The Great British Summer

We Brits are renown around the world as the nation who are obsessed with the weather.  I think maybe we use it as an ice-breaker to begin a conversation, or a passing comment to your neighbour...."oooh isn't it cold today?....Phew it's a hot one!....Feel's like snow today...etc etc.  We're never content.  Gardeners are no exception not enough rain, not enough sun blah blah.

With 72 flood warnings in place, homes and businesses across the UK flooded with a month's worth of rain falling in 24h in some places and more rain on the way...it must be the British Summer.  What joy.

Fawkes and Hedwig are sporadic in their laying so we've had to buy some in!! Fortunately there is a farmer nearby who sells them.  He has an 'honesty box' whereby you help yourself to the eggs and leave your money.  We have been so spoilt with our own eggs that even the top-of-the-range free-range organic eggs bought in the supermarket are bland in comparison, with yolks that are pale and tasteless.  Mind you, the shop-bought ones are at least 2 weeks old before they even hit the shelves!

These were just £2.50 for a dozen - a bargain

I know I showed this previously, but it will soon be just a pile of blue-purple petals blowing around the garden.  The creamy coloured boss in each will be transformed into fluffy spider-like seedheads.

A rain-drenched  rose.

 One of my newest acquisitions

A rare shot of the Toad.  I had a day off this week and as we had a dry day I got busy on a pretty wet lawn in desperate need of a trim.  The Toad followed me round as I tidied up the edges picking up the clippings and pulling the odd weed out of the border.  This unusual creature is usually found in a darkened room attaching itself to various electrical gaming and entertainment systems.  It very seldom ventures out into the daylight and rarer still if the sun is out!

Another of my new plants. The photo doesn't really do the colour justice.  The dark pinky-red flowers will be watched carefully over the next year or two to ensure they stay a dark red; the soil's acidity levels altered if necessary.