Finally

Runner beans, two are already huge, too big to eat, I will leave them to ripen for seeds, there are more on the plants and loads of flowers. 

Another cucumber ready for picking, I have one in the fridge so I will leave this one for a few days, there are loads more forming and still flowers.

Tomatoes, these from two plants, it's a poor year for them, along with home grown lettuce, we can have a salad.

Hubby took all the cuttings from the front to our local tip over the weekend, he just wanted it gone, next door did not appear, sadly she knows we will stand our ground and only verbally attacks anyone else on our property. Hubby also cleaned all the windows inside and out, nice to see them dust free, I think he was bored.

We finally have had proper rain, early this morning, it's a steady constant rain, perfect to soak into the parched soils, the last time we had rain like this was June 10th, I am hoping to see a fresh garden in the coming days. 

Still life

 Finally some flowers on my runner beans, I don't think I will get much of a crop, it would be nice to have at least one meal from them, only half the plants survived.

My tomatoes are finally turning red, not a great year for them, we have a few more cucumbers growing as well, both in the same bed. 

My grapevine is loving this spot, it has put on loads more growth, the raspberries on the other side are doing well, not as high as last year.  I plan to grow french beans in this space next year are they help the soil conditions for the vine.

These pelargoniums, which I still think as geraniums, whatever you call them have loved this summer, they require very little water and will thrive in poor soil conditions, all I do is remove the dead flower stalks,

As the summer progresses it's now begonia time, I love these blooms, often choosing the trailing ones for pots, the corm's stay in the pot all through the winter, as long as they don't get waterlogged they survive. 

It's a very different garden this year, so many of the flowers have finished early, it still looks good just more green than other years, I have left many of the dropped leaves around the place, they won't do any harm.

I have started a messy log pile behind our huge pot with the Olive tree in on our patio, we still regularly see our hedgehog, so I am trying to give him space nearer the house if he want's it, hubby is looking to build a house as well, I have a messy corner behind our garage and by the side of the greenhouse, both at the bottom of the garden.

I have to dig out one of my mulch dustbins in the coming days, I will add it to the veg beds, this week we are having our Magnolia cut back, the new growth is far too much this year, hubby will shred the soft wood and huge leaves, which will break down for next years mulch, normally we would do this task ourselves, in this heat it's better to watch the experts do the work.

I've had a quiet few days, housework has been done, the wooden floors get so very dusty, the spare bedroom is clean and tidy again, I have been dead heading in the garden and watering, mainly the fruit and veg section. Mostly I have been reading inside, hiding from the sun, George loves the garden so for 3 days I sat outside, I really would love a wet day, cool air, it's been cloudy most mornings and very muggy. 

Thirsty

 The heat and sunshine has fried my veg section, these runner beans are so weak, they have started to climb the poles, I'm not expecting any harvest unless there is a huge change in the weather. 

My potatoes grown in bags have done well up to now, these last couple of bags look ropey, again I'm not expecting much.

My decision to grow cucumbers and tomatoes outside was a good one, we have had a few cucumbers, the plant is looking weak, the tomatoes are behind and not many fruits.

I do water and feed the fruit and veg gardens, this relentless heatwave is just killing off most things, even my fleabane daisies are looking a bit sad, my greenhouse is empty. I am using grey water from the house and being very careful with mains water use. My water buts are almost empty, I'm saving what small amount I have for plants which need rainwater.

We have asked a tree surgeon who we used before to pop in and hopefully remove loads of new growth from the Magnolia tree, and cut back the acer, we don't want to lose either.

My raspberries are growing, not as high as other years, we are picking blackberries, they are small and not very sweet, I have not had a second wave of strawberries. The grapevine is the only plant growing and enjoying the hot sunny days.

The last time we had rain was 10th June, the thunderstorms missed us in late June, the weather front due this weekend will fizzle out before it reaches the south coast, our fresh water supplier is Portsmouth Water, luckily for us, most of Hampshire is supplied by the terrible Southern Water (they remove our waste water) and are on a hosepipe ban. We again are due 30° plus temperatures in the coming week.

