Today dawned bright and sunny with a welcome breeze to lessen the gathering heat and humidity which made gardening too unpleasant after we returned home from an outing. By courtesy of Danni’s voucher birthday present to Jackie we enjoyed a most enjoyable brunch at Rosie Lea Tea Room (ex The Hobler Inn) on Southampton Road.Continue reading “Attached To A Petal”
Tag Archives: bees
Benches
I have now read two more of The Folio Society’s 1974 selection of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov. The first, which is not illustrated with a drawing by Nigel Lambourne, is ‘The Cross of Anna’. As Elisaveta Fen, the translator, writes ‘It is essentially a story of the destruction of innocence and the folly ofContinue reading “Benches”
For The Bees
Between stints in the garden today, which varied from overcast-gloom to sun-bright, I finished reading Chekhov’s engaging story entitled ‘Teacher of Literature” (1894). Essentially tracing the journey from childhood hardship to the consequences of unearned comfort the tale is told with human insight and with delightful bucolic descriptions. I will not reveal the changes inContinue reading “For The Bees”
Still Going Strong
This morning I cut the grass and produced a few photographs. Individual titles appear on the galleries. This afternoon I almost finished reading Point Counter Point by Aldous Huxley which I will feature tomorrow. Tonight’s dinner consisted of sag bhaji and mild prawn curry starter from Forest Tandoori followed by the main event in theContinue reading “Still Going Strong”
The Same Sun
Early this morning Jackie found a robin flapping about in the utility room. She opened the window for him. Was it Nugget? Later she conversed in the garden with a juvenile. While the Head Gardener completed the strengthening the compost bin that I had begun a few days ago, I carried out some dead headingContinue reading “The Same Sun”
Moyles Court
The wind lessened today, so we made a start on recovery. There is nothing to be done about windburn such as this on the red Japanese maple, but we did carry out an extensive hard prune in the Rose Garden where Mamma Mia and Absolutely fabulous prevail. Bees were confined to their hives yesterday andContinue reading “Moyles Court”
Shifting Light
This morning my gardening occupations combined dead heading and making photographs. These roses Summer Wine and Altissimo, both coming again, were too high for me to reach with hand secateurs, and I couldn’t be bothered to fetch the steps. Bigifying will probably be necessary to appreciate these bees on bidens, on Japanese anemones, and comingContinue reading “Shifting Light”
Bees And Other Insects
On the afternoon of this decidedly sultry summer’s day I cleared up the Head Gardener’s debris from the morning, then followed insects around with my camera. Small White butterflies sought camouflage among Erigeron and rented verbena bonariensis accommodation from bees and flies which tested the strength of the Erigeron. A bluebottle clung to hebe leaves.Continue reading “Bees And Other Insects”
Our First Meal Out Post Lockdown
This morning’s early light presented us with glorious garden views from our upstairs windows. At midday I accompanied Jackie on the big Tesco fortnightly shop; sat reading in the car while she did the business; unloaded the trolley into the car; emptied the purchases into the kitchen, then washed my hands. This afternoon Jackie tookContinue reading “Our First Meal Out Post Lockdown”
Moulting
We spent the hot summer’s cloudless day gardening; well, Jackie spent the day at it while I chipped in intermittently. Jackie took advantage of what shade she could. In addition to dead bloom decapitation and carting clippings to compost bins I produced some photographs. The blooms and garden views in this gallery can be identifiedContinue reading “Moulting”
