We have just returned from our local small market town where we enjoyed a really lovely but modest celebration meal. I say modest because these days we both find a large slap-up-meal far too much.
We have spent the early afternoon working in the garden. The bird bath was becoming too entangled by the patchwork of heathers and required some much needed breathing space, and I have just been cutting off the pretty little chartreuse/yellow flowers of the Alchemilla mollis - lady's mantle. They look lovely at this time of the year, but be warned, if you don't remove the flowers now, then you will be rewarded with hundreds of new plants next year. Every single tiny flower is now about to produce a seed, they are well known for being both fertile and very invasive. Put some of them in a bowl along with with a few heads of Lavender, and they will not only look pretty but also fragrance your room.
Time to go and watch the tennis from Wimbledon now.
Happy Anniversary! Yes, appetites and stomachs get smaller as the years go on. My Rare One and I will often share an entree at restaurants because two are just too much to eat!
ReplyDeleteWe have both always had a good appetite, so it feels strange to be content with so much less.
DeleteHello Rosemary, Happy anniversary, and what a lovely way to celebrate--a day in the garden and then dinner. Since you mentioned trimming, I was wondering what you do with the trimmings from your garden--do you compost, or are they taken away? I know that even small yards can produce huge amounts of material once the shears are brought out!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - and thank you. We do have a huge compost area hidden away at the side of our house. My husband is a great compost believer. However, cut branches and some weeds that we don't want to regrow in the garden go into a large brown bin with is collected by our local authority. They break all of the contents down and use it in the local parks etc.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your wedding anniversary!
We are the very same, modest meals and no more big ones... Feels a lot better afterwards.
What an incredible photo of your garden visitor/resident master Fox!
Yes, plants are a constant care for avoiding invasive spreading that we don't want.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - although we have different wildlife passing through the garden on a regular basis, I still get a thrill when they visit. We have badgers that come too, but they tend to visit late in the evening.
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DeleteHappy Anniversary, dear Rosemary. We are the same, a small celebratory meal is perfect these days. It is always a treat to see the Lady's Mantle, such a pretty plant, not seen here. Like you, we are careful about what is allowed to germinate in our garden, and constant vigilance is required. The fox is sweet and I hope you catch a photo of the baby fawn.
ReplyDeleteLady's Mantle always looks lovely after a rainfall followed by sun - its umbrella shaped leaves hold the little raindrops that then sparkle like diamonds in the sunshine.
DeleteHappy Anniversary, dear Rosemary! Your arrangement looks just beautiful in the footed comport.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pip - the small compote dish is a memory for me from Ireland found whilst on a trip there.
DeleteHappy anniversary! The fox looks like a fine fellow.
ReplyDeleteThank you - I was pleased to see that was looking fit and well nourished.
DeleteHappy Anniversary, Rosemary! What a beautiful arrangement. I just planted two lady's mantle starters in my garden this year and have been warned about it's propensity to multiple, so I'll keep an eye on it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorrie - yes, do keep an eye on them, especially as they form tough, gnarly roots. It is sadly easier to remove the flowers after you have enjoyed them for awhile.
DeleteA rather belated Happy Anniversary to you both. I'm in that awkward in-between stage when I can still eat large portions but then regret it for the rest of the day. I'm sure your fox won't have that problem.
ReplyDeleteThank you John - I thought that the fox was looking pretty good, his fur was in fine fettle, and he looked to be reasonably well fed.
DeleteHappy Wedding Anniversary though it's belated. I'm sure you both had a wonderful day with many memories.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the fox as we don't have any here I believe.
Take care.
I thought that Master Fox had a really nice little face.
DeleteYour flower arrangement is an artistic tour de force, Rosemary! I am happy to see the fox making its regular rounds and I hope that it and the fawn get along well together.
ReplyDeleteHe has just been back again now David snooping around in that very same area of the garden.
DeleteI am also watching Wimbledon tennis now (and every other night, Melbourne time). I love watching Ash Barty because she is amazingly talented, but is still modest and doesn't grunt or attack the umpires.
ReplyDeleteHowever I would leave the tennis in an instant, if master fox and the fawn came into our garden. I have never seen a fox, and rely on the tv programme The Secret Life of the Zoo for all my information.
I think that he is a juvenile fox Hels - he passes through the garden on a fairly regular basis. Unfortunately his tail is a little bit bent, not as bushy as it should be, so perhaps you has some kind of accident.
DeleteI have been watch Ash Barty playing too and agree with your assessment.
Dear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Happy Anniversary. I love my Lady's Mantle and I let it grow wherever it wants to. My Lady's Mantle is at the same stage of blooming. Just perfect for a big bouquet. Thanks for the reminder.
Dear Gina - Thank you. I used to let my Lady's Mantle flourish but now there is far, far too much of it. I could supply dozens of dozens of gardens with it.
DeleteHappy Anniversary. Know the alpine variety of L.M. well from numerous mountain summits. Usually sitting on it or sat near it during lunch.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob. That just goes to prove what a tough little customer Lady's Mantle is.
DeleteOh Rosemary, beautiful fox photo - you should enlarge, print and frame! He looks so healthy - we only have grey ones here.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on celebrating another anniversary - wonderful. Glad you could eat out on that special day.
Hugs from us both xx
Thanks Mary - master fox is rather lovely I agree. I don't think that he is terribly old and he passes through the garden on a fairly regular basis, but I don't always have my camera to hand.
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