Jackie spent most of another fine spring day working on her soil replenishment project. Can you spot her?
You certainly can now
that the sunlight has provided her with a new fashion print.
To the left of the eucalyptus can be seen one of the freshly planted mimuluses. Here is another.
The red Japanese maple stands at the bottom right of the opening picture. It is also evident in this view from the frog pond. Actually the pond is a filled cistern containing water lilies and no frogs. It acquired its name when Jackie unearthed the stone amphibians in the undergrowth.
I provided a modicum of assistance in the soil replenishment process; carted compost about; did some watering; and dug a big hole, filling it with more nutritious matter, for a lost label clematis. The benefit of such a buy is that you get much more for your money, and the fun of waiting to find the answer to more of what. Behind the plant is our insect hotel.
Different crane’s bill geraniums are coming into bloom,
as is the small convolvulus cneorum on the back drive.
The bees are still preferring the pulmonaria to anything else on offer.
Just as the morning light illuminated the start of Jackie’s final day on this particular soil transplant, the evening sun cast shadows across the finished job.
It was greenfinches, resting from feverish flitting from tree to tree, that overlooked our evening rose garden drinks; this one from the relative safety of a neighbour’s garden.
Jackie is beginning to worry that the splendid heucheras she planted as a border to the roses might overawe the main attraction.
Our dinner this evening consisted of Mr Pink’s fish and chips, and pickled gherkins and onions from jars in the cupboard, followed by Jackie’s apple and sultana crumble with cream. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the cabernet sauvignon.