Normally I do enjoy watering the garden, it's nice to take time to check on plants, now when I do water I am watching the demise of so many plants, most should return next year. I am watching my collection of hellebores, they hate the heat, my hostas are all in the very shady spots. The main issues are how quickly the blooms are going over, the gladioli blooms just lasted a couple of days. It's  not a good year for the garden, I am deadheading the roses, they are still blooming.

Back in my garden

 The recent heatwave has scorched my raspberry plants, just the top new growth leaves, this is a very sunny spot, so far my summer raspberries have ripened OK. 

My runner-beans are also scorched and not growing well, it's another sunny spot, I have another rouge potato growing.

I have planted my grapevine in one of the veg beds, the roots are in a shady spot, the vines grow into the sunshine, I hope to train the vines along these arches, which are placed for the tall raspberries on the other side.

I transplanted this red rose to a big pot last year, it struggled in the ground, I am happy to see this bloom and more buds, more red here from the crocosmia, lucifer. I pulled these out years ago, and most years I pull out the new growth, this year I decided to let a few grow in with the agapanthus.

We did not have many blooms on our magnolia tree in the spring, the squirrels ate most of them, so again I'm pleased to see so many blooms, the tree is looking good.

We seriously need rain here, the last time it rained was 10th June, over 3 weeks ago, my water butt levels are dropping fast, we have had a couple 10 minutes of fine rain which dried up very quickly, there is no rain in our forecast. I have purchased a rain measuring unit, just so I can see what amount of rain we get, I might bore you over the coming months with results. Southern water is bringing in a hosepipe ban soon, luckily we get our water from Portsmouth water and they have a statement saying their water supplies are good.

I dug out my 3rd bag of new potatoes, we are cutting lettuce every day, and my cucumber plant is producing more cucumbers, the tomatoes will be ready soon, I pick raspberries a couple times a week, the strawberries have finished, we have stopped pulling rhubarb, but there is plenty in the freezer. Sweet peas are still blooming.

We are having to watch Lilly, the huge black and white male cat from next door has started coming into our garden and attacking her, hubby has chased him away a few times, we have loaded our big water pistol with lemon juice to squirt at him, it does not harm him, cats dislike citrus which stays on their coats after the water dries and hopefully will deter him.

I've done very little since coming back from our break, my tummy is playing up, my doctor wants to repeat my blood test, and I will do another stool test, the surgery gave me the wrong test last time. I'm living on salads, steamed fish, avoiding breads and any flour based products, tonight I will make a paella seafood for me, chicken for hubby, I have two small pans and I'm happy to make different flavours.

Green all round

 

It's sweet pea time again, I adore these blooms, I did not plant as many as last year, probably a mistake, still they keep our downstairs bathroom scented, and look good in this tiny bottle.

I thought after the heatwave and then the cold spell my cucumber plant looked poorly, I took off all the tiny sprouting cucumbers to help the plant, now I have loads of lovely new growth, the tomatoes behind are doing well, just a bit slowly, soon we will have our first tiny harvest. The second veg bed has runner beans growing up the poles and some lupins, I am hoping will grow. 

My salad bed here in the tall raised bed is producing, we have been eating various lettuce for weeks, any messy bits go to our neighbours chickens. My radishes and spring onions are not doing well, they were old seeds, lesson learnt, I will get new seeds and resow.

My blueberry plant has loads of new growth, I did cut it back hard, the berries grow on second years stems, so fingers crossed for next year, it does love this spot, it has more room here, still not quiet enough, but I will work with the space I have.. 

I had a sleepover on Thursday night, both little ones were happy for me to do their bedtime routines, giving mummy a restful evening, on Friday daughter and I popped to IKEA, nothing much required, we both just got a few bits and pieces, we then went to Whitley for lunch at M&S, then we popped into our favourite shop, again just a few bits purchased.

