Mid June

This has been a month of music festivals and torrential rain, followed by hot muggy weather and scorching sunshine. Consequently I have not done a huge amount more in the garden. I managed to make it out this week and have cut the grass, trimmed the hedge (including the top while balanced on a wobbly ladder, and not managing to reach all the way across so wrote an apologetic note to the neighbours), done a bit of weeding, watering and planting.

On the patio, I weeded between some cracks and planted some scraps of Sempervivum that were not thriving in a pot. The ants under the patio were not amused. In the middle patch of the patio I planted a Thymus 'Pink Chintz', which will hopefully spread along the gaps between the paving slabs. The Thymus that I planted earlier in the month is thriving and in full bloom.

Today I potted up the Sweet William and Echinacea seedlings as they were getting a bit leggy, and then planted the Helleborus and Primula vulgaris seedlings in the border next to the path. The plants in the border next to the fence are burgeoning, with the Verbena bonariensis and Linaria in bloom, and the Hollyhocks and Foxgloves growing rapidly. Flowers are plentiful, with Lonicera, annual and perennial Sweet Peas, Scabiosa, Linaria, Sempervivum, Runner Beans, French Beans, Tomatoes, Ligustrum, Allium, Lavandula, Thymus, Taraxacum, Bellis, Sonchus, Geraniums, Bugle, Centaurea, Cow Cockle,  Corn Cockle, Alchemilla mollis, and grasses. I also started clearing the next patch of border as the docks and sow thistles were taller than me. The cats may be upset as this is their favourite sunbathing patch. That'll teach them for wandering into the house uninvited! I built a new support for the perennial sweet peas too, as they were too vigorous and heavy for the original canes. They are now starting to flower. The annual sweet peas are prolific and I have harvested at least three substantial bunches of flowers from them.

Wildlife is abundant too, with many slugs and snails, ants, beetles, bees, hoverflies, butterflies and a slow-worm. Swallows are whirling and screaming in the sky above, and bats are fluttering about in the evening. I also spotted an adult vine weevil which I promptly squashed. Sorry. Ish. Something has been digging a deep hole beneath the stump of the Cordyline, but I can't work out what it is. It seems too deep for a cat, and I have seen no other evidence for badgers, foxes or rabbits. Odd.

Cow Cockle

Sempervivum

Cornflower

Corncockle

May into June

The garden is actively growing now that spring is getting into it's stride, with warm weather followed by torrential rain last night. The wildlife is having a lovely time, and the slugs and snails have discovered the delights of shallot leaves. They are still not keen on bindweed, which is a shame. Black aphids have appeared on the runner beans and broad beans, so I am hoping that the hoverflies I have seen around will lay their eggs nearby and get feasting soon. I spent twenty minutes this morning watching red tailed and white tailed bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower on the dandelions in the lawn - really nice! In the nettle patch by the shed I discovered lots of leaves that had been sown into tubes; these probably house the caterpillars of Red Admiral butterflies, so it will be interesting to see if I can spot them emerging. I have also spotted a clutch of bright green butterfly eggs on a sweet pea leaf so will wait and see what they turn into.

Last weekend I decided to sweep the area of concrete outside the shed and lay an edging of bricks around it as we have a large pile of bricks behind the shed. I haven't cemented them in, just wanted to see what it might look like, and am pleased with the result. While moving the bricks I found a lot of spiders with at least six different species. Photos can be found in the gallery. This is going to be a lovely area, surrounded by plants, and perfect for barbecues and evenings sitting round the chimnea. I tested the latter with a friend last weekend and we had a lovely burn up!

I have been planting more plants out trying to fill the borders that are already cleared. I am loathe to clear the others until I have plants to go in them. I have planted Achillea 'Cerise Queen, Cerinthe major 'Purpurescens', Sunflower 'Pudsey', Calendula officionalis, rhubarb (it's looking pathetic so may not survive), Bugle, Scabiosa, Alchemilla mollis, Lamium and three varieties of tomato, lemon balm, mint and creeping thyme. When I edged the concrete area I made a small border near the fence, so some of these plants are in there. The mint is next to the shed so that it can spread without being a nuisance.

On a recent visit to a garden centre with my Mum, I took a chance on some packets of bulbs that were on a two for one offer; they were somewhat past their sell by date, but I took them home and nurtured them and am pleased to report that I have two Irises, a Hemerocallis 'Strawberries and Cream', a Lillium, and two Cyclamen hederifolium showing signs of life. The Cosmos atrosanguineus doesn't appear to be doing anything though. Time will tell. Quite a few plants are flowering now including Lonicera (Honeysuckle), Scabiosa, annual sweet pea, sow thistle, dandelion, lavender, and Allium.

Last night we had torrential rain so the water butt has refilled, along with every other empty container I could lay my hands on! I discovered a hole in the side of the water butt near the top and we have done running repairs with chewing gum as nothing else seemed to work. Minging but effective!

Nettle flowers

New patio area



Sempervivum



Allium