Garden Blogs

It has been a hot, hot week here - and probably 'there' too! Everything has really appreciated the heat and a real growth spurt is visible all over the garden. It is also visible on my Flickr page but will have to wait until Monday to create a set of pics for this blog (technical hitch as it seems Flickr's organise tool doesn't like my Apple Mac). Enough about technology and more about gardening and al fresco living. I've had family staying for a few days and we've been enjoying dinner in the garden, the wafting smell of the honeysuckle, the fresh taste of herbs and the chink of the odd glass or two! Exceptional plants just now are the pelargoniums, roses, lavender and just getting going, the begonias. All very mediterranean. Oh yes, the veg are doing well too! I think there will shortly be a lettuce (Little Gem) glut, together with more radishes than I know what to do with. The parsnip and carrot seedlings are growing well and will shortly need a thinning. Courgettes are really romping away now and the colours on the chard (Bright Lights) are fab. In the greenhouse, the cucumbers are really doing well now and nearly at the top of the greenhouse. All the tomatoes have fruits, as do the peppers and even the aubergine (suspect we will need some prolonged hot weather for them to really ripen). As is typical of the British weather, rain has followed sun today (the window cleaner has been obviously) and I'm about to venture out for a night watch for slugs and snails. I hate to tempt fate, but so far none have made it to the veg patch. Perhaps the new raised beds have something to do with it, or the bark or my better half's ingenious plan of putting copper wire round all the beds. But, you never know. We must always be vigil. A spot of pruning here and there tomorrow, maybe a bit of a hoe and tie in some more cucumber shoots. Otherwise, it does feel time to sit back for a bit and actually enjoy the garden before it all gets busy once more. Pics to follow on Monday but until then, happy gardening and a relaxing weekend.