Yearly Archives: 2018

Cosmos flowers and leaves

Colour flowers

Veg from garden, after two weeks away. (more…)

Mid August Border mid August. Rudbeckia Goldstrum - a very well behaved perennial. Phlox - sweet scent. A dry border - mostly silvers and lavenders. Grass blowing in the wind…

There are some kinds of orchids that can 'flower themselves to death.' - they put all their energy into producing flowers, then eventually they run out of energy and die.…

I have had this lotus plant in my pond for over a year. This is the first lotus bloom – but it is well worth the wait. It is a near perfect flower, with great dignity.

The pond only gets an hour or two of sun in the height of summer because of the shade from trees. Lotus plants really need full sun, so I was pleased to get at least one. It only opens from around 11.30 to 1pm when the sun hits the pond. (more…)

It has been very hot in England.

Lettuce and peas have done very well.

Cucumber have done really well. The plant is loaded with big cucumbers and they are tasty. (more…)

It’s nearly the longest day of the year and the vegetable patch is in full flow.

I’m really happy with the cucumber plant on the right. I bought a small seedling four weeks ago, and it has grown really quick. The one on left came mailorder a week ago, but doesn’t look as healthy as the one I grew. It is a bit of a suntrap in this veg planter. I planted the odd lettuce as gap fillers, but the broccoli has soon smoothered. I think I made beginner’s mistake of planting too closely – I think everyone does first time.

I have bought some nets for upcoming butterfy season.

Let’s see if the cucumber start to grow! (more…)