Fruits

 I've been watching my raspberry plants grow, tucking them behind poles to enable them to grow up the back and on to the arches. One stem grew quicker and stronger, hum, not sure, checked on Lens (a plant identification apt) and I was right to be wary,  its an elder, rooted in from next door, as with every plant in her 'garden', its right next to our boundary fence, I can't dig it out yet, I cut it back and hammered a rusty nail into stem, in hope it stops it growing so fast and I will be able to identify which root to dig out once raspberries have finished.

The rest of the fruits are doing well, loads of rhubarb, hubby has made jam, we had loads in freezer from last year. I cut the blueberry plant right back, now loads of new growth, so few berries this season as they flower and grow on second year growth. My gooseberry is in its 3rd year, no flowers again, it was getting to a nice size, sadly all the leaves were ate, probably sawfly,  so I have cut it back to the ground, if sawfly is a problem I will dig the plant out. Only the rhubarb and gooseberry are in the ground, the blueberries are in a huge pot. 

Strawberries are growing, they are turning red, I love growing them in this tower so easy to water and harvest, I have a small pot in front of our garage another sunny spot, once the berries are finished I will move the pot. In the tower the right side always set fruit first, I do need to pop more bags over the green fruits. There is a dark red hellebore in front of the tower, I have loads of flowers in the bed. 

I have solved the issue of slugs and snails in this small raised bed, I have put copper wire mesh all around the wooden sides, so far it is working, these plants are doing well and no signs of being nibbles. 

The blackberries growing along the garage are filling out, loads of new growth, so again I'm hopeful of a good crop, it has been there for years, I do cut it back most years, it's a thorn-less cultivated one. 

We are eating new potatoes, lettuce and cucumber, strawberries, rhubarb and a few summer raspberries, no sign of the peas, beetroot is just showing and my carrots are very slow, the tomato plants are growing, my garden is a small space, I don't get big harvest. We both enjoy homegrown produce, nothing beats the taste of fresh vegetables. 

The promise of sunny warm days at the weekend is keeping us going, I managed to move a few flowering plants, totally the wrong time, they have grown too big and were crowding each other, I did trim them back and feed them, the wet weather helped them settle. 

Whilst it rains I stitch or read, nothing worth watching on TV, no photos from my sister from her big day, I did ask her, my SIL sent me a couple she sneakily took, they were told no photos. 

Lazy weekend

 I've been stitching again, working on the left side, I was over the moon to get the corner decoration and two pink flowers in place, loads of counting and checking, these set the working lines for this quarter.

My joy has faded, on the easiest part I have miss counted the darker stitches should be a straight diagonal line. It would be hell to unpick, so it has to stay it won't cause me issues later as the design crashes into the three tumbleling stars. 

5 university friends who shared a house receive an invitation to return to their university digs, no-one wants to return, but they are too scared to not go. Back to a time when their 6th member was murdered, they all have memories in various levels about that time. A brilliant book, I really enjoyed reading it. Book 36 read this year.

Her life is a mess, rather than facing the issues,  she goes to Corfu, looking for someone or something, and gets caught up in a sting. The red flags were flying all through the plot, but who did what, with a clever twist. Book 37 read this year.

I have read this author before, another great plot, this time it's a mans story, he falls head over heels in love, it's the real thing, quickly strange things start amongst his female friends, why. Things are adding up, but does 2+ 2 make 5. Book 38 read this year.

Between the relentless wind and rain I am not doing much outside, our garden is looking after itself, I will try and do some deadheading, in a dry patch, I have even turned down a visit to our favourite garden centre, I have never liked being cold and wet. Everywhere is so grey and dull, typical summer here.

I am enjoying lazy days reading, guilt free whist not feeling great, the house needs cleaning, so much dust everywhere. We had a lazy weekend, stayed at home the whole time, it's nice to stop and do nothing after a busy few weeks, simple meals, food we love. My sisters days went well, it was dry when they came out of the church, yes she went for the full works, she was happy as was her partner, now husband, he is a bit under the thumb (Janice ?) I've not seen many photo's as yet. 

Washed out

 The weather is horrible, high winds, thunderstorms, hailstones, our garden has been battered, we have had a few coffee mornings in our sunroom with the doors shut, Lilly has often sat inside with us. It's very still and quiet inside, really enjoyable, the garden has not been damaged, just petals blown off roses and poppies. 

I pick strawberries every other day, the tiny bags protect the fruit, as does not growing them on the ground, there are enough uncovered for the bugs and small birds and mice. Another cucumber, again not full size, the plant seams very happy outside as does both my tomato plants. A few more sweet-peas, these are growing faster. We used the berries in an Eaton Mess, it was yummy. 

Last year I purchased 3 gaura plants, the white one planted in my side bed has not come back this year and one of the pink ones is looking iffy, I already have a cutting growing taken last year it's already in a pot, I'm not sure of these  colours, they just in water are growing strong roots, hopefully more plants. I adore these plants and their tiny flowers and hope to have more in other beds.

It's been a week at home, just too wet to go anywhere, Monday I did more pottery painting with daughter and her three, they all had an inset day off from school. Thursday we had our dental checks, we had planned to go into town, but just too wet.

Friday we planned a day out, we were both getting stir crazy from being inside so much, we did not stay out too long, neither of us get any delight in cruising arounds shops just having a look, it was a dry day. We decided not to hang around to have lunch out, later we sat in our summerhouse, lovely sunshine, out of the wind.

Our plans this weekend has changed, we were going home to Somerset, but my tummy issues have gotten really bad, I have a doctors appointment early next to week. My brother who we always stay with is also ill, which helped shape our decision, neither of us wanted to put on him or even get his bugs. My sister is getting married to her long term partner, she is not happy with me but it can't be helped, the journey is 3 hours each way and I'm just not up to it.

Some you win

 First pickings of strawberries, they were very sweet, there are loads more to come, the little net bags are working, I do leave berries on lower level open for the wildlife. 

First of my sweet-peas, all the same colour, I have everything crossed for another good year, the sweetwilliamsare home grown as well.

Just to balance things, my poor hostas, a dining area for snails I keep looking for them, I have given in this season, I will clear the top of the tub later in the year, clearing out as many as I can.

I have ripped out my broad-beans they were covered in blackfly, they are infected every year, for some reason this season they overwhelmed the plants, we did get one meal from them, none in freezer. I could get new plants but I fear the blackfly would come back.

It's not often I show the mishaps in the garden, I do tell you about them, I am OK with things going wrong, plants never returning, I never use chemicals, I'm hopeful as the years pass the eco system in the garden is balanced enough to save most things.

Water is always an issue, often we have long periods of dry weather, I do collect rain water but it's never enough, so I water often. Last year we missed the hose pipe ban, our local water supplier Portsmouth Water is good at amassing vast amounts of water. Yesterday the storms came, so gardens are now soaked and water butts are full again. 

Having a cat keeps other cats away, I do pick up after Lilly most days, locally foxes are a problem, hubby has blocked most entrance points, they can climb over fences luckily they don't here. We rarely see hedgehogs any more, occasionally mice, again luckily we not seen a rat in ages. Pigeons are a pain, I do net my veg beds.

Just being in the garden is so rewarding for both of us, these days there is less work to be done, so we practice the art of sitting and watching.