The last few days have been strange and sad, as we try to accept the death of a dear friend. It is difficult to settle to tasks, but I find hard labour is as good a way to consume time as anything else. So I have been clearing the path, closely supervised by a young robin (who refuses to stay in shot). Though you can just about spot him/her taking time out for a bath (in the second photo).
The yellow (Japanese) quinces are all over the path and with my nose to the ground, they smell delicious. This scent, along with that of the lemon balm (a welcome weed in our garden) is very comforting.
In the nearby playing field, it looks as though autumn base already arrived. 
While this Rhododendron Yakushimanum is convinced it is spring.
And the roses (Octavia Hill, Papa Meilland and Wollerton Old Hall) are making the most of the end of summer.
Meanwhile this fairy-like fuchsia (magellanica molinae) has taken over the path.
And two of the three martin’s nests are on their third brood – I don’t remember seeing quite such big piles of droppings in past years – with the house painters due in a week’s time. I expect nature will sort things out without any help from us.
(Apologies to photographers (you know who you are) for the rough and ready snaps)
Green Writing Room 
I’m sorry to hear of your loss and I hope you can gradually come to terms with the death of your friend. Those are some beautiful photos and I can easily understand why you find being in your garden therapeutic.
Thank you, I am lucky to have the garden.
Such BEAUTIFUL roses, Hilary ! – if those shots are true to their colour, they are simply stunning ! And yes, I see that little robin: I think he was hanging around in hope of cheering you a little. Perhaps nothing is as good for grief as being part of Mother Nature …
Hm, the red rose, Papa Meilland, is deeper and richer in colour than the photo, it also has a scent you can drown in (google hasn’t got to intercontinental scents yet… but it will). The ‘yellow’ one has more amber than you can see there. Each quarter of the garden is owned by a different robin and at the first clink of a trowel on the (endless) stones, they appear inches from my hand. This one we saw fall out of the nest for the first time, he looked so surprised by the world, he always makes me laugh. I am indeed lucky to have such distractions.
I like robins. We had an invasion this spring when the madrone trees were filled with berries. Flocks of them always seemed to be dashing across the road, making me flench. Fortunately, we didn’t hit any. Sorry about your friend. –Curt
Thanks for the sympathy. Robins have a wonderful confidence and persistence. Many years ago we had a four-day invasion of toads in the autumn, they were all over the roads. Even now if will react, when driving, to autumn leaves moving on the road in a particular way.
Sorry about the loss of your friend. Gardens do help us grief and yes, summer went by too quickly…a reminder of how life goes by too quickly as well.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I decided today that I have the year wrong in my mind. August is really early autumn and I should stop expecting it to be summer. Autumn has a lot going for it too.
Apart from being the ‘cheeky chappies’ of the bird world, I like robins a lot because they sing at night in the small hours. I spent several of those small hours recording one once. Their song is particularly liquid.
I only discovered that it was the robins singing at night relatively recently, I thought it must be nightingales, but they didn’t sound right!
Here the magpies are feeling romantic and if it wasn’t for jealous Jack Russell ‘ Milo,’ they would be cavorting on our back yard. Sorry about the loss of your friend. Lovely photos of your garden. Rosemary looks very healthy too.
Thank you. I think we need a Milo, the magpies are a pain, eating food meant for the long-tailed tits and stealing eggs. I think the Rosemary profits from the very messy habits of the birds bathing nearby.
Hilary, I am sorry for your loss. I hope you will think of all the good feelings he/she cast upon you during your times together. Myself, I find it difficult to handle losses of close friends even though I am Buddhist. Isn’t that contradictory?
It is hard to believe it is Autumn your way already. It is in the 90’s here and it appears to be continuing for a few more days…although a tree here and there have started their fall process.
Your photos, garden and yard are beautiful..! So “English-y” if I may concoct that term. Loved the last shot – the curved pathway and naturalness of the plants. 🙂
Thank you for your kind advice. We are indeed remembering many good times with our friend.
Yes, it is that strange time of year in England where you have three days shivering and turn on the heating, then it changes its mind and the sun heats up again. We are promised a fine weekend.
Fresh quince? Lovely. 🙂
Yes, they make a good jelly, though I haven’t got around to making it this year.
My Nans lost a couple of dear friends recently she says she goes to phone them and it hits her again that they aren’t there. I read on Uncle Spikes blog last night that a lady I used to chat with on her blog died recently she couldn’t cope with life after her daughter took her own life 18 months ago so sad, I best not sing too many sad songs today, off to practice at 10 then a full day and singing for a friend for his exam recital at 1730.
So sad about your blogging friend and her daughter. Songs reach right into you. The funeral for our friend (an opera fanatic like us) was yesterday and ended with this recording of the first of Strauss’s Four Last Songs, Beim Schlafengehen (While falling asleep).