June 15 2023
Mum, Rich and I have all been down with some nasty virus – is it Covid? Who knows? Doesn’t really seem worth testing these days! – for the past two weeks, and I’ve just barely been managing to stagger out into the garden to water. Keeping alive the chrysanthemums that are destined to replace my ill-fated tomatoes in the autumn (once I can stop pretending to try to grow them) is just about the only thing that would get me out of the house at the moment!
But once I’m out there, I have to stop and be staggered by the roses…like spoiled divas who have finally consented to sweep out on the main stage, dressed in all their finery…
It’s like the most astonishing sweet shop out there, and ENTIRELY over-the-top – but that’s just me, I’m afraid! I know some people want their gardens to be relaxing, but I’ve never felt that way – I want to be excited by what’s out there. Like that old song, “You might have been a headache, but you never were a bore!”…that’s my garden!
Meanwhile, in other parts of the garden, I’m working on getting the wildflower meadow established. It’s still bumpy, lumpy and messy at the moment, but some beautiful flowers are starting to bloom down there, like this phacelia, which really is the most gorgeous thing, and so adored by bees:
And up in the dairy bed, the alstromerias are starting to creep onstage, providing a backing act to the froth of Geum Totally Tangerine.
I’m always amazed by how exotic they look – but they’re actually super-tough, and bloom on until November!
Wishing you lazy days and lots of buzzing bees –
Hugs from the garden,
Shann.x
