Flowery faces....

I didn't know how else to title this post...because the pictures are mostly just that. Looking into the faces of some of the gorgeous flowers in the garden right now...



Allium...


Foxglove..


Gertrude Jekyll, that stunning fragrant rose...


Clematis...


The late day lily...
Aren't they amazing? More? Oh...ok then!






Hydrangeas..


Cornflowers...did you ever see such blue? Maybe in Elizabeth Taylor's eyes..





Don't they just gladden your heart? I can't spend enough time out there at the moment...the weather is hot and sunny today...and there's always something to be done...deadheading, tying up, training the honeysuckle over the pergola...these gorgeous high summer days we rush home from work and live outside for as long as we can!



This dwarf buddleia has just started to flower in the past few days...


Sometimes others join us...Hi William!!


But mostly it's just us...us and the bees that adore the fragrant carpet we planted for them...and now the butterflies too! Commas, peacocks and the ubiquitous but no less lovely cabbage whites...


There are butterfly eggs on the top leaf in the picture above...a little clutch of yellow...


and I could look into these faces all day!

Enough garden...(can there ever be enough?) if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that our darling Alice has been very ill recently. She had a bad attack of pancreatitis...a very painful & serious inflammation of the pancreas. I'm so happy to report that after 3 nights in 'hospital'...on an IV drip and heavy medication...she is home with us and recuperating nicely...



This was her eating her first meal in 5 days ( poached free-range chicken breast & carrots...& if anyone wants to accuse me of spoiling her by giving her free-range chicken, I would say that it's free-range for the chickens' sake and not the dog's!) I can tell you that this photo was taken in a state of bliss and utter relief to see her finally tempted by something!


And this is the calm, relaxed little girl today...dozing in the cool of the house. Still convalescing and on a low fat diet for life now...but a small price to pay to have her with us and in good health.

Thanks so much to everyone who sent their love and good thoughts to us all while she was ill. It really meant a lot and helped us through a really difficult time. You are all amazing!

Happy August...

and to celebrate the publication of my darling friend, Susan Branch's new book "A Fine Romance"...all about her wonderful tour of the English countryside last year...my gift to you is this little movie which shows the absolutely glorious view of Lake Windermere (our largest lake) in Cumbria, as seen from Orest Head a few weeks ago. And for ultimate joy, do buy her book!! Lots of wonderful surprises inside...

Xx