Hot, hot, hot...
John Clare Rose
Non-Gardening Partner, sitting lazily in one of the breakfast chairs, informs me that temperatures could reach thirty degrees. So what would he like to do today? Finish trimming the Olearia hedge? Some chain-sawing? Or mow all the lawns? He didn't answer.
Sorted...
But I'm sorted. Will start early, trim the back lawn edges. Then sit down in the shade for more weeding. No bonfire today. Take breaks, have little rests, stay out of the sun.
Lunchtime...
Sorted out my little vegetable garden. Weeded, and pulled out the tomatoes - the few fruits were just not ripening. Then I dug up the remaining potatoes. A disappointing crop there, not sure about the deep purple variety (Purple Heart) I planted. Only one or maybe two giant spuds per plant, it seems. I thought growing potatoes was easy. Oh well. Worked on until my gardening jeans were just too muddy and wet from the dew on the grass.
Blush Noisette Roses
The plan for this afternoon is to sit down and weed somewhere drier and hopefully not get bugged by any mosquitoes. The Stumpy Garden, for example, is desperately in need of me.
Later...
I did it. While NGP mowed the lawns (finally!) I did edges, weeded, and trimmed things, nothing too major. Gave the three unhealthy standard Blushing Pink Iceberg roses in the Stumpy Garden a very brutal mid-season pruning. If they resprout, then they can stay. If not, they go.
Mowed Lawn
Then I heard the tractor-mower trundling into the orchard. Aargh! Last year it mowed all my windfall Black Boy peaches into pieces. Not again! Waved it to stop, scooped up the fruit. On the way back to house I speed-weeded around the courgettes and picked the latest shiny green ones.
A hopeless edible gardener...
I am, alas, not the most reliable edible gardener. I am hopeless - far too reactive, and random. And this year I completely forgot to plant any beans. Am very happy though, even if it's been really hot.