SHAPES - 1001 BLIPS CHALLENGE

When we visit Boscombe, we do a lot of walking, and whenever we passed Blakeney Lodge, on our way to the Little Pickle Deli Cafe, we would always stand and admire the garden.

There was always so much to see during the different seasons and it was obvious to us that the owners were very keen gardeners. We often saw a man working there and assumed he was the gardener. However, when we stopped one day, he came over and started chatting to us - he told us his wife was the gardener - he was just her assistant! I told him that we always admired their garden whenever we passed by and that it was a pleasure to see it.

His wife then came out, so we chatted to her and she then offered to show us around - Mr. HCB was particularly delighted when she offered to show him her greenhouse. What lovely people and we were complete strangers, but just very interested in their beautiful garden.

We left with a lot of plants, which the lady kindly gave to us - it was quite a struggle as we had no car with us, but she had kindly put them in a large cardboard box - so Mr. HCB and I proudly walked back with our gifts. We noticed a few months ago that the house was up for sale and sadly, now they have moved, the garden is not quite as good.

This flower, Salvia “Hot Lips”, is one of the plants they gave us and it is slowly getting established in our very heavy clay soil. Apparently, it needs to be pruned in the autumn and spring, and you know how good I am at pruning, so better get out the secateurs! I thought the SHAPE fitted in well with the 1001 Blips Challenge for today.

"The effects of kindness
are not always seen immediately,
sometimes it takes years
until your kindness will pay off
and is returned to you.
And sometimes you never see
the fruits of your labours,
but they are there,
deep inside the soul
of the one you touched."
Dan Kelly

Thank you for all your kind comments on my snail yesterday - I saw another one this morning even higher up the plant, so perhaps I had better not prune that one for a while - wouldn’t want to deprive the snails of their food and hopefully it will keep them off the veggies!