Awful weather - typical Brits talk

twopenny

Blisteringly hot again. 27C at 9pm in the house.Garden not much cooler.

Been around watering and dead heading.

The roses are rife with blackspot, too much to pick off. Pinks are going over and a couple of Alpine strawberries look like they may not make it.

Just off to dig out some onions to ripen in this sun.

The upside is it seems too hot for the aphids that have plagued me and the fruit trees are looking much better leafwise.

Davesnave

It even reached 27c here yesterday, according to the Met Office, which is great for drying hay. Not so good was checking said hay for shards of glass, especially at 2pm, but I got through it in 90 minutes or so. Found maybe 20 pieces, easy to spot in the sun, representing the part of a broken bottle I didn't locate.   So, all's well for another haymaking season.

After watering, I'm off to deliver manure to someone who's had a garden make-over. I wasn't allowed to see the 'before,' which was just typical new-build grass, but as only hard landscaping has been done, planting should follow. It's an alien environment to me, being virtually frost-free, so all sorts of possibilities. Ha, but I remember winter 2009/10 when the sub-tropicals down near the coast were given a severe test! Most recovered, though only slowly, because 2010/11 winter wasn't easy either.

Today's picture is Phlox 'Blue Paradise' I took the picture too early, as it's filled-out now, but you'll still see why it's a favourite.

Farway

Lovely sharp picture Dave. With raindrops

It's roasting here, much too hot to venture into the garden

Fortunately I made another early start, up to the volunteer patch & watered all the large pots, so far they are holding their own despite ants moving in on some of them

The buddlia up there is looking good now, it was pruned properly this year, tried to get varying heights and it worked. neglected last year due to weather, back ache, covid etc so become normal sky high buddlia with flowers out of sight in the clouds.

Tried a picture but now I'm home found it's carp , I'll try again on Friday because I suspect more water will be needed

However more toadstools have popped up, red ones this time, but slugs have chewed them so looking rough & not very photogenic

But here's one that obliged by showing it's bottom

twopenny

That has it's own beauty. My friend who's a bona fide botanical artist would love it.

Watered this morning a bit but been enjoying the fact the grockles seem to have vanished and enjoying the beach.

Did try a temporary tent over my bench with little sucess. It needs time and plants to grow over and stop the sun not a ground sheet.

Might try and enjoy my now lush lawn and a book in the shade if the ants and seagulls will allow.

Dave that is stunning! Very envious.

Paspatur

Twopenny I had to look up grockle, never heard it before. We had a classic case of a grockle when "a right proper Charlie" and Camilla travelled to my local area when he had Covid. One rule for them for sure

Davesnave

Paspatur said:

Twopenny I had to look up grockle....

I didn't, but it's not a term I hear in these parts because we aren't a tourist area. Here, if you aren't local you're from 'away.'

'Away' today, delivering manure to the garden makeover, I had a surprise. It was somewhat larger than I expected! My 7 bags won't go far, but apparently some soil arrives tomorrow.

Farway

Another early start watering the pots with heat warning still in place.

Trying to make sure the bird bath is at least topped up, did neighbours as well as I was down there with water anyway & easily reached over fence without going in

Neighbour the other side continued with pruning the Judas tree now I started, taken quite a bit off [I had given permission earlier in year] and it does look a lot better with the crown raised well above head height. Being only small gardens it was tending to dominate once it was noticed

Still lopping up the removed branches into thew wheelie bin, I think it's going to be two bin loads looking at progress so far, get my seventy quids worth anyway

With the more open area now Judas has been lopped the Merton Thornless blackberry is getting a good dose of sun, plenty of blackberries on it but still green, probably waiting for the thunderstorms before they ripen & instantly rot

Big job in the garden there Dave, should look nice once done

Today's pic is evening primrose which opened last night.

I thought I had lost them this winter but the scent came wafting in as I watched tele and found one hidden behind the plum tree. All self seeded for years which Is why I was amazed I never spotted it earlier

wort

Some lovely pics there, I’m still in the boot😹 so have been enjoying sitting in the shade with a lovely breeze from across the fields.
plenty of house martins round here , lots of the houses have apex’s on and the build their nests in them , when my daughter was younger she thought they were 🦇 bats. As they flit around so much. 

Just washed pillows so need to peg out. 

pink_poppy

I’ve thought about a pergola, but it would need to be at least 12’ high after seeing the monstrosity parked at the back of us last night... 😕

I saw this beautiful purple bush when I was out for a walk yesterday, it was a lovely unexpected splash of colour. Anyone know what it is??



Hot and sunny here today, not a day to be working in the garden.

Davesnave

One of the large campanulas Poppy? 

Been to Rosemoor.....photos later!