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Pauline, The Contented Crafter, recently expressed an interest in seeing a photograph showing the whole length of the garden and the house. Well, this may have been possible were it not for the foliage in between. Nevertheless, I did my best to comply.
I managed to cross the road at the front of the house without either dying in a road accident or falling in the ditch on the other side.
There was no room for the corner facing the trellis in that view of the building.
I aimed in the direction of the house from as far south as was possible, beginning with the Weeping Birch Bed;
the Brick Path was next;
then the Back Drive barrier;
the Oval Path;
and the Rose Garden.
Well, at least they show glimpses of the back of the house.
Here are a couple of sightings of the roof, one from the Back Drive,
and another from the compost heaps.
Here are some aerial views from the bedroom and bathroom windows.
This one features Jackie watering, on which she spent much time. To the right of the fence is the North Breeze jungle.
Here are today’s dahlia
and some white sweet peas.
Normally Aaron takes his clippings to the dump at no extra charge. Yesterday Jackie insisted that he left them for us to deal with. The orange bags in this picture were already destined for the Effort Recycling Centre. The heaps in the foreground filled them up again after we had completed our first trip. We needed to chop them up a bit more to fit them in. We then made a second journey.
I was only a couple of days ago that Jackie was announcing that she had come away empty handed from our last few trips to Efford. That run was to be interrupted today with these two tables. The metal, glass-topped, one was for the greenhouse to be delivered tomorrow, so she may be forgiven.
We had then earned a break, so we took a trip into the forest.
Seeking shade under trees in Sandy Down a little donkey was given similar masked protection from the pesky flies to that afforded to its larger equine cousin.
Our chosen approach to Brockenhurst was somewhat congested with ponies and their foals. Can you count how many?
Eventually we found ourselves at Patrick’s Patch in Beaulieu.
This community garden has its own wildflower meadow;
colour coordinated marigolds and nasturtiums;
echinaceas in the form of shuttlecocks;
splendid Swiss chard;
a variety of sweet peas;
russet sunflowers;
and a carved rabbit.
An admirably creative collection of scarecrows are distributed throughout. This one is a revolving balloon;
and this one, having a rest from watering, has a gourd for his head.
This evening we dined at The Monkey House just outside Lymington. The service was excellent, friendly, and unobtrusive; the food excellent. We both enjoyed gammon steaks for main courses. My starter was whitebait, Jackie’s brie in breadcrumbs; my dessert Eton mess, Jackie’s crème brûlée. I drank a very good pinot noir and Jackie drank Amstel.
Wonderful photos. So much to love in such a beautiful garden. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks very much, Jerry
Thanks for the tour Derrick….so appreciative as now I have justification to plant even more!!!
Stunning, isn’t it? Makes me want to try harder.
Well, including Aaron, there are three of us.
Thanks a lot, Gary. Pleased to offer an excuse 🙂
You should be on the Home and Garden TV show, Derrick. Everything looks fantastic. I’m loving that dahlia!
Thanks very much, Jill.
Breathtaking with touches pf whimsy–a truly lovely combination!
Very many thanks, Cynthia
Your photos this morning, were the best wake and warming medicine I could’ve had, on this another cold winters morning here in Geelong, Thanks Derrick, and your house looks so warm and welcoming.
Thanks very much, Ivor.
Honestly I feel quite the glutton taking in all this luscious horticultural eye-candy! Jackie looks so elegant and chic casually watering and I want to know how she fixes her hair so effortlessly ….
Thanks very much, Osyth. The Head Gardener says: ‘put it up in a pony tail with one big plastic pin through it’ – all casual-like.
Thank you …. hairdressing tips from HG much appreciated!
I knew it was going to be beautiful, the long view – but did not expect it to be quite so spectacular! It is truly a wonder! Thank you for addressing my request, and so promptly too. Also I am most relieved no traffic or ditches snared you in your work! I went for a longer walk this morning to view a little cottage that’s for sale not far from me and even though I cannot afford to buy, I indulged in a little day dreaming about it and it’s potential (tiny) garden a la Jackie 🙂 Plus the day is sunny and warmer than usual and there is change a’comin’ 🙂
Yes, I agree – thanks so much for the long view photos. Truly an inspiration. You guys have created a paradise.
