We began early this morning watering, dead heading, clearing debris and adding to the compost bins before attending Milford on Sea GP Surgery for flu jab appointments. A large number of patients were vaccinated smoothly at one minute intervals. We queued 2 metres apart for no time at all and were directed to our colour-coded injection chamber. All was extremely efficient except for the jam of jabbed individuals swapping details of their experience and other age-related ailments causing something of a bottle-neck at the rear exit. This was a bit of a slalom with no opportunity for the correct social distancing; however, everyone wore masks, and we were back in the car after five minutes, giving us time for a brief drive in our rather Saturday-crowded environment.
Seasonal confusion was first evidenced in our own garden with windburn to Japanese maples and Summer Wine pouring down the entrance arch to the Rose Garden. More was displayed in
Sandy Down with pink roses,
rhododendrons,
and cyclamen lining the verges; and
the leaves of a silver birch beginning to display the Midas touch.
This afternoon after some more chopping and composting of refuse I wandered around the garden with my camera.
Dahlias and begonias, some sharing beds, are in no doubt that it is their season.
Nasturtiums, gauras, and diascias are still going strong.
Small White butterflies and hard working bees are not conceding that their time is over.
Clematises, like this lost label purple one and Dr Ruppel, sharing the Gothic arch with red Super Elfin and pale pink Penny Lane roses, linger on,
as does a rather ragged Shropshire Lad, swaying in the Rose Garden to
a white symphony of begonias, nicotiana sylvestris, and Hawkshead fuchsias.
The eucalyptus still suspends filled hanging baskets flanked by pelargoniums and rudbeckias. Is it really autumn?
This evening we dined on poached smoked haddock; Jackie’s piquant cauliflower cheese; creamy mashed potatoes; firm carrots; and tender runner beans, with which we both drank Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – a crisp, aromatic, white wine from New Zealand.