A Glorious Summer’s Day

Jackie spent most of her birthday of gloriously sunny weather continuing her

replenishing and refurbishment of her vast number of plant containers.

In particular she concentrated on the stone urns, pots, and hanging baskets in the

Rose Garden,

into which a small dragonfly glided, coming to rest on the warm paving bricks.

Bees were busy everywhere. Here one loves and leaves a Welsh poppy;

another dives into an Oriental variety;

one more caresses an Erigeron.

The most recently blooming rhododendron also proved attractive.

We have quite a few of those Oriental poppies.

Jackie has also planted up the iron urn in front of the Bottle Brush plant.

These gladioli appearing in the Weeping Birch Bed must have grown from bulbs secreted in the compost from the group outside the kitchen door.

We have more clematises coming into bloom on a daily basis. Clicking on any to access the galleries will reveal the names of those we know.

This afternoon first Shelley and Ron, then Elizabeth, came bearing birthday gifts.

This evening we dined at The Royal Oak with Becky and Ian. This was a lovely occasion on which Jackie was given more presents, including a musical beer mug that had belonged to her father, and a glass cat from her friend Barbara in Amity Grove. Tears ensued. We then got down to the business of eating. My choice of main meal was perfect lean belly of pork; Jackie and Ian enjoyed burgers in brioches; Becky chose junior fish and chips which would have been adult portions in most places. Ian and I chose Eton mess for desert; Jackie chose créme brulée; and Becky, ice cream. The ladies both drank Diet Coke; Ian drank Birra Moretti; and I drank Malbec.

123 comments

  9. Sending happiest birthday wishes to the Happy Gardener! Your flowers certainly did seem to be celebrating your day, Jackie! Now, if only I could find some of that Eton mess — I had to look it up, and it’s obviously scrumptious.

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  13. I do admire how you have captured the light shining through the petals of the rhododendron Derrick and the lovely photo of Jackie in her element hoisting her pots around is perfect!

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  21. Jackie looks happy and in her element in those photos. I agree the dragonfly is wonderful, but there are so many other splendid flower photos, too. It sounds like Jackie had a wonderful birthday–wishing her many more!

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  22. Oh the burgers in brioches – mmmm
    And the wonderful flowers and the clematis varieties – oh my.
    Happy bday to master gardener Jackie

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  24. I admire Jackie for having so many pots. I couldn’t possibly do it here as the climate is too severe and I would have to spend an awful lot of time watering. So I keep them to a minimum. Your garden looks blissful in the sunshine.

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  28. My idea of a perfect day in the garden.
    I have a large ceanothus in full bloom which is attracting dozens of bees, so many that the garden positively buzzes.
    Happy gardening to you both!

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  29. Perfect life Derrick, perfect partner, perfect garden and a mutual perfect culinary relationship.
    What more could you wish for mate.

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  30. Jackie’s smile is as bright as the sun and as beautiful as the flowers! 🙂 Her hard, loving word is rewarded with such lovely blooms! 🙂
    Sounds like a wonderful Jackie Birthday Day! YAY! 🙂
    Love the bee photos! 🐝 🐝 🐝
    HUGS!!! 🙂

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  33. A beautiful garden and a beautiful dragonfly. I know very little about the latter but perhaps it’s a black tailed skimmer. I couldn’t find a practical website for identifying them unfortunately.

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  34. Glad the Sun was shining for Jackie’s special day. Looks like it was magnificent and well spent. 🙂

    I love the dragonfly image with her beautiful, big compound eyes and lacewings!

    So many beautiful flowerings yet again, delightfully captured.

    You have ‘6 pointed’ poppies!!! I have a few (in Spring) but mostly the 4 pointed cross type. I have no yellow or welsh ones Those look magnificent, particularly with added bees! 😉

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  35. Happy birthday Jackie! Glad you had a wonderful sunny day and you did what you enjoy….working in your glorious gardens as you plants and scrubs bloom all around you!

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  36. Good gravy!!! I plant gladiola bulbs and they bloom once and are never seen again – you have them coming up that you didn’t even know you had!!

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  37. A wonderful time was had by all. As usual, the garden is magnificent. I could sleep in it at night if I was guaranteed that the bugs wouldn’t bother me. 😊

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  40. Oh good heavens, Derrick – what a fabulous display, Jackie is doing sterling work! Oh and – belated happy birthday, Jackie!

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  41. Good food and good friends and such a beautiful garden to enjoy each others company. Glad you had such a wonderful time and thanks for taking us along with you via your photos. Happy birthday to Jackie.

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  42. What a stunning day to have a birthday. Happy Birthday, Jackie! So much flowering in your garden now. Mine has quite a way to go! 🙂

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  43. Sending belated birthday wishes to Jackie. What better way than to spend her day outside in such a beautiful garden? Your pictures are beautiful too.

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  47. I don’t know where to start, Derrick … what a visual feast! It must seem like nectar heaven to the insects. What are the names of the two roses on your arbour, the apricot one and pink one?

    I hope your wife had a lovely birthday. She certainly looks happy. 🙂

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  49. Wishing Jackie a most splendid birthday (belatedly).
    And what a beautiful garden of blooms in which to celebrate.
    🎂

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  55. What a wonderful birthday: gardening, great food and family, and mushy tears. I cannot think of a better day.

    The garden always looks different and always stunning. Those poppies must be huge – the bee is dwarfed beside that one in the picture.

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