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Yesterday, Jackie, having set a border with transplanted heucheras some weeks ago, thinned out the other plants in the small bed to the left of the rose garden entrance. As Aaron said, this increased the sense of space.
One of Aaron’s tasks this morning was to prune the plants over the arch to the front garden;
another was to fix spikes to the top of the Westbrook Arbour to prevent perching pigeons pooing onto the bench beneath.
Late this morning Jackie drove me out with the intention of photographing the New Forest Marathon. Unfortunately, because of road closures, and my inability to walk far enough along the paths that would lead to the runners, we abandoned the idea and went home to lunch, after which an amble round the garden was possible.
We still have a number of lively clematises, like this Polish Spirit in the Dragon Bed alongside the Shady Path,
and this Hagley Hybrid in the Rose Garden,
where is also to be found glorious Gloriana,
pink-cheeked Mum in a Million,
and Rhapsody in Blue harmonising with verbena bonariensis.
Peach Delight still stretches over the Oval Bed,
where nasturtiums echo rudbeckia,
itself found in the Palm Bed,
also home to helenium
and echinacea.
Bees swarmed blushing sedums
and Japanese anemones;
a wasp sought saxifrage.
Perhaps a spider’s spinning a modest veil for Florence sculpture.
Gauras have proved difficult to grow here. An exception is this one swaying in the Weeping Birch Bed.
This fuchsia curtains Elizabeth’s Bed from the Rose Garden.
In the late afternoon we visited Mudeford Quay which thronged with visitors, Many of whom were enjoying themselves catching crabs, although they snared more seaweed. The secret, which enabled one group to fill buckets with the unfortunate creatures before tossing them back into the water, seemed to be the bacon bait, which, to my mind, would have been better served flavouring a sausage casserole.
Taking advantage of the low tide, one dog walker wandered along the sandbank, passing the Isle of Wight, and retracing his steps.
Just as I was about to leave, a tattooed jet skier sprayed into sight and navigated his way between the port and starboard buoys.
Early this evening, Jackie rushed in for the camera, rushed out with it, and returned with a backlit image of the heuchera I had photographed this morning.
This evening the three of us dined on Jackie’s splendid pork paprika; wild rice; crunchy carrots, and our own runner beans, followed by her sublime bread and butter pudding. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden while my sister and I finished the Fleurie.