CLICK ON IMAGES (ESPECIALLY THE CRICKET) TO ENLARGE. REPEAT (ESPECIALLY THE CRICKET) IF REQUIRED.
DID I MENTION THE CRICKET?
It is two years since we were last assisting our friend Giles in opening his garden in Milford on Sea. Once more, today, we took the first stint in his rota.
Overnight rain had only recently desisted at 11 a.m., so Jackie, on the door, had plenty of opportunity to work on her puzzles,
while Giles and I chatted until the first visitors arrived.
Blu-tacked onto the entrance window is a well-deserved certificate.
Beneath this is one of the gardener’s creative sculptures, made from found objects. The upright stone was once part of a window in Southwell Minster.
Here is another from the bottom of the garden.
This one contains examples of his stained glass work,
as does this view from the sitting room, showing the artefact on which stands his tree encircled by butterflies.
A further creation on the decking is seen through the French windows.
Pebbles and granite sets creating paths and other features were all collected over a number of years from on and around the nearby beaches.
Seventeen years ago, this rambling haven was almost completely grassed over. It is now packed with trees, shrubs, and other features attractive to wildlife.
Raindrops still pilled on the fibres of smoke tree;
foxgloves;
clematis;
and osteospermum – even on the little cricket’s antennae.
A notice visible in the second clematis picture indicates and lists the uses of the wildlife hotel;
another extols the value of viper’s bugloss to bees.
I expect these latter enjoy delphiniums, too, although blue is Giles’s favourite flower colour.
Had the rain persisted, no doubt this hut, with its natural seat, would have filled up with visitors;
certainly the pond would have topped up with water.
This evening we dined on the rest of the Chinese Takeaway, and both drank Kingfisher.