Two Gardens

Great Dixter, interspersed with my garden. Great Dixter-Zinnias in the vegetable garden.

I visited yesterday and it was as beautiful as ever.

I think this pink tree is called a Smoke Bush.
I just love the fluffy quality and the warm pink colour.
It contrasts really well with the dark green topiary.
I have been continuing to tidy my garden, and one area that needed a big tidy was the small yard area outside the back door. This is the little garden table-rearranged and cleaned. It has a bonsai tree which was a present at the end of term, some organic beer (which was in a cardboard box left over from Andy's birthday) and a re-potted Aeonim. I can see it now as I type and it is still tidy! I have been pulling up my lovely curry plant this morning-it had become really woody at the bottom and was out of control. I have taken some cuttings though and also have a bunch of it in a jug on the worktop. It smells so delicious, and used to provide a good place to rest wet washing while hanging it on the line. It also means we have curry scented cats where they sit under it. So I will miss it, but need to re-think that part of the garden.
I couldn't believe the perfect stars on this seedhead at Great Dixter.
I wish I had picked one-as I think it was about to be pruned.
I also wish I had found out what the plant was.
Empty pots waiting to be cleaned and more thoughtfully filled than last time.
I am thinking of having pots full of those little spiky alpine type plants
which do not need much maintenance, and look good even in a drought.

I loved this cow parsely type plant.

The second nest I have found in the ivy.

This one has two sad little blue eggs which didn't make it into chicks.

The mulberries ripening at Great Dixter.