Tag: bees

Where’s Jackie? (12)

Taking advantage of the diffused light afforded by this morning’s oppressive sunless heat I chose to focus on the garden. It was not

until I left the house, having initially aimed my lenses from the windows upstairs, shortly after 10 a.m., that I realised the full impact of this still, silent, atmosphere on my breathing capacity.

The pictures containing bees were all produced while resting on benches in the Rose Garden. I soon returned to the house.

Jackie herself was not hampered by breathing difficulties and remained working in the shade all morning. All pictures bear titles in their galleries, one in each of which provides a clue of this reprisal of an earlier game series.

In the interests of vainly trying to stem the increasing numbers of pictures in my iPhotos collection I removed all those featuring in

Moshi Monsters

and saved just one appearing in

Bedraggled

They all stay in the posts.

Later, I read more of ‘England in the Later Middle Ages’.

This evening we dined on pork spare ribs in barbecue sauce on Jackie’s savoury rice, with which she drank more of the rosé and I drank more of the Merlot.

Garden And House

Beginning with the reflection on the kitchen roof skylight so well sealed by Barry Chislett- Bruce of New Forest Chimney Sweeping and

Repairs some years ago I photographed the garden from above this morning. As usual each image in today’s galleries bears its title.

Now fully recovered from my vaccine instillation procedure after-effects I then wandered around in the sunshine while Martin and Jackie undertook the work. Among other tasks our friend carried out dead-heading of plants I could not reach, such as those high enough to demand a ladder and those too far into beds; Jackie continued replacing rocks and building walls.

After lunch Nick arrived to finish painting the front of the house. This will need final touching up when the scaffolding, some of which will be needed at the back, is removed.

I have often been asked how I find such reliable and competent craftsmen. The answer is always by personal recommendation. This particular valuable band stems from Barry mentioned above. He and his son Owen had been sweeping our chimney before we bought the house. They continued to do this regularly, and fitted our fireplace and mantelpiece. It was therefore natural for us to ask for a recommended decorator. This was Nick, who has already done much inside work. Since he gathered the team to perform the specialist tasks, they were bound to be of like calibre, and indeed they are.

Aware that I have today added far too many images to my iPhoto picture collection, I made a vain attempt to redress the balance by retaining one from those appearing in

‘Some Handlebars’

and, even worse, keeping two from

Gracedale Road S.W.

This evening we dined on chicken Kiev; moist ratatouille; boiled new potatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli, with which Jackie drank Zesty and I finished the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Working The Rose Garden

Listening to the tinkle-trickle of the water fountain and the tuneful trilling of a red-breasted robin’s deceptively sweet-sounding war cry delivered from our southern neighbours’ garden, Jackie and I worked together in the Rose Garden this morning dead-heading, weeding, and sweeping in the warmth of the summer-sunshine. With an eye to next spring the Head Gardener also continued planting the vast array of tulips and daffodils she has been collecting from garden centres in recent weeks.

By a now sweltering mid-afternoon, the direct sun having moved around a bit, I photographed some of our results and the

bustling bees still working over the Japanese anemones.

Later I read more of ‘The Berlin Diaries, then watched the next episode of ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’.

This evening we dined on baked gammon; piquant cauliflower cheese; boiled new potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts, with which I drank Reserva Privada Chilean Malbec 2023.

Oar Point Memorial

The weather has changed again. Today was hot and sunny. This morning Jackie drove me to Sears Barbers in Milford on Sea where I had my hair cut; after lunch we took a trip out to the forest.

Ponies in traffic along Sowley Lane gave me the opportunity to focus

on the verge’s prolific ragwort swarming with bees.

Convolvulus now covers all the hedgerows, like this along St Leonard’s Road,

where bees also plunder the bramble blossom which has simultaneously produced early fruit.

Oar Point Memorial faces the Solent beyond which lies the Isle of Wight, seen through haze this afternoon.

Forest Fields by Michael Renyard

was today adorned with red carnations nodding to red poppies on the little wooden crosses.

Looking down towards Bucklers Hard we noticed a new sign to the museum featured in https://derrickjknight.com/2013/01/12/the-olden-days/

With the heat comes desperate ponies trying their best to protect themselves and each other from flies. These at East End also disrupted the traffic.

One driver vainly clapped in an effort to shift them, until a cyclist dismounted and persuaded them with more success.

A yacht weather vane in Rowes Lane is possibly pea green.

The stand of kniphofia at the front of the Walhampton Arms is extended more each year.

This evening we dined on cheese-centred fishcakes; boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots; and tender spinach and green beans, with which I finished the Appassimento

Save By The Bees

Our front garden is north facing and only lit diagonally at the beginning or the end of the day.

This morning I focussed on the two trellises supporting Mrs Thompson clematis and the honeysuckle; and the nasturtiums, antirrhinums, violas, and another clematis on the front of the garage door. Fuchsia Delta’s Sarah and the hypericum berries appear beyond the arch, The hydrangea and the rambling rose Félicité Perpétue need to be clipped often in order for drivers to see down the road when departing.

The honeysuckle is doing well this year, although this frontage has, for one reason or another, been rather neglected, save by the bees.

This afternoon I watched those parts of Wimbledon tennis matches that were permitted by the intermittent heavy rain.

This evening we dined on pork chops coated with mustard and brown sugar; fried onions; boiled new potatoes; firm carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli; and tender runner beans, with which I finished the Malbec.

Paths, Poppies; Bees, Blooms

On the morning of this cool, sunny, day to the tune of gentle birdsong and busy bees, I carried out dead heading and light weeding; Martin continued his sterling work for the whole day.

Among several other tasks, including mowing the lawn, our friend

completed the weeding of the Phantom and Brick Paths.

