A north-easterly wind is not my favourite thing but encouraged by the vivid blue sky and wonderful bird song I ventured outside for some pleasurable pottering around in the garden.
With the dry weather I had been gradually getting ahead with the re-potting and division of plants and our garden table was full of cuttings, seedlings and various plants being hardened off. With a view to the attractive arrangements on the table several plants were in my somewhat treasured terracotta pots. With the extra time available I was unusually organised and for the first time felt rather on top of these important garden activities.
Around midday I felt the strong sun might be a bit much for my tender seedlings and I (foolishly) put up the garden umbrella.
A little later that day Mike and I were enjoying a peaceful lunch in the conservatory where it was warm and out of the wind.
Suddenly there was an almighty crash as a very strong gust of wind had lifted the umbrella and the whole iron table with all its contents onto its side. It landed on a lot of freshly re-potted plants.
Broken terracotta pots flew into the Hellebore border. Seedlings and plants were hurled from their protective trays and pots. It was rather painful to see the scene change from one of harmony and order to complete chaos and mess.
Enough said. Lesson learned.
So onto other things with our usual mix of the plants and some more photographs of our garden wildlife.
Tulip Flaming Spring Green has continued to earn its place in the big pot with a long period of flowering and its gorgeous gentle colours
Aquilegia vulgaris has come out and at last my Solomon’s Seal is becoming more plentiful and established in its shady area in one corner of the garden.
The ferns are starting to unfurl.
This beautiful great tit was chased from the bird box area by the much smaller and very territorial blue tit.
We have always much enjoyed the character and song of the Blackbird. There is a poem I am rather fond of which I thought I would share with you here.
Adelstrop
Yes, I remember Adlestrop -
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.
The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop -- only the name
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop -- only the name
And willows, willow-herb, and grass,
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.
And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
Edward Thomas (1878 -1917). From a collection ’The Nation’s Favourite Poems’
This lovely cowslip lives in a pot very happily and flowers well every year.
Rhona very kindly gave us this pink Campion last year, I love it!
Lastly this is our latest picture of Reggie.
Best wishes to all
Sarah