Saturday is a day at home, it is cloudy, much cooler to start with and a dampness in the air, I'm not complaining, I watered the garden last night, I expect the rain is falling to the north of our area. I've no plans, just let the day roll, housework should be done, but won't get done, it's not dirty here just dusty. We are preparing for a BBQ tomorrow, little people have booked their menu, including sausages on a stick.

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. 

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.

Lack of

Energy, 

I've not done much sewing, the heat makes me tired in the evenings, that's when I make mistakes, I've not touched my knitting or read much, I find myself often sat watching wildlife, we are not sitting inside so much. I have been working on the left side, it's simple stitching, where I can see immediately if I have miscounted. 

I did manage to get into the kitchen and do some baking, cheese straws with tomato puree, bacon and cheese wraps using one pack of puff pastry, a no pastry quiche. I also made a few fruit scones, I had already purchased clotted cream. Hubby loves to bake so it's not often I get the chance, Will loves the cheese and bacon wraps, both daughter and I love my quiche, so everyone ate well, all savouries had cheese in so not for hubby, he got a couple of his favourite pasties.

We all love a freebie, these potatoes grew in my raised bed, I did not plant any this season, one must have been missed from last year, perfect in this hot weather. I still have 4 bags still growing, and some more sprouting potatoes to go in. 

Cute photos, scary how grown up George is now looking, Molly is not far behind.

Nothing much doing in the garden, I have planted my two tomato plants in a raised bed, along with my cucumber, my peas are soaked and in the ground. We are eating lettuce, our 1st cucumber and a strawberry, broad beans will be ready to pick soon. I have put a net up in the greenhouse, the shade does help with temperature inside.

Sunday was so very hot, the little ones spent most of their time playing on the sunroom floor ( I know it's a posh name for the garage space), they were very happy and out of the sunshine.  We vetoed a BBQ, just too hot, so the little ones had nibbles and we had salad with loads of sides, we will be eating leftovers for days to come. For us a perfect family day.

Monday daughter stayed home so children could play inside, hubby was out in afternoon, so I had a quiet day, mainly inside keeping cool. Tomorrow we are having daughter and little ones, they asked to come again, we won't do a BBQ, just too hot, we plan to have a main meal here so daughter does not need to cook later. Wednesday they are with Grandpa and Grandma, half term is a great week for them, both the little ones were tired so a restful week is perfect.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post, our new sunroom is being used and enjoyed daily.

Grow, listen and read

 I have my tiny net bags ready for the coming weeks, my strawberry tower is bursting into life, I kept a few more babies which are now good plants in more pots. These are the first two berries forming, the plants have loads of flowers, I find it very peaceful placing these bags over the tiny green fruits, they stay on until harvest, it worked very well last year, I had hardly any nibbled, I will leave some uncovered for the bugs and mice.

I have put my cucumber plant into a bigger pot using my own compost, which is not so dry as the commercial ones. Two of my tomato plants have flowers forming, the other two are still quite small, my lettuce are coming along. I am about to start my runner beans and peas, much later than previous years, I am hoping the later start will help against the slugs and snails. 

I think we may have issues with mice (wishful thinking) or rats (we had them before), Lilly has taken to this spot under the Acer, I have pots underneath which has been dug in, she sits here and watches for ages, I will check along the back for holes where they could be entering. Not the greatest of photo's, I took it from inside.

We had a perfect evening out on Tuesday, locally at Fareham Live, we sat for just over two hours listening to Adam Frost garden designer and TV presenter, I have a couple of his books and followed lots of his tips. Hubby was unsure but came with me, he enjoyed the show, it was Adam's last show of the tour, he is very easy to listen to and very knowledgeable, in the most friendly of ways.