Many thanks to you both
Great idea. Thanks for requesting this, Pauline! Derrick, you truly live in Paradise!
Very many thanks, Cheryl.
Thanks very much, Pauline. It still seems strange that your Spring is on the way. I wish you could buy that cottage.
Thank you Derrick – every wish counts 🙂
Bravo, Derrick. Glad we did not lose you in a ditch. 🙂 Now we need a mud map 🙂
Thanks, Mary. I think you’ve got more mud than we have at the moment
Your gardens are stunning but oh, my the dahlia…my Dad’s absolute favorite…he would grow them “as big as your head”…just lovely to see…at the beginning of each school year I would have to carefully bring in some for the teacher…carrying them carefully with the blooms down. 🙂
Many thanks, Jeanne. It is good to stir such memories.
You seem to have rather a huge block of land, half acre perhaps?
I trust that The Monkey House doesn’t specialize in curried monkey?
Thanks, Brian. One third of an acre we think. Two of the surrounding houses have some of what once belonged to the Post Office. Your trust is well founded. 🙂
Well that’s a relief!
Lovely post, Derrick – Thank you so much!
And thank you very much, Jodie
: )
I still need a drone’s view, although the tour was spectacular. Now if only the rest of it could be as lovely as the compost picture. (Just kidding…)
I could get a close up of the compost. 🙂 Thanks a lot, Bruce.
Rotten luck!
🙂 There are no flies on you
You have a lovely house Derrick. Add the lush garden….beautiful!
Thanks very much, Arlene.
What an impressive property and garden ! I am impressed by how well you maintain it .
Very many thanks, Sylvie. We haven’t done a great deal inside 🙂
We are thankful to Pauline for all those peeking roofs of your house through the foliage. Perhaps you may try a drone for an aerial view of your beautiful world.
Now, there’s an idea, Uma. Many thanks.
I really like getting a sense of the whole of your garden, especially the shots from above. Like umashankar, I was thinking you needed a drone as well…
Thanks a lot, Lisa. A drone might do the trick.
Very beautiful garden photos. I am glad that You presented them.
Thanks very much, Sartenada
So beautiful!! Thank you Derrick for sharing the big picture 💕
Thanks very much, Val
Yours is such a beautiful space, thanks for sharing, Derrick. And now…I feel horticulturally challenged ! But it’s all good.
Very many thanks, Van.
Too tired to write much more than “Wow!” Your garden is so beautiful.
Thanks very much for staying awake for that, Merril.
😉
Pauline had a great idea and you did a great job responding!
Many thanks, Kerry
beautiful images and I can see now besides her beauty, why you married mother nature <3 you've both done a splendid job creating a colorful paradise <3
Very many thanks, Kim
and still loving the pony shots too btw…..it must be grand to have them all over like that 🙂 perhaps not have one in the yard….would eat all the pretties….hows the bunny?
Thanks very much, Kim. We haven’t seen bunny for a while.
Wow!!! You and Jackie have a sprawling estate! The gorgeous garden is significantly larger than I’d first imagined. So, it’s primarily you and Jackie who care for the garden? It truly is a labor of love.
Yes. We now have Aaron to do the stuff my knees will no longer allow – at what he is more skilled at 🙂 It’s about one third of an acre. Thanks, Rose
It is amazing what you have done for gardens on 1/3rd of an acre. Hats off to the head gardener!
Thanks a lot, Lavinia
The layers and separate kinds of flower beds are so impressive, Jackie plus Derrick. Truly an inspiration for variety and depth. I like sky blue homes and this is far bigger than expected! The time you spend on gardening, weeding and dead heading is considerable. This helps maintain your fit bodies and getting fresh air must help you to drop off to sleep easily. 🙂 💮 🌸 🌻
Very many thanks, Robin
Wonderful garden. Thanks for sharing.
Many thanks, LL/PS