Well, I am well and truly back from my holiday - I have been occupied with the mountains of laundry that we seem to get through whilst away and then on our return had to tackle the jungle that had become our garden. I couldn't believe how everything had grown in our absence weeds and all.
The sweet peas in the cutting garden had started to bloom whilst we were away and are now in full swing - I have been picking them every day, beautiful long stems at the moment and the claret colour seems to dominate - every time I pass them in the house I get a whiff of their lovely fragrance - it is just a shame that they don't last longer in the vase.
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| feverfew and ground elder |
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| sweet william from the cutting patch |
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| Delphiniums |
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| Foxgloves |
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| Greenfinch rose |
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| I can never remember the name of this rose with its floppy blowsy blooms |
There must have been some strong winds whilst we were away as a lot of the delphiniums are flattened and the lawn was full of leaves - I have been working hard to get everything back to rights but there is still a way to go yet.
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| the containers have filled out and are flowering away beautifully |
The weather during our holiday was a bit changeable but we managed to get a couple of really lovely days where I changed from a couch potato to Olympic hiker with very sore feet.
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the tide line was full of razor shells that crunched and crackled as
you walked |
One day we walked through Holkham woods and stopped at both the bird hides for a spot of bird-watching, after a couple of peaceful hours looking through binoculars, we headed through the dunes for a picnic on the beach. Unfortunately we didn't know that part of Holkham beach was segregated for naturists and as we stood looking for a good spot to settle down with our picnic up popped a hairy little naked hobbit of a man - DON'T LOOK ETHEL - TOO LATE - I'D SEEN ENOUGH TO PUT ME OFF MY LUNCH!!!!!!!!!! Why couldn't it have been a bronzed Adonis with rippling muscles and a tight little bottom. Just my luck.
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| Holkham woods |
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| Field of wild lupins |
So - now it's back to normality - still trying to foil the crows attempts to steal the fat balls, and coming back to a huge plumbers bill as our hot water system conked out just before we were due to leave for our hols - there's always something - you can't have the pleasure without the pain - as they say. Hey ho.
Hope you are all enjoying this spell of fine weather - have a good weekend. See you soon!
The sweet peas in the cutting garden had started to bloom whilst we were away and are now in full swing - I have been picking them every day, beautiful long stems at the moment and the claret colour seems to dominate - every time I pass them in the house I get a whiff of their lovely fragrance - it is just a shame that they don't last longer in the vase.
The weather during our holiday was a bit changeable but we managed to get a couple of really lovely days where I changed from a couch potato to Olympic hiker with very sore feet.
hahaha, so funny about the hairy naked hobit! Have I missed where you went, is it Norfolk? I've had a longing to go to Norfolk recently and if I do I'll now be aware of the segregation parts and be sure to take super zoom binocs ;)Only kidding! Lovely photos of your flowers. Suzy x
ReplyDeleteYes it was Norfolk - such a glorious coastline. The little hobbit-man was quite at ease he just said 'lovely day' and we pretended it was normal to see someone with no clothes on - we are British after all.
DeleteWhy is it always the ugly wrinkly ones that want to let it all hang out?!! Not surprised you went off your lunch :(
ReplyDeleteThey obviously have the misconception that their bodies are beautiful. It must be a nice feeling though - don't think I'd fancy getting sand in my unmentionables!
DeleteThat bit about the hairy naked hobbit made me laugh :oD
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of your flowers they look gorgeous.
Julie x
It's a great time of year for all things flowery.
DeleteNot everyday you come across a hairy naked hobit! Like you we are just back from holiday with loads of laundry and an overgrown garden. Isn't it amazing how things change in the garden in just a short time away? Lovely photos of your garden flowers and the Norfolk beaches:)
ReplyDeleteMy friend did a good job on the watering whilst we were away - we almost had to hack our way through the garden gate.
DeleteHow wonderfully your garden has filled out! I'd be torn about vacationing while all that activity is happening at home. But your views look quite lovely, hobbit notwithstanding. Enjoy your posies -- I surely am!
ReplyDeleteLuckily everything in the garden was fine, if not a bit overgrown - a friend came in to water every day, which must have been a bit of a task for her, considering how many containers I have.
DeleteYu got me laughing this morning! I needed that! But nevermind unappealing hobit - your garden is producing such charming bouquets!!
ReplyDeleteIt was funny Jayne - we didn't know quite where to look - the man himself wasn't in the least put out by our clothed presence.
DeleteLovely photos of your flowers. I remember part of Holkham was set aside for that purpose right back when I was a child, my parents made us keep well away, obviously they were wise with this decision if your experience was anything to go by!
ReplyDeleteHa ha - How come no one ever told me - all these years we have been visiting that beach and I never knew.