The three cordyline Australis trees disperse their heady scent throughout the garden where the eucalyptus and the yellow bottle brush plants are also in bloom.

Bright red poppies, attracting bees,

and gentle yellow Californian varieties are at their peak;

bottle brushes also draw the honey gatherers.

Day lilies are putting in regular appearances.

Roses are represented by two different pale pink New Dawns, the white Madame Alfred Carrière draped across the entrance to the Rose Garden, and Peach Abundance.

Here are views of the Gazebo Path, from the Cryptomeria Bed and of the Rose Garden.

This evening we dined at Rokali’s where my main course was duck Ceylon, and Jackie’s chicken sag; we shared puris and sag rice; I drank Kingfisher and Jackie drank Diet Coke. All was perfectly cooked, and well presented with excellent, friendly service.

Humming Bees

We were very fortunate to escape one of today’s heavy showers when we transported another car load of garden refuse to the Efford Recycling Centre. Rain hammered on the car as we drove home’

I use the cut glass pattern on a small wine container to measure my intake at each evening meal in order not to overdo the consumption and regret it. If she can help it the next morning, Jackie never leaves the renamed local council dump without making a purchase from the Reuse Shop. Today she bought a larger glass

which she placed on the kitchen table between yesterday’s bottle of Malbec and the measuring glass so that I could use the smaller glass as such to gauge a point on the larger for a change. I sampled it while drafting this post. Definitely more pleasing.

Although the sun produced warmth between fierce showers, Martin had to move on from weeding paths which became too wet, and carry

out more general tidying.

I took advantage of the sunny periods to photograph

bees entering a white foxglove, alighting on a geranium palmatum,

and those whose massed hum emanated from the Chilean Lantern tree to which they are inevitably drawn. Accessing the gallery should help spot one in each of these pictures.

This pink budding rose in the Patio Bed will be the colour of Peach Abundance in the Oval Bed when it fills out.

Other roses include the white rambler Félicité Perpétue; pale pink New Dawn; white climbing The Generous Gardener; pink Festive Jewel; white Winchester Cathedral: and a red climber.

The first of these clematises is on the front garden trellis; the next two pictures on the patio fence include Doctor Ruppel, another example of which decorates the Brick Path.

Fuchsia Delta’s Sarah, of which we have a number, is hardy enough to survive our winters; this allium is now in full bloom, as are the heucheras.

Here are two more shots of the Rose Garden.

and one from alongside the Cryptomeria Bed.

This evening we dined on spicy marinaded chicken; boiled baby new potatoes; and al dente carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli stems, with which I drank more of the Malbec.

Warm Spring Sunshine

I enjoyed a pleasant conversation with David of Mistletoe Cottage in the garden this morning where we discussed his plans for Aaron to replace our shared fence. It was good to extend our talk as we remained among our plants for a while.

Crab apple and Amanogawa cherry blossoms have survived the recent gales.

David will continue to enjoy these camellias and the Vulcan magnolia from his side of the fence.

Yellow-flowered euphorbia and more delicate comfrey are now prolific.

Ferget-me-nots and bluebells are now casting carpets and

attracting bees,

as are the lamiums.

Ferns unfold fiddles.

Honesty

also attracts flying insects such as the constantly flittering yellow brimstone butterflies.

Muscari and pieris are blooming well.

Is the autumn sculpture’s heart bleeding for the dicentra?

The orange marigolds in a hanging basket can be seen from the Gazebo Path.

Later I received a telephone call from SpaMedica contracted to NHS offering me an assessment interview for an anticipated cataract operation. This is at Poole tomorrow morning. I received a 12 page e-mail I was required to print out, complete various forms, and take with me tomorrow.

I then read more of Kristin Lavransdatter.

This appears to have been published prematurely. I have updated it and now add that this evening we will dine on second helpings of yesterday’s Chinese meal.

Shirt Sleeves Sunshine

This morning, accompanied by returning birdsong, I took a trip round the garden, occupied by numerous flying insects like these

bees drawn to euphorbia.

Martin’s tireless efforts of cutting back shrubbery, trimming and training roses throughout the winter have opened up

views throughout the garden.

Quite apart from their having no right to be in bloom this early these on the patio have survived all that the elements have thrown at them during the last few days;

these Lilac Wonders in the Palm Bed are better protected.

Numerous daffodils flourish,

as do forget-me-nots, wallflowers, and our first bluebells.

A range of camellias continue to carpet the ground beneath them.

It was definitely warm enough for shirt sleeves – and for me.

This afternoon, while Dillon was passing his driving test, I watched the Women’s Six Nations rugby matches between Scotland and France and between England and Wales.

Becky came home with Dillon and we all dined on another of Jackie’s cottage pies, carrots, runner beans, and broccoli stems, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Sangiovese & Syrah Toscana.

This evening we all dined on (another of Jackie’s cottage pies, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli stems, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Sangovese/Syrah red wine) Merril’s comment exposes why the section in brackets was added.

Rose Garden Entrance Arbour All But Completed

Flo produced some delightful photographs of Ellie this morning. These included reading “Big Panda and Tiny Dragon” with Dillon, and pointing out a frog on Jackie’s sock.

Martin has now almost finished building what is in reality an arbour to replace the Rose Garden Entrance arch. This has involved retraining a couple of rose plants.

Despite the sunshine the temperature was quite chilly, although not enough to deter the most intrepid bees. This one clung to a chionodoxa.

Ellie likes to stand at the window to watch the birds. As I returned to the house soon after I photographed the live bee above she called out “bee”. She was referring to the one on the wall behind me.

This evening we all dined on Jackie’s penne Bolognese sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I finished the shiraz.