Basking under clear blue skies
The heat is on, as they say. We’re currently basking, and wilting, under cloudless blue skies and very high temperatures. My main task early each morning and late in the evening, is watering. We prioritise pots and containers, along with the vegetables. Border plants are usually only given a drink if they’re really flagging or newly planted. We bought a water butt pump a few years ago to use on a flooded area of garden and I’ve discovered it’s a simple matter to pop it into the bath, connect a hose and pump out the cooled water. No more stressing over wilting plants! I’ve just taken a batch of cuttings from the deep wine-red penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’ but will wait until temperatures cool a little before taking any more. I’ll have to make a list so I don’t forget any, but a priority will be philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’. The flowers are so pretty; white with a blotch of purple at the base and have a really strong scent. I’ve struggled to grow madonna lilies this year. They really don’t like our soil and lily beetles have attacked them, but I love the flowers and their scent is one of my favourites. I’m determined to have them in the garden so will try them in a pot. Being beekeepers, the garden resonates with their buzzing. A pink veronica is a much-favoured bee plant – I deadhead this at my peril or late in the evening when the bees are tucked up in the hives. The vegetable garden is productive – we’re enjoying plentiful lettuce, chard and beetroot, along with the first courgettes. Pumpkins have also been planted but these aren’t for eating. They’re for a pumpkin class at the village show later in the year. The challenge is who will do best, me or my husband!
Tales from a Country Garden 