DeleteIt has seemed to be quite windy for a while but lovely today.
ReplyDeleteI hope you recovered from the hobbit - it's a wonder they didn't confiscate those binoculars though!
Our sweet peas are way behind your but when they come they do make lovely room fresheners!
The sweet peas are going full pelt now - picking them every day although this year the colours seem to be mainly the claret ones hopefully the pastel colours will catch up.
DeleteHow do you know what a naked hobbit looks like anyway!! The flowers are glorious,nothing like a holiday to make you see home in anew light. We are having a cieling replaced ,dust everywhere and the house looks like a transit camp.Your flowers are balm to my frazzled soul!xx
ReplyDeleteOh dear - don't know whether I could cope with ceiling problems,it was bad enough having the airing cupboard out of action whilst the plumber installed the new tank.
DeleteHolkham Beach is one of my favourite places in the world. Sweet peas my favourite flower. How I would love to be in your garden right now.
ReplyDeleteI love Holkham beach too - it always seems to be deserted and yet the car park is always full - the beach is so big everyone seems to disappear.
DeleteHahahahahaha.....I'm laughing out loud at the naked hairy hobbit man!!! EEK!!! That happened to me in Spain and as you say they are always round, hairy and hideous....never bronzed Greek God material!!!
ReplyDeleteThe pics of the beach and woods are really beautiful, a place I will have to visit!!!
I'm amazed at your garden, so many lovely plants in flower, I don't even have a bud on my sweet peas, and my delphiniums are just about to bloom!!!
I really like the combination of the feverfew and ground elder, I never would have thought to put them together as I'm always trying to get rid of the ground elder....now I may leave some to flower!xxxx
It's taking me ages to get round answering everyone's comments - with the weather being so good I just don't fancy sitting typing on the computer. There are a few flowers in the garden but in July it always seems to go over very quickly.
DeleteI had to laugh at your interesting picnic; would anyone be bronzed on a British beach given our weather? But I'm glad you had some good weather on your holiday; the beaches look gorgeous. I love all the flowers, especially the sweet peas. I do regret not planting any for this year.
ReplyDeleteI think we shall be a little more cautious next time we take that walk - luckily we only saw one hobbit - next time there could be a whole Shire full.
DeleteA most enjoyable post and photos. You've certainly got lots of flowers blooming.
ReplyDeleteSitting here on a warm afternoon looking at your pictures of empty beaches and blue skies has me wishing I was there rather than here. Flighty xx
I love the feeling of freedom walking on empty beaches and listening to the waves tumbling in - heaven.
DeleteOh that made me laugh, what an eventful picnic! xx
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was - a little too eventful for my liking.
DeleteI could not help laughing of your meeting on the naturist beach. Lovely holiday pictures, but I see your garden is in full bloom too. So much gardening to do in these days. Sweet peas starting to flower here too, I love their fragrance.
ReplyDeleteI am doing most of my gardening early in the morning and late evening at the moment - it is too hot in the middle of the day - I tend to wilt like a lettuce in the heat.
DeleteEvery year I lose my sweet peas to bunnies so this year I put them in a pot on the back porch. They are doing fine but only two small flowers so far. I just love their scent and can't wait for more! Your vacation sounds lovely, hobbit sighting and all.
ReplyDeleteFor me, a garden wouldn't be the same without sweet peas.
DeleteThis gave me quite the chuckle my friend! I do love these photos - especially the beach photos!! Good luck with all the laundry! Can I send some to you?
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith. I would be quite happy never to see another pile of laundry again thank you very much! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going up to Norfolk in August, Elaine. Thanks for the hobbit warning. Dave
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Dave.
DeleteLove those Foxgloves! I really must get some...we had loads in our old garden.
ReplyDeleteI don't have as many as I normally do which is a shame as I love to see them in the garden
DeleteToo funny about the naked old guy!! Your bouquets are beautiful! :o)
ReplyDeleteYou're in my Blogger Spotlight!
ReplyDeleteThanks - much appreciated.
DeleteBelated catching up of blog posts and you really made me laugh about your eye-full on the beach!! You have such a range of flowers for cutting, lovely. Glad you had a good holiday
ReplyDeleteLovely peaceful empty beaches under a blue sky . . . isn't it strange how I instantly thought - "Norfolk!" But those beaches seem so different to the Cornish ones which surround me.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flowers and I'm another one who would loathe to go away at this time of year, especially leaving my tomatoes, strawberries, chillies, etc. in the greenhouse.
As for the crows stealing the fat balls - do you want to borrow my dog? He charges at the feeding post whenever a crow, pigeon, jackdaw attempts to land on it, while the small birds are very welcome to stay. We had to have extra recognition lessons when he started to chase off the blackbirds and thrushes, but he has learned the difference now.