Photo Journal - August 2026

August has been a lovely mix of golf, cycling, gardens, wildlife and plenty of ordinary days in between

Golf at Upton

An invitation from my sister took me to Upton for a day of golf.

The course was incredibly dry, another reminder of just how little rain we’ve had this summer. Even so, it was good to play somewhere different and enjoy the day together.

A Garden to be Proud Of

When I dropped my bike off with my friends Alan and Sarah I couldn't help admiring their garden.

It is absolutely fabulous and very much Alan’s pride and joy. Everywhere you look, there is evidence of the time and care he has put in.

My sister's garden is looking absolutely stunning too - she is an avid gardener, and it shows.

Doris the Seaside and Coffee

Another morning and another bike ride, this time with my cycling and walking buddy Doris.

We rode along the coast and stopped for coffee at the Hub in Rhyl. What a sight - the cycling bridge lifting to allow a taller boat through.

Snip, Snip, Snip

It funny how when you start is with the idea of giving a bush a little trim and it quickly become something much bigger.

I'm sure the jasmine will recover, although it may not flower next year. That will be a little disappointing, but the final result should be worth the wait.

The rhododendron had the same treatment about four weeks ago and it is already flourishing.

The hydrangea has really struggled and was looking very sad. Cutting it back should give it a chance to recover - I think I will plant this in the garden over the winter ready for a fresh start next year

A good afternoons work.

The Front Garden

The front garden cut-back is finally finished — although I’m not sure a garden is ever really finished. This year I’ve been quite ruthless, cutting back plants that had become overgrown and giving everything a little more room to breathe.

The laurel, jasmine and forsythia have already sprung back into life, my cloud pruning has restored some much-needed shape, and even the potted roses are flowering again.

I’ve resisted the temptation to cram every available space with another plant, choosing instead to work with the dry soil and concentrate on plants that thrive here — lavender, salvias and heathers, with just one agapanthus still waiting for its place.

Wildlife

With the nesting season over we checked on the bird boxes.

We found two nests - one in an old wooden box - and one in the concrete boxes we moved last year. The second concrete one had feathers in so something had certainly visited it.

I'm not quite sure why they didn't stay after doing such a beautiful job inside.

An overnight visitor, parents nowhere to be seen - he made it through the night and, thankfully, he could fly

Late Summer Colour

Golf

What a fab round of golf! Great company with Debs, Tracey and Emma in the Ladies Open Texas Scramble at Abergele. We finished 3 under gross, net 58. Great weather, great golf and plenty of laughs — one of those really enjoyable days. ⛳️☀️

Looking back through these photographs, August has been full of ordinary days, lovely moments and plenty worth remembering.