Today’s guest picture comes from Tom in South Africa. He thought that we might need a touch of snow to cool us down.
I have had a long day and I am pretty tired so although I am back at my computer, this post will be another brief one as I need an early night.
I left London by train and thanks to a fire along the side of the track ahead of us which held us up a bit, my train managed to get in after the bus to Langholm had departed and I had a hot and unwanted forty minutes to kill in Carlisle before the next one came.
I finally got home about five and had time to walk round the garden to do some watering, pick some peas and beans and gooseberries, dig up a potato and of course, take a picture or two.
I cooked the peas and beans and potatoes and had them for my tea and then went off to a choir practice at the church. I thoroughly enjoyed this and feel that my voice may be recovering a bit.
I got back home and did some more watering. We have been asked to try to avoid using garden hoses during the dry spell so there is going to be a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with watering cans until it rains. The current forecast says that this is unlikely to be in the next ten days at least.
I had stewed the gooseberries earlier and I ate them after choir practice.
The garden has survived our absence surprisingly well, perhaps because our friend Mike has kindly been doing some watering while we have been away.
Here is the evidence.
I am due to go to Edinburgh to visit Matilda tomorrow but that might depend on the heat.
No flying bird of the day today but I was pleased to see that we still have blackbirds in the garden.
Mrs Tootlepedal is staying with her mother for a week or two. Both the garden and I will miss her.
They all look lovely and healthy.
To me those ‘marigolds’ look like what we used to call zinnias. Am I mistaken?
I hope you get good healthy rain very soon and that it helps everything. We need it too, and it looks overcast enough to be likely. Fingers crossed for good rain for all who need it!
The marigolds should be called calendulas I think but I always think of them as marigolds. They are not zinnias, I am pretty sure.
What we call marigolds/calendulas have different leaves, more serrated on the edges, and tend to be quite compact. There must be countless types, so I can’t be sure of anything anymore!
I never was sure of anything when it comes to plants.
Same here, and yet I love them. Our yard, bought last year, has many oak trees and many trees that seem compatible with it, and yet I do not know what they are and have had no luck looking them up online based on leaves, nuts., flowers etc. I am not a success at that type of thing sometimes.
All of the flowers look fine, like they’re at their peak.
I hope you’ll see some rain soon. It’s very dry here as well.
I’m glad the voice is working well!
There is no sign of rain. Is your forecast more hopeful?
Just showers and and or thunderstorms on the horizon for the foreseeable future. No real rain.
We wouldn’t mind a small shower.
The garden is looking exceptional!
Pretty flowers! 🙂
The garden looks wonderful, sorry about the wait for the bus though. Glad your voice feels better.
Very glad to see that your garden has survived the heat so well. Bad luck just missing that bus!
Thank you for you hospitality. It was much appreciated.
Looks like you’ve been very lucky with the garden while you were away. What a relief. Lots of hard work to keep it going without rain though.
I agree on both counts. Not be able to use the hose makes life hard.
Beautiful flowers, love the roses especially!
It is hard not to like a rose.
A shame you missed the bus. You should have used the chauffeur service I did when visiting Langholm – punctual, friendly, courteous, and very good rates!
It is only available for those and such as those.
Wonderful that the voice is coming back. Am I right in remembering that last summer was very cool and rainy for you? If so, then this summer is very different.
Last summer was miserable, you are quite right.
I thought so.
How lovely to return to those beautiful flowers and fresh veg. Singing on top of your busy day sounded a good way to relax.
It was fun but hard work.
The garden is looking magnificent despite the hot, dry weather you’ve been having.
I’m glad that the trip went well with only the slight glitch of having to wait for the bus. I enjoyed the photos that you shot while away, but I don’t like to add comments for you to have to reply to while you’re on a family holiday.
You are very thoughtful. Poking around with clumsy fingers on my phone is not my favourite activity.