Flowers Fantastic - Water (sorta) Returns. Sunday, 19.7.09

I stayed up late last night doing my art project and Jim was on his computer, so it was a late start today. It was mostly dry and sunny though, so I managed to get some washing dry outside. The water pump decided to burst into action again, but as it goes all the time we turn it off most of the time and just turn it on when we need it. So the situation is much improved. We hope the pump man will come tomorrow. I'll ring him first thing.

Jim is off to Galway tomorrow to cost the plumbing items we have to buy for our plumber.

I noticed some new flowers out today so it was camera time again. I had bought Jim some white pom pom dahlia bulbs a while ago on one of my trips to the UK. They have at last flowered and are so pretty:
Isn't it perfect? Just a tinge of cream.

Another of the white poppies is in flower on the wild flower rockery:
It's much more of a white than the dahlia. I just love these. I do hope they seed.

On the same rockery, this plant had 2 flowers on in my first photo. Look at it now! I just love that striking blue.
Just one Californian Poppy put in an appearance today.


The hanging baskets are doing really well. This is one of the double petunia in one of them, as is the photo below:
The dahlia in the dahlia and gladioli bed are flowering prolifically now. I love this red one that's just appeared:
What a stunning colour. The orange cactus dahlia that was out the other day is even bigger now:

I cut some sweet peas today and some dahlia, montbretia and cornflowers and put them in a glass. They look, and smell, fabulous.

This is one of Jim's 'rescue' plants from B & Q. Such a delicate pink and white fuchsia, I have planted it in the wall bed near the house.
How cute is this little bee, busy on the scabious flower.

Down on the arboretum, the big bed is bursting with flowers. This has to be the biggest cosmos flower I have ever seen!
It's the size of a small tea plate!
Opposite the big bed is the living willow fence and in front of it, this striking group of purple loose strife. It comes up there every year.
On to the rose bed and apart from the black spot, they are doing really well now. The warm weather has spurred them on.
This lovely bloom is one of my favourites, 'Peace'.

A bud just unfurling

A trio of the same rose, now fully open.
But today, I think this one is a clear winner. Such a dazzling orange against the dark red leaves.
Finally, I took this 'joiner' of the grotto bed below and above. Where the picture is dark is a little cave, which is how it was given the name. Lots of ferns and damp loving things grow there. The barn is behind it as you look at the photo and that is coming down, so I don't know whether the lower section will survive the demolition. I do hope so. Do click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

This afternoon I weeded the 'old' rockery. Poor thing had got into a state with the builders stuff all around it. The grass in the back is about 2' long! I pulled it away from the edge of the rockery and after I'd weeded it, it looks much better. I can't wait to get the back sorted out again. Between the arboretum and the rockery is a ditch. We have thistles several feet high in it. The plan is to put the rubble from the barn into this ditch, which will then level the ground there. It will make it much easier to move machinery around and it will look much better too. Eventually....

Jim and I are watching the Ashes cricket matches as and when we can. England drew the first test and it looks as though they might win the second one. Fingers crossed. They have to get the Australians out tomorrow, they have dismissed 5 already, so not many more to go. It's been a good game.

My son Ben rang me from Spain today. It was good to hear his voice. I said I would go and visit him in October, when it's cooler and quieter there. I do miss him.

That's it for today. I hope everyone's had a good weekend. Builders tomorrow - hopefully..