3: Gardening Diaries ...

[alp]

Watched Peter Beale's roses in his garden. So beautiful. I really would like to have a rambler. But the heat hold all the bets off!

The best apple I had was from this tree last year. This year, it has quite a few. Boy, I water it like mad every morning!

I am worried as my Fennel is developing tassle and it's tiny! I'm a big fan of its aniseed flavour!

A huge tall tree with very few yellow skin plum. Another yummy fruit from my garden.

Damson tree. Not keen on it. But it has more fruit than the plum tree.

 

[alp]

One of the worst nights I have had. I literally had to use a tiny fan. It has a broken leg, so I had to hold it up to cool myself in bed. The front bedroom, the one with the wardrobe, @Upsy Daisy , was like an oven. Son got the back bedroom and I was reduced to sleeping in the box room. It was so hot. The blind had not been drawn and yet the heat was horrifying. Wonder how people in India or the desert keep cool. I moan so much ...

I actually have some white lilies but they have no scent. Got up 4.50 and watered the garden. I wonder if using bark mulch will reduce wilting. I am desperate to keep my hellebores alive. So nice that it is not too much. Have to roast pork and chicken as friend and her daughter are coming for lunch. Going to have spaghetti for lunch. Need to turn the pepperdew from Lidl (the best) into a paste.

Thank heavens that it is not so sunny this morning. Have a nice day!

Just read this


Three million homes could be hit with a hosepipe ban within days as soaring demand (and 91F temperatures) cause reservoir levels to plummet

• United Utilities in the North-West of England says it will impose the ban if water demand does not fall soon
• Ban would prohibit householders from watering their gardens with hosepipes and sprinklers
• Also bans cleaning cars and filling garden ponds and children's paddling pools during the heatwave
• There's a 30 per cent chance that parts of the UK could reach a record temperature of 91F (33C) on Saturday
  
  Think we need a rain dance!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Morning @alp and all who pop in

Did try and get an early night as I felt so shattered , but it was soooooo hot, even with all the upstairs windows open!!!!
Kept getting up to drink water.......then ended up needing to visit the bathroom all night, so much for a early night

I really hate winter and cold weather.....but this is getting a bit much now
In some parts of my hubs home country its 50c by day and a cool 31c at night!!!!
Should think ourselves lucky really

Keep cool and keep up the fluids

 

[alp]

Tonight will be worse, @Upsy Daisy !!

Funny that all the flowers are more or less in buds, but just refuse to open. Look at this long winded teaser!

But it is pretty even in bud.

The double lily is strangely unblemished

Now this is a marbled squash, a melon (galia/ water?). I have the feeling that it is the former.

Californian poppies are ever so photogenic.. Just can't pass by without snapping

View attachment 40252

So @Upsy Daisy . You don't have to worry about the seeds now.

It is scented and glorious, making up for another sweltering day. Hope my nature loving does not insist on eating in the garden! I need to be strong and stand my ground.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Oh they are lovely @alp

Waiting with great excitement to see if my hand pollination worked. All the petals have fallen off now.....hubs has been warned NOT to cut back and tidy up!!!!!
How will I know if it's successful?

 

[alp]

You will see it. You know, my iris seed pods? One got snapped by me. Another snapped by slugs/snails as the stalk holding the seed pod rotted and the seed pod is now on the floor.

Actually, all along the stalk, you might get bulblets as well. Keep an eye out. I have collected some Dyson's Joy seeds. Whopee!

Will pc you and sign off until 1pm.

 

[alp]

Friends have just left and son drove them to the station and will be out in London. Just put everything in the dishwasher and now catch up with Hampton Court Flower Show.

 

[alp]

Trying so hard to watch Garden Rescue. Every time I drifted into consciousness, I saw another pair of new owner talking about their garden. This repeated itself 3 times. I was too embarrassed to carry on watching and one episode will finish tomorrow. I have to say it is actually quite good.

Glad that our football team marches on!

HURRAH!

Shame our Kyle Edmund was defeated a perennial winner!

It has been so hot that I have the fan on! Had a lovely catch up with friend and her daughter played the piano beautifully! Good night, everybody and hope a good night sleep awaits in this cruel weather!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Night @alp, sleep well

 

[alp]

Good morning to all and welcome to another glorious day! I hope after tomorrow, the weather is going to be more clement!

More pristine white lilies have bloomed and will take some photos later.

As the weather is getting warmers, we have unwelcome visitors

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5929619/How-avoid-bitten-alive-insects-summer.html

Beware of these nasties and keep safe!

 

[alp]

Echinops are intensifying the colour and hopefully I will have a cloud of blue globlets

Lilies are coming on their own now and the perfume of the white ones is just incredible.

A squash has plonked itself in the wrong place.

Begonias are happy in the heat too.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Gosh @alp!!!! Thanks for the update on all the nasties out there!!
How's your hand now , has it recovered?

Your Lilies are gorgeous, sadly mine are all finished now. Do miss them, that's the bit about gardening that I don't like.....when your favourite flowers die back

Yes ,from Tuesday we should be enjoying less oppressive heat.
Never thought that I would be actually saying this but......................
thank goodness!!!!!!!
Have a great Sunday!

 

[alp]

Good morning, Upsy!

Just spotted this Lobelia

The salmon pink is trying to open as well. I have to say this red is very sumptuous, like a red wine! You have to be here to appreciate its richness.

Just finished the episode of Garden Rescue before it expired 8am.

Saw this garden in Hampton Court Show BBC iPlayer - too much concrete, but love the curvy seating area and the pavers - still I think it's a bit crazy to bring the whole bar into the garden. Nice to have a glass of wine in the cool evening when the air is clean.

Talking about lilies, I had to stand next to the stalks and remove all the dirt. Very gruesome. Hope they hybridise some which can deter lily beetles. Saw the 5 or 6 foot tall Dahlia that Monty planted and it was brilliant as it doesn't require staking. Just what hybridisation can do!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Morning @alp, I'm just catching up on some Garden Rescue too!!

Love the colour of your Lobelia

 

[alp]

I feel like giving Charlie a good SCRUB every single minute! , Nick Bailey a good SHAVE! And remove Joe's hat!