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Mid-summer – Full Borders and lots to Harvest
One of the things I love about mid-summer are the flower borders full to bursting! They’re simply packed out and filled with colour. But even more importantly, it’s the most productive time in the kitchen garden. The food side of the garden is by far the most time consuming, it doesn’t stop with just growing your own food. At this time of year it’s a constant job picking the fruit and veg, then more importantly preserving the excesses that you can’t eat straight away. The Greenhouse In the greenhouse the gherkins have been going mad for a few weeks now. The best way to preserve these is to pickle them.…
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Longest Day, Midsummer’s Day & Summer Solstice
As we left all of the Summer Solstice celebrations behind last week, we appear to have left the mini heatwave behind too. It has been lovely having some proper summer weather, allowing us to get outside more. As usual it broke before the weekend which is a shame for all the workers. Although as a gardener I’ve almost been doing a rain-dance, as the garden’s got drier and drier! It’s been crying out for a drink and watering had become a daily job. Even plants in the border were wilting and in need of an occasional soaking. The pond was also getting really low and as I’d put two new…
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When’s the most exciting time in the garden?
Just like I constantly change my mind on which is my favourite flower in the garden. Depending on which ones are flowering at that moment! Deciding when the most exciting time in the garden is, changes continuously throughout the year! Tomatoes. Is the best sowing, planting, nurturing or eating? Take right now, as I start to sow my tomato seeds. This feels like the most exciting job. Especially having done very little gardening since the autumn. I simply can’t wait for the gardening year to begin! Tapping out those tiny little seeds into your hand, and placing them carefully on the compost. It’s a lovely job that I can’t wait…
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Snowing in June?
Or just willow seeds floating on the breeze. Our beautiful blue sky’s last weekend have been full of drifting white clouds of what looked like snow. But with temperatures in the 20’s that would be unlikely! It’s willow tree seeds inside their fluffy white parachutes. For three days our skies have been full of it. We notice it every year, but this time there has been so much more than usual. My sister came over for lunch, and as we all sat in the garden it floated around us. Unfortunately this included landing in our food. We all commented that it looked like snow flurries, but rather than melt, it…
