Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Still gouty hands, so zero gardening. Woolsery I did know about cherries and gout, which was one reason I bought a cherry tree, however as whinged about on her the slugs, squirrels and birds are free of gout, but I've not had a decent harvest ever despite netting etc

Nice to see everyone's pictures, I have some beans to photograph but my swollen claws will not hold a camera t the moment

Woolsery

I had a tomato today....past tense. No more ready yet. It's probably the latest first tomato in years here, but not that important. I can cope with supermarket tomatoes, but not their courgettes. Those began here last week and already I'm giving the chickens some. Love the productivity.

I don't know what else to suggest for gout Farway, but even if I did, I'd probably get into trouble for saying. I have a Covid protocol with 100% success rate too....well, until DB or I get it, that is! It all has to remain a secret for now.

Glancing through what passes for news today I stumbled on something that might interest gardeners, though it's also the Beeb trying to put the fear out there as usual. It's the Vulnerability to Extreme Heat Map. You  put in your post code and it tells you whether to grow capsicums or cabbages.....or maybe just give up and buy a big  pack of lollies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62243280?xtor=ES-211-[53885_PANUK_DIV_29_NCA_HottestDay_RET_ABC]-20220721-[bbcnews_climatechangeextremeheatpostcodecheckerheatwave_newsuk]

 Anyway,I had a go and we're fine here, so I can have another bonfire, but when I looked at our old house....oh dear!   I'm so glad we moved. Thank you BBC.

According to this, you aren't quite as frazzled as some places, twopenny, so hopefully that's a comfort.

RAS

Good shot, Woolsery


I'm not sure that assuming parks aren't frazzled quite works. Took these on Tuesday; the provided drinking water point was producing water suitable for making tea rather than lowering body heat. Anyway grabbed these while it was quiet.

Not sure what state they will be in now or who won.

Woolsery

RAS said:

I'm not sure that assuming parks aren't frazzled quite works.

I noticed that, but I suppose it's because the measuring was done by satellite readings and buildings reflect more heat than grass and trees. Anyway, it's nothing most of us gardeners didn't know already. I remember experiencing the London heat island and its effects when I went there as a young person in 1969 in search of streets paved with gold and tickets to the marquee Club. Stupidest thing I ever did  though the bands were good!  

The Tatton Park show looks good and I'm envious of that paving in the first shot. I hope it was locally sourced.

We are being warned of thunderstorms today, but it's looking fairly benign at present. A good downpour wouldn't go amiss.

Farway

'Morning, tried out the frazzleometer, I can carry on driving the diesel and using peat compost while flying in my private jet to lecture others on what they need to give up to save the planet

Watered the pots out the front this morning, no feed this Friday because childproof caps defeat my gouty claws, but at least they won't dry up. We also have possible thunderstorms later, but often the storms are seen / heard but skirt round us, geography I suppose, it is getting dark though, and now I've struggled to water that increase the chances of rain, like hanging washing out

Roz81

RAS said:

Good shot, Woolsery


I'm not sure that assuming parks aren't frazzled quite works. Took these on Tuesday; the provided drinking water point was producing water suitable for making tea rather than lowering body heat. Anyway grabbed these while it was quiet.

Not sure what state they will be in now or who won.

Wow, that is impressive work... very impressive RAS

liberty_lily

Thanks for the link, Woolsery - as expected, we are in a safer, cool zone 😎 

And it's definitely cooler here now - 21° today, although the rain forecast for overnight didn't happen....maybe later?!?

Only garden stuff going on here has been evening log chainsawing and chopping (not by me, but DH...if it were down to me I'd be limb-less by now 🙄😂)....

And, slightly prettier than a pile of logs, lol, a Thalictrum Rochebruneanum I've not got round to planting out yet...

twopenny

Heavy cloud and a stiff breeze today. The plants look relieved but no rain in sight.

The constant dry then heat I've had no strawberries, the raspberries are dire and leaves turning yellow and brown and small fruit trees look like they are going to drop their leaves.

The magnolia is almost leafless due to the caterpillar, the apple has that white fluffy stuff, the raspberries the caterpillars etc.

The Arrum Lilly has withered and lost leaves even though it's in shade - it did this last year but it seems to come good as soon as there's rain.

Cut the lavender heads of the Hidcote to try for bushyness and second crop. Seems they shoot from the main stem too which is unusual - but no scent. Even the Pinnata is sharp clear your nose rather than an aroma.

Cut all the seed pods off the perennial and giant wallflowers and just scalped the Feverfew that turned brown.

Even the ants didn't have the mass flight. There's no hot and humid evenings but thankfull many have gone.

So yes I live in a bay so a lovely cool breeze today - but I've ordered more foil blankets just in case.

Thought I might hose the garden down but I'm not sure it will help at this point. It would need a swimming pools worth to get down deep enough.

The forcast says rain all Sunday, the first that's cropped up. I'll believe it when I see it!

The photographs are cheering though and remind me why I do it so thanks folks. I keep seeing these wonderful ideas for a small patch but can't do it for mine.....yet

sammyjammy

We've had some fantastic rain today, good solid five hours of steady rain, about time too, I'm the furthest north of my family by a couple of hundred miles but have had the hottest weather this week including an Aunt that lives on the South Coast, not what I signed up for 

Today was 14c, 27c less than Tuesday, pretty bizarre (and lovely - am not one for the heat!)

Farway

Rain for about an hour yesterday, just about enough to get the weeds germinating and blackberries going mouldy, I imagine

Sounds very disappointing 2P with the weather & results, I think a lot of small fruit trees are suffering this year, even those I have in large pots and water regularly look unhappy at times. The white fluffy stuff is woolly aphid just in case you are not aware, they squidge nicely if somewhat stickily, good news is once squidged they do not seem to come back

Sun's back this morning, but cooler. I'm going to have to try and water the couple of pots down the garden despite gout, the rain just will not have done it for me