This drizzle-wet morning gave way to the hot, humid-wet afternoon on which I carried out a dead-heading exercise.
For those worried about our robin family, Jackie’s internet research has revealed that in summer the missing small birds abandon gardens for woods where a plethora of readily attainable food abounds. They can be expected to return when it takes less effort to follow gardeners around than to forage the fields and forest.
In the meantime we have butterflies like the Small Whites that sup from the verbena bonariensis.
The still bejewelled Deep Secret; the apricot Mamma Mia; and red Love Knot are examples of the Rose Garden Roses, while
along the Shady Path the red climber also retains raindrops.
Yellow rudbeckia Goldsturm and rich red crocosmia Lucifer grace the Palm Bed;
an intriguing gladiolus whose label has been eaten by slugs is propped up in the Oval Bed;
Yellow kniphofias need no support in the Cryptomeria Bed;
in other locations we have more lilies;
bronze fennel and sweet peas,
Japanese anemones and pelargoniums,
and dazzling dahlias.
Later this afternoon I made a minor contribution to Jackie’s extensive watering project. One lesson I have had to learn is that water from the skies does not reach plants in pots.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s cheese-topped classic cottage pie, carrots, and mange touts with tasty beef gravy. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Rioja.
