbour side Sydney so your maple was a treat. I hear it requires cold nights and sunny days. Guess our nights are not cold enough (13 – 15ºC minimums this week).
Thanks a lot, Mary. Our nights are around 3 degrees at the moment. The day’s high was 12.
Brrr; we seldom get below 6ºC in winter.
Love your scenery, your photos, and your humor. And I might even include that I like the name Mr. Chatty Man hahaha.
Many thanks, Luanne
Mr. Chatty Man makes frequent appearances & always makes me laugh, too.
VERY funny!
He is delightful and very friendly, he works hard to remember his customers and, without being intrusive, the family too, always asking after Mr Derrick whenever I go in, he knows exactly what I want before I do!
Aw, Jackie, I like him even more after that description. Lovely.
your maple looks better than ours… and the garden is looking great again. We must try that coffee again, you know…
We must. I’ll let you know when I’m next up. Thanks, Geoff
The Acer is greatly improved. My compliments to the head gardener and her helper!
Many thanks, Maggie.
Thankfully our Japanese maple wasn’t damaged by the hard freeze we had after temps in the 80’s. The photos are beautiful. I especially enjoyed the tulip shot. Cheers!
Many thanks, Jill. I liked that one, too.
Love the purple shadow shot
Thanks, Alex
The garden is going from charming to stately and impressive. The Head Gardener has clearly built something like this before. I thought the garden was going to be a pretty back yard and now I see from the long distance pictures that it is epic.
Ginene
Many thanks, Ginene. Actually we both worked on Elizabeth’s garden for two years at weekends before we came down here and found our own.
Epic – Indeed. Excellent description. I think there’s a map out there somewhere of the layout.
The map is here: https://derrickjknight.com/2015/06/13/the-garden-map/ Thanks for pointing this out, Jodie. Jackie is putting her mind to an update which, as you suggested for the family tree, could go on the ‘about’ page.
Ah – that’s it – thank you – It is more impressive than I had remembered. I don’t know how you keep it all so well. I have an acre and the only part that ever looks good is the part I just worked on.
Actually ours is only 1/3 of an acre, Jodie.
Holy cow! Incredible what you guys are doing, Derrick.
🙂 Mooing with pleasure
Made me laugh – again
I love a rose over an arch – And the Red Japanese Maple looks stunning now that you have spruced it up.
I looked and looked but couldn’t find the missing shoe. . .
Lots of laughter here, Jodie. You’ve got me thinking I should go back and look for it. The maple looks a bit like a Japanese painting. Thanks very much.
Yes! The maple is really stunning enough to be a painting. What a great job you did with it.
Thanks again
You are Jackie are a wonderful pair–I like your teamwork!
It sounds like quite an amusing time at the bridge. (Amusing for you–I’m not certain about the family.)
I particularly like the photos of the trees with their shadows.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen you mention Mr. Chatty Man Chan. 🙂
Many thanks, Merril. The family all enjoyed the fun and were pleased to be featured.
It should have been “You and Jackie”. 😉 But I’m glad all had fun.
Clearly mother and son couldn’t a-ford to get wet. Was the car a-ford? The maple is much improved.
Many thanks, Bruce. My knowledge of cars is mini-Mum, so I don’t know if it was made by Henry’s descendents. Checking this comment out with Jackie she doubted that it would be very Popular.
Which reminds me – the next door neighbour here earns a living selling firewood. The large sign at the gate reads: Firewood – Pine, Gum and Popular.
🙂
Love the shots of the horrible daughter and her father, who didn’t look like she had to twist his arm.
Well observed, Bridget. Many thanks
The ford looks deep enough that I would get out and have a look before driving through, though that car you photographed was creating quite a wake!
There are so many around the forest that you can tell by looking at them. There is also a measuring post the car is passing (seen more clearly behind the SLOW sign) indicating the depth of the water. The more you ignore the sign the more wake is created. Thanks, Lisa
What fun you have! Adventuresome spirit required, I’m sure!
