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. My already plentiful and well cooked Full English breakfast was supplemented by my wife’s donation of her hash browns and toast.
These were the garden views from the marquee which we occupied.
From there we drove to Pilley for an up to date record of the scene. The lake is fuller after the recent rains;
more of Quarry Cottage is mirrored in the additional little pool;
it is still possible to walk across to take in
the view from the opposite side, in the foreground of which foxgloves linger and blackberries develop.
Today the lake invited further reflective photographs.
When approaching East Boldre from opposite Hatchet Pond I glimpsed waterlilies through trees. Jackie parked beside the verge along which I walked until I came to the open view I knew would emerge.
On the way I took in the delights of grasses, heather, blackberry blossom, and bees, one of which had become attached to a petal from a previously plundered plant.
Many of the ponies we passed were sheltering from what developed into a much hotter period. An exception was this group including a growing colt grazing along the roadside.
White butterflies flitted over a field of flax further along the road.
Having seen what we had for brunch, readers will not be surprised to learn that no later sustenance was required.