I finished this book on Wednesday so it was added to last months reading list, another good plot read on my Kindle. Your new bride ask if her parents can move in for a couple of weeks on their return from living in France, they are strange from the start, but that's families for you. They don't want to leave, your wife is scared of them, what have they done. The plot builds to a brilliant ending, just a few chapters before the end of the book, what next, you will have to read to find out. Book 33 read this year.

Wednesday I met daughter in town, we had an early lunch together, it was a nice peaceful time, later I did more sorting in the garage, my bits are less than a third of the space and I've only been in there a couple of years, so not too much to sort, I ordered a storage unit from IKEA which should arrive on Saturday, my bits will be finished on Sunday. Hubby moved his bench and our fridge/freezer, everything has been sorted, loads of stuff has gone.

Thursday we had a couple of quotes to change the garage, one we accepted, the guy was lovely, local and well recomended, so we have until the end of the month to do our bit, we are both excited to make the change. We are able to make changes because we no longer store our garden furniture inside over the winter months, our new set stores quiet small and is great under a cover outside, so we are redefining some of the inside space.

Another couple of days at home sunny warm with that biting cold wind, I really hope the wind dies back and is not a feature for the summer. We are still very dry, one water butt is empty and the other two larges ones are going down quickly, we need rain, there is rain due in the coming days, but its not promised in our area. We have just realised it's a long weekend here, May bank holiday on Monday, makes no difference to us, other than we will stay at home on the Monday, local roads will be busy, we did a shop at Lidl and have everything we need for the coming days. 

Veg

 My broad-beans do not look as good as in previous years, I am hoping more shoots will form and then flowers and beans, I will dig out the leeks, which again are small, I have plans for this bed, I want to cover the ground to warm it up. Another free potato plant in the front corner, every year I have managed to leave a tiny spud behind.

This bed has done better over the winter months, I harvested carrots and cabbages, the onions will stay again for at least 6 to 8 weeks. I already have my plans for the summer in both beds, runner beans, peas, tomatoes and a cucumber plant.

I have earthed up my first early potatoes in these two bags, and I have planted my second earlies in another two bags, I have carrots in two large pots and shallots in a huge tub, I hope to start another bag of carrots soon.

I am having success with my peanuts in the greenhouse, I have 3 small plants in each bag, I still have 5 more smaller plants and in the square pot Molly's are growing. These bags will stay here they require heat and light all through their growing season. I am going to try to grow a couple plants outside as well.

I have lettuce started in my raised outside bed and under cover in the greenhouse, I have spring onions and radishes coming through. I have started two different tomato plants as well. My runner-beans and peas won't be started for a few weeks, unless the weather becomes warm again. I aim to grow more salad leaves this year, my neighbour won't accept payment for her fresh hens eggs, I am planning to provide her hens with fresh greens every week whilst I can. 

My winter veg was very mixed this time, I won't grow leeks again as hubby does not use them so much in his cooking, just for soups. Brassicas take up too much room in my small garden, I will still grow a few, so far I try and keep these beds full through the cooler months. 

I can't wait to be growing in the veg beds, the rest of the garden is full, I have a few more grow bags to utilise, its a good start to the new season.

School holidays

 The schools are off for a couple of weeks, so visits from little people are most welcome, the garden once again is full of squeals, laughter and football. Note Molly's outfit, she was a shimmer in pink all day, her frilly dress suited her happy mood.

Molly checked her peanuts, three had white roots, they had been on wet kitchen towel on my sunny window-sill, so we decided to pot them up, she did most of the work, she is very good at following instructions, the pot is in my greenhouse for now. 

Both George and Molly checked the wildlife pond, I am loving they are interested in nature and what lives in the water, which is still very clear, so we can see things including 3 huge water snails and newts swimming. Will came and checked it as well, sadly we could not see if the frog was still in residence. 

We collected our painted mugs, these will be used for our breakfast drinks, mine is all bit busy, which is OK, I'm no artist as you can see. I do need to realise less is better, my flowers are huge, I do like my colourwash for the sky.

