Hidden Houses and Flower Art

We had a short visit today due to family celebrations, but we fitted a lot in.

 Recently we removed a huge fern from our own garden creating some very welcome space for my last bedding plants. We took the fern to the garden today and found it a space on the barn path. It looks quite at home already.

My other task was to put some of my sister-in-law`s pictures in the snug to inspire children or adults. I think they are lovely.

 

In the snug you will find some colouring sheets and paper. Anne and I are on the lookout for felt pens and crayons. If you come yurting or camping, you can spend time here if you wish.

It was very pleasant chatting to regular visitors. They were here about a month ago and they were astounded by the changes in the garden. Well, it has gone a bit mad.

They love the garden and they love the crafts. So very happy to hear this.

The squashes on the compost heap have taken away.

The apple mint and borage surround that area. They have all seeded or rooted themselves.

Poppies are the stars of the show, though some were knocked over by the winds yesterday.

I was dismayed to see the same problem with the buddlieas this year. Melon Cotton Aphid I think. Last year I cut these shoots off and all the shrubs recovered.

Whilst looking closely I found this caterpillar.

The Mullein Moth, identified by the lady with the Titian hair, on her app. Thank you.

I left it there as it is so beautiful but I have just read that it can strip the plant bare .... now I don`t know what to do. Perhaps it can conveniently strip the bad bits and leave the good bits!!!

 

In the polytunnel one courgette is well away .....

......the cucumbers are thriving after a very poor start ....

.....and one has already begun to climb the netting.

The gnome garden has all but disappeared amongst the verdant growth.

And the new fairy house is well-hidden.

All in all a very lush start to June.

 

Sunflowers, Sprouts and Spurge

The weather has been glorious but we are beginning to be in great need of rain. It is forecast for tonight so fingers crossed.

The poor pond is very low indeed and needs a top-up.
 

Someone has recently said, about UK weather .... its a strange time, scraping ice from windscreens in the morning, suntan lotion on in the day then heating on in the evening. 

This morning, very early there was an eerie mist rolling across our field. But it soon got burnt off. 

Today was sunflower day. I managed to get 28 in at the garden.

Giant single

Henry Wilde

Orange Sun

You would think the planting of sunflowers would be easy but its not that straightforward. Each one is protected by a plastic bottle cloche, held in place by 2 canes. it is tied in once, slug pelleted and watered. I`m hoping they don`t bake in their mini-greenhouse.

That took most of the morning. There will be more to go in next time if I can find space.

Steve got the leeks in. And the sprouts are well away in their netted cage.

We have got 20 tomato plants waiting at home but the polytunnel is not ready and far too hot today to work in there, preparing.

The cuckoo was calling all around the farm. I had to sit in the shade near the guinea pigs for my teabreak. They are now enjoying the free run of the little orchard.

The ravaged apple tree is looking good. We thought we had lost it when rabbits chewed round the base. But it survived.

The foliage on the buddliea looks healthy. I might keep it that way by spraying with Neem oil, to prevent the problems we had last year.
 I have succesfully rooted a cutting from the beautiful buddliea by the snug. Another plant we thought we had lost ..... but it bounced back.

We lifted more carpet, used to cover over-wintering dahlias. This is what we found. I hope the growth straightens up. It is the very vigorous My Love dahlia. I would use some for cuttings if it wasn`t for the fact that I already have a crate full of tubers from this particular dahlia. A toad was hiding there too.

 

The big raised bed promises to be quite a sight, with feverfew and foxgloves in abundance. All self sown.

And the spurge continues to delight. Four months of amazing acid green flowers.

 

And finally the bean posts are in. Funny to think what this bed will look like in just a few weeks.

 

Buddliea and Butterflies

Oh the days are changng, much as I hate to admit it. There`s a bit of a chill in the mornings, the robins are around and the sun is going down sooner.

But my goodness, the garden still delights. The dahlias are better than ever. Keeping the tubers in over winter is a huge success. 

Our visits are mainly to water, pick flowers and check on the crafts. Today there will be plum jam on the trolley.

The entrance is a glorious sight with the hard pruned buddliea smothered in butterflies.

 

 

Who would ever have believed that the cucumbers would recover so well and are now producing a lot of fruit. It just goes to prove that we shouldn`t discard things too quickly.

 

The sunflower frameworks have been "holding up."  This is our teabreak view. Its actually quite difficult to deadhead without a long arm pruner. 

Why do they get soooo tall? This is not what it says on the packet.

 

I am just starting to compile my seed order for next year and I am checking heights carefully.

 

 

 

Today its a boot fair in Icklesham and a high tide swim at Pett Level.