Jackie continued refurbishing hanging baskets
and containers such as those she is watering here.
At the moment most of these involve cuttings she has preserved over the winter. We have heard today that garden centres are likely to open again next week, thus offering the opportunity for more variety – not that the Head Gardener has, thanks to Ferndene Farm shop, been completely devoid of bedding plants like these
calibrachoa awaiting a resting place.
Oak leaved geraniums and
Palmatums have survived in the open.
The burgeoning red climbing rose is now rapidly overhauling the fading wisteria;
while the nearby Chilean lantern tree is nicely lit.
Snow White Madame Alfred Carriere now relaxes with Summer Wine rouge above the Rose Garden where
the tiny Flower Power is having its strongest showing yet,
and the lyrical Shropshire Lad has found his rhythm.
A bustling bumble bee, hastening to reach its pollen count, scatters the microscopic yellow grains.
This afternoon I received an e-mail from our sister-in-law Frances wondering whether Mum had made Chris and my VE Day street party suits
from old curtains or blackout fabric. I had always thought velvet, but to ascertain the material’s origin I suggested Mum might remember.
Later I scanned ten more pages of Agnes Miller Parker’s
elegant illustrations to H. E. Bates’s “Down The River”.
While I was working on this, Jackie began preparing the Cryptomeria Bed and found herself virtually surrounded by what seemed the whole robin family. Nugget, Lady, and two or three fledglings were all in attendance.
This evening I produced a meal of fillet steaks, mashed potato, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and runner beans. Modesty prevents me from mentioning its quality. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Shiraz.