photography

Monday Musing – June

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It’s a busy time of year for gardeners and writing falls by the wayside. Torrential rain and thunderstorms should have given me more time with my quill, but I have been to an author coffee morning and been roped in to a quiz and that was just Saturday. We came fourth and I answered at least one question – ‘Gone With The Wind’ – what was the question? An interesting round was ‘Cheese or motorway services?’ which proved surprisingly difficult. At least the rain has filled my water butts and the wildflower wheelbarrow is flourishing.

Oil painting

If only ChatGPT could come and improve our real gardens, not just the photos.

Water colour

The world cup is happening right now. If you don’t know what they are playing, answer at the end. Having a big garden tidy up I found this mini Scotland player and that night they won their first match, so now he is my mascot. I’m the only person in my family with no known Scottish blood. When I consulted them for a name for the wee one Cyberson 2 suggested Red Jock McPlastic. Scotland play again on Friday night. Cyberson 1 has the shirt.

Today it was announced our government intend to ban social media for under sixteens. Which made made me wonder how over sixties would feel if we were banned. I’m not even sure I understand what constitutes social media and what does not. I would certainly be upset if we were not allowed to use WordPress. Lots of us have little addictions like Words With Friends – above is a typical score for me, but it’s still fun. Also useful as you can check if other friends living alone are fine – if they play back first thing in the morning you know they are still alive.

This scene may look peaceful, but any moment now a herd of schoolteens and bicycles are going to appear over the horizon as school finishes. Eavesdropping as I was walking home I heard one boy say ‘But What are we going to Watch?!‘ another said ‘I bet under sixteens are going to march on parliament on Saturday.’

The answers are The first colour film to win an Oscar and Football.

What’s happening your way this week?

Windy Wednesday

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A bit of a change from our heatwave last week.

The traditional Bournemouth welcome to language students.

Has the sun come out?

So windy you could get blown off the pier, or worse still your phone could get blown into the sea.

Wonder why?

Maybe it’s less windy on the other side of the pier?

NO

Less windy on the beach?

NO

How has your weather been this week?

Serene Sunday Goes Green

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It took me a long time to sew a tapestry of my garden, but it looks a lot better than the real thing.

Our ‘heatwave’ has cooled, but it’s warm enough to swim in the sea. Perhaps you prefer to leave the beach and find somewhere greener.

Out in the wilds?

Perhaps not…

But if you wander down here you are unlikely to be seen again.

Do you prefer a sea swim or a walk in shady woods?

Serene Saturday – Pink Petals

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Runner up in the flower festival, pink petal section. I slipped up a couple of times cutting the frilly edge.

Winner in the free range raised bed section.

And as the Alternate Chelsea Flower Show and the real one draw to a close it’s time for the answers to the Recycled Garden quiz from Tuesday.

From left to right

Council food bin with broken lid – dipping tank.

Old Wheelbarrow – Wildflower meadow ( newly sown) .

Fish nets – decoration to hide...

Loft tank bought for a fiver – overflow tank connected to water butt – so ugly it had to be covered in more plants that need watering.

Old decking – lid for tank and shelves for even more plants.

Concrete building blocks to stand tank on so you can get a watering can under the tap.

Bracket rescued from garden sale to hold yet more plants.

Did you get all seven? Some people said pots, which are all being reused, but still as plant pots, so not sure if that counts…

Dystopian Flower Festival.

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Everything in the garden is sunny or is it?

Our intrepid reporter found these poppies in prison. Find out where they are at the end.

The show garden you didn’t see on television.

The garden you never leave…

This is where the lonely poppies live. Our lovely Kings Park council nursery closed down by the council in 2024. It was on my walk home, I collected a few plants every week, school children came after school...

If you want to cheer yourself up why not visit another slightly bigger King’s Park..

Kings Park | Kings Park

Do you have a favourite place to buy plants?

No Mow May

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A tiny splash of pink before we go totally green.

What gardens looked like in the Jurassic period.

No Mow May is here again and let’s see who can grow the tallest blade of grass.

Have you rewilded your garden or do you have an artificial lawn?

Follow the Flowers

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Minimalist Mimulus Garden at Not The Chelsea Flower Show – winner of tin medal.

Recycled Garden – winner of plastic medal in The Other Chelsea Flower Show – how many recycled objects can you spot?

Answers at the end of the show, the week or the world, whichever comes first.

When the flower show opens and you are not ready. Last in the ‘Abandoned Corner’ section.

More flowers tomorrow. How many recycled items did you find?

Flower Power

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To celebrate Chelsea Flower Show week I will post garden pictures every day, to save me bothering to write any blogs while I am busy enviously watching the show every evening on television.

Window or Mirror?

Even my beach hut has a garden?

A look back… I got a bit carried away during Covid lockdown when I discovered the local garden centre was doing deliveries, but you had to order a minimum amount… Visitors could only chat in the front garden.

Will you be watching Chelsea? Does your garden match up to the ones at flower shows?

Tuesday Trail – Down the Road.

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This is a genuine walk, get off the bus, down towards the sea, turn right and walk all the way down the road. On the way can you spot one of the venues for the Bournemouth Writing Festival and the burial place of Mary Shelley? I did have fun photographing everything I saw.

Here is my bus on the worst road surface ever, a real bone shaker stretch.

You may need a drink after that walk.

Read about the writing festival in my next blog.

Did you enjoy your walk?