Garden Diary – Goldilocks weather didn’t last

Last week started with perfect Goldilocks gardening weather, sunny but not too hot, it meant I could get some well needed greenhouse jobs done. Mainly potting plants on into bigger pots.

Because we’ve had such an amazing spring everything’s been growing like mad, and it’s hard to get the timing of potting on just right, even a week too late and the plants can suffer. Understandably so, as being in the greenhouse on a hot day makes me suffer too!

As the week progressed it gradually got hotter and I tried my hardest (in vain) not to moan. I do struggle in the heat, it just zaps my energy. And as for working outside in the hot sunshine, well I don’t know how people do it. So outside watering early, and not much else!

The weather was super though for all the VE Day celebrations. It was great to see so much coverage of the 80 year commemoration, and the stories were as moving as ever.

It’s good for the younger generations to hear what that generation went through for all of us.

Out and about I drive regularly past a huge old oak tree, we are lucky to have a lot of trees in the village, but when I pass this particular old gentleman, I find myself wondering what it’s witnessed in its mammoth lifespan. It got me thinking about the daftness in villages of who’s ’a local’ and made me laugh to think that this tree is the only ‘proper local’ in the village.

The heat is of course a mixed blessing for the garden, as flowers don’t last as long. It’s definitely hastened the demise of the tulips, and the huge ‘White Triumphator’ are last man standing in the patio pots.

So, as the rhododendrons are in full bloom, the damselflies emerge from the pond, the roses and Geums are arriving daily in the borders. It’s so warm that we are not only eating lunch outside, but dinner too, it’s feeling very much like summer!

Monday 5th May 2025

Pretty good weather for a bank holiday ☀️💙 maybe a bit cool, but ideal for gardening 🪴🪴🪴

Good to hear stories on the radio about VE Day, how happy & relieved they all must have been 💕

#magentamonday #flowers #BankHolidayMonday

Tuesday 6th May 2025

#TuesdayBlue from Centaurea Montana & my purple rhododendron, with a splash of orange from Azalea ‘Gibraltar’.

I hope everyone had a lovely extended weekend 🌿💜🧡💙🌿

#blueflowers #flowers #mygarden

Not many tulips still looking good now, but it has to have been one of the best, long lived, tulip seasons ever!

‘White Triumphator’ in yesterday’s cool sunshine 🌿🤍☀️🤍🌿

#tuliptuesday #whiteflowers #tulips

It’s funny in villages, who’s classed as ‘a local’. Were you born here? Were your parents & ideally grandparents born here?

Well this tree has to be the ultimate ‘local’ 🌳 making us all look like newcomers 😃 #ThickTrunkTuesday #villagelife

Wednesday 7th May 2025

My glossy leaved, flower laden, foster rose. I suspect I may get to keep her for another year 🌿💛🌼💛🌿😊

#RoseWednesday #roses #yellowflowers #friendshipflowers #yellowroses #flowers #blooms

Thursday 8th May 2025

Thinking all those happy people celebrating 80yrs ago ❤️🤍💙

Whilst remembering all the sacrifices made, so that we can live in such freedom.

#peace #VEDay #VEDay80

Friday 9th May 2025

After recently telling someone that Geums don’t do well in my garden, they’ve decided to prove me wrong this year! Isn’t it always the way! I’m not complaining 🌿🧡❤️🧡🌿

#Geums #flowersonfriday #FridayFeeling

Saturday 10th May 2025

Rhododendron, Anemones & Aquilegias for #SixOnSaturday
I only grew Anemones for the first time last year, what have I been thinking all these years! 🌿💜🤍💜🤍💜🌿