Garden Diary – At least the tomatoes like the heatwave!

The only good thing about this heatwave, is that it’s the right time of year for the tomatoes, and they’re ripening so quickly. This is definitely the earliest we’ve had beefsteak sized tomatoes, ‘Brandywine’ our favourite of course!

The garden has had a lot of bumblebees and hover flies all year, but there’s seems more than ever at the moment, doing a magnificent job of pollinating all my produce. I’m not sure we stop and appreciate what they do for us often enough!

I try and provide lots of flowers that the bees like, and when poppies seed themselves – where I don’t really want them – I leave them until the bees have had their fill before pulling them up. 

I posted a video this week of a bee inside a poppy flower, it’s hard to describe how much they seem to love them, they literally look like they’re at a disco, doing a crazy dance. It’s a joy to watch!

The high butterfly count continues, they are everywhere. I finally snapped a photo and recording of a ‘Comma’, they are so beautiful and always remind me of Origami.

We had an unexpected treat when watering the plum tree. Next to it is the cherry which we thought all the fruits had been stolen off, but we discovered nine, hidden, incredibly ripe cherries. Utterly delish!

I’ve tried growing yellow courgettes again this year and they seem to be doing well, although they never produce as many as the green.

Once the green Courgette plants start to produce, we have to become inventive as they churn out so many fruits!

The Dierama continue to dance around in the breeze, they come up in various shades of pink all the way through to white. I do love the deep pink the best though.

Talking of bolder colours, I’d planted my first Orange gladioli bulbs earlier in the year, and I can’t quite make my mind up about it. Lovely in a way, but I’m not sure.

On the other hand I love the orange Day lilies, especially the burnt orange variety.

There was more dramatic colour coming from our Red rose bush, it was here in the garden when we moved, but has never really produced many blooms. Suddenly it had three flowers open. 

As England were playing in the World Cup quarter finals the night I spotted them, I thought they might be a good luck charm. Guess what, three goals were scored and England won 😮

I might have to get a lottery ticket!

After a very hot week, it just got hotter at the weekend reaching the thirties again. I did ask the frogs if I could come in and join them, but they didn’t seem keen!

Oh, it’s so hard not to moan, as we know come the cooler months we’ll be longing for hot summer nights, sitting eating dinner in the garden surrounded by bees and butterflies…

Monday 6th July 2026

Dark pink, dancing heads of Dierama 🌿🩷🌿🩷🌿🩷🌿

#MagentaMonday #summerblooms #dierama

Tuesday 7th July 2026

First haul of 2026 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅

50% me & 50% pollinators 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

I look after them by having something flowering in the garden all year around (with the help of mild winters) 🌷🪻🌻🌹

#TomatoTuesday #pollinators #bees #homegrown #growyourown #tomatoes 

Wednesday 8th July 2026

I finally caught my ‘Comma’ 🦋 I’ve been seeing them in the garden for around a fortnight, but they’ve been camera shy!

#wildlifewednesday #butterflies #butterfly #mygarden 

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We’re just chilling 🐸🐸💦💦

The giant asked if she could come in, but we said no!

#wildlifewednesday #frogs #pondlife #mygarden 

Thursday 9th July 2026

After the promise of all that cherry blossom in April, Mr & Mrs blackbird helped themselves to the lot, or so we thought…

We replaced the ripped netting because of the plum next to it & last night we spotted 9 hidden jewels 🍒🍒🍒😋

#homegrown #cherries #kitchengarden #gyo 

Friday 10th July 2026

Day lilies under the drought tolerant olive tree, & lavender behind 🌿🧡💜

Pots & produce watered. I only water plants in the border if they’re new, or I see them visibly wilting. Most of them should have their roots deep enough 🤞

#summerblooms #flowersonfriday

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I’ve not grown Orange gladioli before 🌿🧡🌿

Beautiful, but possibly a bit blousy for me 🤔

#summerblooms #flowersonfriday

Saturday 11th July 2026

Another few poppies have poppied up & to say the bees get excited about them is an understatement! 🐝🌸🐝🌸🐝 #bees #savethebees #poppies #pinkflowers #summerblooms

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No football gets watched in this house – thank goodness – but my red roses are to wish good luck to England tonight, & I hope they do well for all of you fans ⚽️🌺⚽️🌺⚽️ #redrose #roses #summerblooms #worldcup 

Sunday 12th July 2026

I love these yellow courgettes/zucchini. They’re certainly easier to spot amongst all the leaves, but they are never as vigorous as my green ones. Does anyone else find that? 

💛🥒💛🥒💛🥒💛 #SundayYellow #kitchengarden #homegrown #courgettes 

Happy gardening.