This was a day of intermittent steady rain and occasional sunshine.
Jackie began, in the rain, by photographing her new planting in the Pond Bed. She plans to do this periodically to record its development.
Shortly before lunchtime, Elizabeth arrived with her gardening kit, brought the sun with her, and set about
weeding the Head Gardener’s Walk.
There were plenty of plants, like these sweet woodruffs, spilling over for her to transplant to her own garden.
In the first London Marathon of the modern era, this photograph by Mark Shearman shows the winners crossing the line hand in hand. Inevitably, fierce competition for kudos and for prizes has superseded this sporting gesture which Jackie and I were to emulate in our contest over reaching
the Ace Reclaim Bench in our weeding of the Shady Path.
Fork and trowel met to share the final removal. Jackie produced this selfie from beside the bench, which I photographed from beside the nearest
rhododendron in the Palm Bed opposite.
Serious rain set in after lunch, so my sister donned her hooded raincoat and continued her task. The third picture, “Where’s Elizabeth?” (1), contains the scented clematis Montana Mayleen making its way up the lopped cypress.
During a later sunshine break I was able to photograph Elizabeth’s work on both the Head Gardener’s Walk
and the Heligan Path. She gathered up her piles before departing.
Meanwhile Jackie photographed raindrops on
the rhododendron on the corner of the Lawn;
the red Japanese maple;
the grey Cinereria Angel’s Wings;
Pheasant’s Eye narcissi;
and aquilegia buds.
This evening we repeated yesterday’s dinner menu with roast parsnips replacing the green beans. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Recital.
