After a morning clearing shrubberies and watering window boxes, we took a trip to Efford Recycling Centre. Although we did dump more sections of aluminium frames, probably the last of the alleged ‘greenhouse, unassembled’, the real purpose of the trip was to seek out mirrors from the sales section.
Jackie found two perfect specimens.
Yes, we know each would be an acquired taste, but for what we had in mind they were perfect.
Penny Lane is a climbing rose. Just about a foot tall at the moment it will climb to 8′. The first new bud emerging early this morning was fully opened by the afternoon.
Margaret Merrill, equally virginal crisp and fresh two days ago, glowed, blowsy, in the morning light.
This gloriously hot and sunny afternoon I wandered around the garden whilst Jackie went off to do some shopping.
From the second armchair in the rose garden one can see past tall roses in the Oval Bed to the gladioli in the former compost bed, around flutter numerous butterflies like this Small White:
Leaving the rose garden let us walk through the arch and turn right on the pergola path where agapanthus nods to petunias and montbretia hides in long ornamental grasses.
From the grass patch to the left, looking over the top of the Dump Bench, so called because it was an early purchase from the recycling centre, the stable door is glimpsed.
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We have quite a lot of montbretia. It likes shade but doesn’t always hide,
although these pink hollyhocks are attempting to do so.
Later, we hung our mirrors. Now, please don’t run away with the idea that we have both been struck by an attack of narcissism. There is enough seating in the rose garden now to encourage quiet reflection.
The mirrors are positioned to reflect the sunlight into darker corners. One, with the armchair, and the clock, provides a cosy corner for reflection in both senses.
In the third Test Match, Australia rallied and set England 121 to win. The home team lost two wickets in reaching the target.
Our dinner this evening was provided by Hordle Chinese Take Away. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I made further inroads into the beaujolais.