CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. REPEAT IF REQUIRED
With the return of the sunshine I carried out a little more tidying in the garden, especially dead-heading of roses, including
Absolutely Fabulous,
Crown Princess Margareta,
and a pink climber recovered by Elizabeth.
This wisteria occupied the Kitchen Bed when we arrived three years ago. Despite the Head Gardener’s best efforts it has never flowered.
The Chilean lantern bush, on the other hand, is once more producing blooms;
and new shoots are emerging on the pieris on the grass patch.
Although the agapanthuses took such a battering from the recent storms that they wound up in a vase indoors, some still line the Gazebo Path.
Little blue lobelias peep out from beneath rich red snapdragons and geraniums the Back Drive barrier,
while their taller relatives named Queen Victoria tower in the Oval Bed.
We have a number of ginger lilies.
The warmth of the sun brought out numerous insects. Hummingbird moths hovered among the pink phlox. I needed many unsuccessful attempts to acquire this less than wonderful image of a constantly flapping creature I think is new to our country.
Verbena bonarensis blooms attracted both stable, lightweight, Red Admirals
and bees that teetered somewhat.
Bees also plundered salvias,
bidens,
and geranium palmatums.
I could not identify some tiny creatures like this one on a cosmos,
or this one cleverly camouflaged by bronze fennel.
A fly was attracted by the ensemble of white sweet peas and gladioli.
Rudbeckia snaked from bed to bed in this picture for which I must apologise to the Head Gardener because I did not remove the fallen branch before making it.
This spider was in for a disappointment.
I could almost hear it licking its chops as it prepared its larder for the wasp that seemed ensnared by its web line.
The tiny spider perfected the trap as its larger prey frantically twisted, turned, and span in its efforts to escape being drawn in.
Eventually the prospective dinner hauled itself to safety, and sped off, leaving the hungry spider to creep into hiding and lurk in wait for another victim.
This evening Jackie produced an excellent dinner of chicken Kiev, savoury rice, tasty ratatouille, and crisp runner beans. She drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Bordeaux.
Drama in the garden!
Thanks a lot, Laurie
Nature provides theatre even in a seemingly tranquil garden. Could you provide the best advice for dead-heading roses, please. I am never certain whether to break or snip with sécateurs and exactly where the head should be decapitated … 🌹
Modern thinking is just snap off the head. I still find secateurs best. You snip just above the next fruitful join.
Thank you … I shall use the clippers then!
Fascinating. Such a prolific space & so well captured.
Many thanks, Roland
I’m so happy for the wasp!
Thanks very much , Elizabeth
The flowers continue to be wonderful, although I was disgusted by the fallen branch.
I concur.
Whose side are you on, Bruce? Thanks a lot
I’m always on the side of right!
I nearly fainted!
🙂
What beautiful flowers, as usual, Derrick! Thanks for the tour.
Thanks very much, Lydia
I imagine you had a lot of fun getting those fabulous shots of ‘Who’s For Dinner?’ 🙂
Thanks a lot, Pauline. Good alternative title
Always love the warmth of your garden and the beautiful photos.
Many thanks, Ivor
I loved the tour. Absolutely Fabulous is, as are the rest. I appreciate the nature documentary as well! 🙂
Many thanks, Merril
thank you for bringing summer to my rainy New Zealand. Everything is beautiful : the flowers, the butterflies and the bees.
Thanks very much Sylvie
extraordinary! Sopa opera?
🙂 Thanks, Elisabet
Ah, the survival of the fittest. Thank you for the bouquet. It’s good to see that you have so many pollinators in your garden. Your dinner is making me hungry.
Man thanks, Mary.
It’s so nice to get back to the garden after a few days of rain, isn’t it? If you really think your butterfly is new to you, you should get in touch with entomologists who are tracking these things! Have a look at Our French Oasis, where I think some necessary info is. The change in the insects may or may not relate to climate change: https://ourfrenchoasis.com/2017/06/04/my-bugs-life/
Many thanks, Lisa. A useful link that confirms our moths
Love the bees and the spiders and the butterflies. (And the flowers of course) Re Wisteria. Over this side of the globe people say Wisteria may take up to 15 years to bloom but usually at least five. Does the Minister for Horticulture have any idea how long before you purchased the property was the wisteria planted?
Useful observation, Paol. We don’t know, but it may have been a couple of years. So we can wait a little longer. Thanks a lot.
Stunning shots, Derrick. Cheers!
Thanks very much Jill
Teetering bees! Heheh. Love the Princess Margareta picture!
Thanks very much Cynthia
I love your roses 🙂
Thanks very much, Arlene
You might not have been able to identify the creature on the cosmos; but whats got me is how the hell you can identify all those plants and weeds and things.
With a lot of help from the Head Gardener. Thanks very much, Brian
Have you always been so patient, Derrick? You catalog each flower so sweetly as if you were remembering each grandchild. Does Jackie help you with that or does it come naturally for you?
Many thanks, Rose. I have always been prepared to wait 🙂 Jackie certainly helps with plant names.
You Christen your posts with alluring promises that resolve well towards the end. I must say though, you are a patient watcher.
Thanks a lot, Uma. That was a bit tough on the back 🙂
The Gazebo Path is so inviting! Gorgeous!
Thanks very much, Cheryl
That beautiful red lobelia looks like what I know as ‘cardinal flower’ over here. Such beautiful gardens you have!
Many thanks, Lavinia. The lobelia cardinalis is very similar.
Those yellow roses on the curved place as well as other bright spots in your garden are magical! 🌹
Many thanks, Robin. X