Monday

Alleluia! We’ve had rain! And it’s really freshened the garden! No amount of watering with a hose can make up for rain! And much of the rain, so far, has arrived in the evening or night time. At least it gives me a break from the watering! 

This year, I have to say that in spite of the hot summer, everything in the garden is really looking good. I think our situation helps as the garden is a  microcosm, sheltered, surrounded by trees and the small lawn that we have is very green and very lush! When I look around the area where we live, many people’s lawns are parched, brown, dry and unsightly…and cut to within an inch of their lives!  Generally, grass bounces back after a long, dry spell …but nevertheless! 

Hydrangeas, as we know, thrive best in moist soil and dappled shade; this year these are magnificent!

It’s funny how, when we moved here, many of these Hydrangeas were a vivid blue. It’s all connected to the ph in the soil, I do believe! 

I’ve never really been ‘into’ Dahlias and so I’m no Dahlia expert! I’ve not grown many in the past and so I’m still learning. This year I have grown some from tubers and some from seed. I still have two plants grown from tubers that haven’t yet bloomed but they are fine, with buds…and I have plenty grown from seed that are now in bud. Here’s what’s brightening the garden right now:

Meanwhile…

When you manage to find a £26 book for a fiver, it’s certainly a bargain! And this is a book that’s definitely an excellent read. I’ve always quite liked Francis Tophill, since she became a regular on GW. I listened to her at one of the Powderham garden festivals a few years ago and then, when she moved to Devon and bought a house with its own small garden, I became interested and wondered what she would do with her newly acquired garden. Her garden is only 10 metres by 9 metres and yet she is managing to do amazing things with it.

I remember my very first garden, postage stamp sized, yes, but it whetted my appetite for gardening and that is where I ‘plied my trade’…so to speak!  And even though it wasn’t exactly my trade, as such, I often wish that I’d gone in that direction in my working life. But hey ho! 

GW hasn’t really shown us much of Frances at work in her garden, which is a shame as I think there are so many young people with small gardens and eager to learn.

The book is well organised, as you can see above. I’ve not read it all but I’ve started to read it and flicked through just to see what’s on offer…and there’s plenty! 

I’m pretty pleased with my bargain! And even though I’m a seasoned gardener, I’m always learning and I think I’ll gain a great deal from this book.

And now it’s back to my garden…rain is forecast and I want to get a few jobs done before it arrives!

Have a very happy Monday!