Thanks, Diane. I think so – but, as you know, being one of the lucky few, free time helps.
The title really caught my attention. The first thing that came into my mind was my dad would have said something like that to me (given a chance) 😂😂 sometimes it’s difficult to be around a short tempered prankster 😂
I love your garden. 😀 We too have a garden at home, but mostly potted plants due to limited space. And few fruit trees.
Thanks very much, Rekha. The ‘horrible daughter’ was all in good fun.
😀😀 even I was joking about it Derrick 😀
The garden is paying back the love the two of you keep showering on its denizens. In time, I will have known those folks stalk by stalk. The incident about the recalcitrant daughter and the rather unenthusiastic pet is hilarious. It made for a killer title and an suitably humourous account. Those are sharp images. I could make out two bovine beings, white and red, the interesting sign where a child forgot a shoe and a sock, the carpet of leaves and the wasps. Your aperture must be set to a lower value. using a monopod may sharpen the shots still.
Many thanks, Uma. Lovely, detailed, comments. I find the technical aspects of camera settings a bit bewildering these days, so I rarely stray off automatic. Maybe I can find someone to advise me.
Maybe Bryan Peterson’s ‘Understanding Exposure’ will help. He is my guru whom I’ve never met, but then I am hardly a shooter. Although cameras have become pretty smarter these days, the automatic guy in there is like a toddler. It will do what it will do, like Siri or Google Assistant. That said, I look forward to enjoying your shots each morning.
Thanks, Uma. I’ll look it up
I’m partial to the shadows on the leafy terrain. Lovely. I must be dense. I don’t get why the father called his daughter horrible.
Neither did I, maybe she taunted him for being too ‘chicken’ to run through the ford?!
This was a joke, delivered, and accepted with (English) humour. Thanks a lot, Nicki
You have a lovely garden Derrick. haha, I was looking for the butterfly 🙂
Marvelous!!!
Many thanks, Seedbud
That gorse was introduced to Australia as a garden plant by an idiot and it has spread and become a real problem in some areas.
Thanks, John
Your stories bring much happiness to my day! As a daughter, and mother of daughters, I totally got the “horrible daughter” humor! All in fun! Great photos, as usual. I enjoy your blog so much:)
Very many thanks, Cheryl. That is good to know
Great maple and a great title!
Many thanks, Sylvie G.
Love your garden! What a lively post!
Thanks a lot, Lynn.
Poor daughter–poor doggie! The dad can mange on his own, no doubt. But lest I feel too sorry for them, they just plunged ahead–looks warm enough 🙂
🙂 Thanks a lot, Cynthia
PS And you have a pruning talent–looks great!
Lovely. Thanks, Cynthia
The garden is looking spectacular. Many great shots again – some great details.
Many thanks, Quercus.
Your conversation that led to the title was quite interesting! Clipping the red maple tree was more like art sculpturing, Derrick.
Those shadows and curved trees, as well as branches, had me loving your captures of their shadows.
Very many thanks, Robin
Ah, your lovely garden photos always make me want to sit at a patio with a tall glass of lemonade. 🙂 I also enjoyed how you opened up your post with the photographs of you and Jackie. Those cargo pants you’re wearing are fabulous, Derrick — all those pockets must come in handy!
Thanks very much, Rose. I have 4 pairs and wear them most of the time. From Lidl.
You wear them well! So cute… I can’t stop trying to count the pockets. 😀
Thank you. Two pairs have more than the others. Today I have seven, and it is a good thing you made me count them, cos I still have a pair of secateurs in one. 🙂
I’ve been wondering, not being a gardener or gardening type; is that garden of yours, what is commonly referred to as low maintenance?
Hardly 🙂
Such a lovely maple–
I could not find the butterfly ^_^
Thanks a lot, Pleasant. About a third of the way in from the left towards the bottom of the picture. Darkish space behind it – you don’t have to bother 🙂