Tuesday was a very unexpected warm sunny day, we spent ages outside, children playing, us chatting to daughter, I am so pleased how well our garden works on family days, plenty of room for toys, football and scooters. Both George and Molly helped sort my second early potatoes, they popped three in each bag and then sprinkled compost on top. They checked my first early bags and was happy to see the green leaves. They saw seedlings in two flower bags and a single shallot top in another bag, both wanted to do more, but accepted not yet, with a promise they can help next visit.

Wednesday was a day at home, dull and cold again, Thursday we took the bus to town collected our mugs, had a look in the few shops left in town, Will is collecting Fifa world cup football cards, so we got him the album, and another for George, Molly got a Bluey album, nothing else required, hubby got a new pair of trousers. We had lunch in town, later I mouched around the garden and did a bit of knitting.

Friday morning arrived with overnight rain, a good soak for a change and breezy, nothing like storm Dave in the north, I hope everyone is secure, warm and dry, terrible start to the Easter weekend, another quiet day planned here.

Hope

 My sweet pea seeds have started to grow, now I will pop them into my long root sections, allowing them to grow into healthy plants for planting next month. The separate pot are a different type, which does not grow so high. 

My cuttings from the fleabane daisies are forming roots in their water, these will go into pots in hope I can have enough plants for daughter's garden. I also have tiny seedlings in the greenhouse, failure is not an option this coming year. 

These are Peony blend Ranunculus, in previous years I have planted their strange roots into the garden and never seen them again, this time they are in cells planted back in December, which they will stay in until they are in bud and ready to flower, then they can be spread around the garden, I have 18 plants here and a couple more in a nice pot. 

My first early seed potatoes are starting to sprout, these won't go into a grow bag until the end of the month, then I can start my second early ones.

I adore this author, normally set in and around Brighton and DCI Roy Grace, this is different, a mother dies and the son is left alone, the story hints to his unusual childhood and the issues he now faces, set in London, people are disappearing and a death in Brighton, it's a clever plot, always you know the son is guilty, but can they capture him. Book 11 read this year. 

I have been helping my sister re-plan a small courtyard area in her garden, our styles are very different, so I hope I have been able to create something she can work with, sadly she did not send me any measurements, so it's all guess work. The planters she will fill with grasses, I suggested she use fleabane daisies along the front, which will hide all the bases of the grasses and look pretty. Her water feature I suggested she get a plastic tub (similar to my pond) and pop in in a matching tall planter. There is a gate at the front end (right side) which lead to a path by the house into the back garden (left side). Using tall planters will give her easy access to her plants, the paving is already down and they won't remove any. 

Tuesday was rain all day, by mid afternoon it was heavy, I spent an hour chatting to my brother via video and made the garden plan above, in the afternoon we watched  Rental Family, with Brendan Fraser, a brilliant film.  I watched Traitors Ireland on Monday afternoon whilst hubby was out, they are arguing all the time, the roundtable is always very animated, the traitors all fell out and two are gone. I've not watched from any other country. I normally would not watch TV in daytime, the wet weather is keeping inside with cabin fever.

I aim for an hour in the greenhouse to sow the sweet peas and check all my other plants, the temperature is reasonable for this time of year, and the greenhouse is much warmer. My greenhouse is already crowded, I need to sort and move things around, its the start of a busy time of year. I had a walk around the garden, I can see snowdrops, crocus and primroses in bloom and loads of leaves for spring bulbs, mostly in my flower beds, my pots with the bulbs purchased last year are also looking good. I do love this time of year, I never remember where the bulbs I have planted are, so everything is a surprise to me.

Now that January is gone and spring feels closer there is hope, I know winter is not over, we can have snow in March, but longer days does wash the winter blues away. I am feeling better, not fully the issues with my tummy linger, I've cut back on any foods which does not help, mostly everything which I love, it's only for a short while. I've not seen daughter or children this week, I do miss them, their laughter and joy bring so much energy to our home.