And the Rain Came Down

 Well I am relieved to report that the rain came. And it was a decent amount. One whole day. The grass is beginning to go green again. Many plants have been saved from the brink.

We actually feel like gardening instead of just managing.

The weather was perfect for our yurting weekend, though there was a thunderstorm on the morning of the first day. Luckily it was over by the evening when we went to the Owl Yurt.

 

Oh we had a lovely time ... BBQ, campfire (perfectly safe after the heavy rain) willow wreath making, glowsticks as it got dark. trips to the garden to see the animals and veritable feasts ending up with toasted marshmallows.

Lovely family times.

We had very few decent plums in the garden this year, but luckily my niece had a good crop.

I made 7 jars .... unfortunately a little loose. My sister`s effort was much better. I think it will be nice with yoghourt.

Today I had a lovely treat.

We went to my favourite nursery ...

Rapkyns Nursery near Heathfield 

Morag greeted us and we had a good chat. She is a mine of information for all her lovely plants. 

We spent a lovely hour just wandering round and choosing what we fancied. 

We noticed some delightful changes since our last visit .... many new sitting areas with colourful vistas, a gazebo at the entrance, some metal garden sculptures, a beach hut and wooden upright dividers.

After a few questions about some of our choices, we sat under the gazebo for a flask of tea and some fruit before setting off home with our treasures.

 

 

And finally, last week one of the tortoises made a bid for freedom.

 

Luckily we spotted him before he trundled off into the undergrowth.

 (More rain coming tonight.)

 

Drought Realities UK

 I am really hoping that this drought is not going to be the norm but I also thought it was important to record the reality.

 

I am well aware that in some parts of the world this would be considered mild, but here in UK it is unusual. It is hard to watch our beloved gardens suffer and our expensive plants struggling. The earlier nurturing of seeds and young plants, raised lovingly and with such care, seems to have been futile in some cases. Our yields are definitely down. Vegetables have either bolted or died off early.

Although we have no hosepipe bans here, 40% of the country are under restrictions. We are being very careful with our water consumption and saving what we can. 

Some of the good old stalwarts such as Michaelmus daisy are drooping but I have high hopes that they will not die.

Even the sunflowers are dying .... those that actually got away and there were some that didn`t even get started.

 

Dahlias have wilted and keeled over. I`ve never seen that happen before.

Anne partly topped up the pond from elsewhere, as we were worried about using the big tank .... that keeps the polytunnel going.

 

The grass looks truly dreadful but we know that will recover as soon as it rains.

 

On Saturday we had a national alert on our mobile phones warning us not to use or purchase outdoor barbeques so no campfires for yurters or campers or anyone else.

Wildfires have been raging in parts of UK. 

 

And on a brighter note to end this blog entry ..... where are the butternut squashes getting their water from? We have not watered them.

Insects are finding what they need.

 

And in the chipped bark path ....

 ...... and finally, rain is possibly forecast for tonight, 

fingers crossed.

Lavender Fairies and One Pumpkin

These baking hot days are dividing up into high activity when its cooler and lazy afternoons doing very little. My brother and sister are both on holiday with their families so we`ve been keeping an eye here and there on their gardens. Luckily they both have great neighbours, Angela and Tony helping Paula and Michael helping Jamie. Thank goodness or we would be watering morning, noon and night. 

The only place to be on these days, is the beach.

Last evening we walked to the field opposite our house to watch the eclipse. There were quite a few people dotted around with various viewing devices e.g a colander. We took dark acetate in multiple layers which allowed us to view the stages.

Here are two of the photos I got, taken through the acetate.

It did not go dark as expected.

We wished we had taken a Pimms or a glass of wine.

On some of our lazy afternoons, after doing what we can in the gardens during the mornings, I have been crafting.

Here are a few of my latest makes.

If you visit the yurts soon you might find some on the craft stall.

A batch of mittens made from one ball of rainbow wool.

A family of mice with their own mini patchwork blanket.

(These will not be available as they are a commission.)

 Bouquets of our own dried flowers.

Tiny sunflower keyrings.

 

And the lavender fairies with their own tiny  lavender bags.

And here is the only pumpkin to our names this year. My brother grew the plant. Thanks Jamie.

 

 

Ever Hopeful

 Sometimes in the garden, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Obviously as a sun-lover I am enjoying the heat but perhaps not enjoying what is happening in the garden. I just wonder how much longer it can go on. I cannot believe how some things are hanging on with such colour. You certainly get to know the survivors.

I noticed today on the way to the garden, a lot of fallen leaves and even some spiralling down in the strong winds.

There was rain about 9 a.m but it was a laughable amount which will make no difference whatsoever.

It isn't until you run back through photos and blog entries for this time last year, that you realise the lack of growth and lushness.

Sunflowers are beautiful but under stress.

Here are the beautiful ones.

 

Here are the stressed ones.

 

Most peculiar.

(At home I have pulled up my first sunflower section.)

Yesterday I took out the sweetpea row. That is something I usually do at this time of the year. It is nontheless a sad task. As gardeners we plant with such high hopes. 

But we remain as always, ever hopeful.

Whether that is for rain or for next years results .... it could be either.

 

Poppy Fairies and Confetti

The drought continues but luckily still no hosepipe ban. At the garden there is still plenty of water in the huge black tank. At home we are saving grey water for our own garden.

Quite a few plants are starting to show signs of stress and some have even shriveled and died. I have done a lot of cutting back and clearing.

Forsythia

Helianthus

But the French marigolds are doing well and also crocosmia (or montbrietia)
 

Note the colours

 

I spent some time strimming the sparse grass edges and then clearing a path by the tortoise run.

 

It was bearable enough for Steve to work in the polytunnel where cucumbers are thriving. Not sure it will be the best year for tomatoes though.

The garden is full of butterflies. They are loving the marjoram in full flower and the mint which is also flowering. I have to be patient to get the photos.

This is a Gatekeeper.

 Bumblebee on marjoram.

 

Soldier beetle on yarrow.

There were lots of other insects around.

 

The Lemon Queen sunflowers (Premier Seeds) are amazing.

 

Our harvest for the day.
 

The craft trolley is looking colourful and I am adding to it fairly regularly. I felt sorry for the little boy who was looking for the fluffy grey seal. Unfortunately it had sold. He wanted it for his mum. I did make him another one which he can have if they come again.

Interestingly I moved all the fairies to a string across the front, they were previously at the back on a board. Since moving them I have sold seven.

 

I bought this spray of poppies for half price, dismantled them and created poppy fairies.

 

 Here they are in my own fairy garden.

 

I have five more to go. Nothing I love more than making fairies and fulfilling my childhood dream. And if anyone wonders why I have so much craft stash to draw on, its because of this.

As a child I did not have the tools, the craft components or the skills.

 

On Gardeners World, our main t.v garden program, the lovely Sue Kent suggested drying flower petals on a heat pad to make confetti. This I have tried. It is a very successful method where the petals keep their colours.

And bio-degradable.

 

Finally my zinnias for a splash of extra colour.

I think I might love zinnias as much as dahlias!!

 

Wow .... did I really just say that!!