This morning while gardening Jackie photographed
rose Emily Gray, a highly scented rambler gracing
the back drive border out of sight in this shot;
clematis Doctor Ruppel climbing the weeping birch;
a row of blue irises with the bonus of a yellow stowaway in the bag of bulbs;
Nugget,
and his son Junior, still not qualified to wear the red jersey.
After lunch I managed the photoshoot.
On the kitchen corner of the patio we have delicate magenta gladioli Byzantinus blending with deep blue verbena Vectura and pink pelargoniums,
in turn reflecting similarly hued diascia potted above cascading Erigeron.
Nearby stands this peach rose we inherited.
Ornamental alliums of a number of varieties are gradually un-peeling throughout the garden.
Nugget attempted to encourage his son to feed from the suet pellet tray, but the youngster was deterred by my wandering around
the vicinity of the wisteria arbour.
I therefore focussed on this from above, showing how the rose Paul’s Scarlet and the clematis Star of India are poised to replace the fading pale blue blooms.
Later Jackie came in for her camera when Nugget and Junior both occupied the tray. Unfortunately they were gone by the time she returned.
Later, Nugget left Junior to his own devices while he flew off with a pellet for the next brood. Apparently robins are such prolific breeders that they can produce 3 to 5 clutches of up to five eggs a year. As soon as the youngsters earn the red jersey they are chased off by their father, so Junior will soon go and find someone else’s garden.
The marigolds in the Oval Bed continue to proliferate.
In the Rose Garden For Your Eyes Only is bushing out nicely, while Gloriana towers above it;
Schoolgirl vaults the arbour;
and flamboyant Festive Jewel,
sprightly Summer Wine and middle-aged Madame Alfred Carriere
carelessly cavort in concert.
This evening we dined on minted lamb steaks, boiled new potatoes; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; and firm Brussels sprouts with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the El Zumbido Garnacha, Syrah.