WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

I'm trying to keep my Tomatoes cool.

 

It is not uncommon here to see sun umbrellas up protecting plants from the sun in the summer.

 

Was about to edge the front lawn but no sooner did I stick my head out the door than the rain started.

 

Planted up 3 tubs with a standard fuchsia, Snapdragons, pot marigolds, trailing geranium, trailing fuchsia and some eurigeron, all the same.

 

Not too much today, as it’s too hot….
First thing I put the “running hot” water in the pond, and saw that it was still a good 7-8cm below normal levels, so made a mental note. Washing-up water on the courgette plant, and picked some mangetout peas. I harvested some herbs for the local food bank. They distribute fresh foods every Friday, and are delighted to be able to offer little bundles of fresh herbs to those who want some. Normally I harvest in the afternoon, but I thought the tarragon might be wilting by then!
When the dew dried off, I cut the paths in the meadow areas, and the grass in the two areas we are keeping as conventional lawn. I checked the weather forecast - the heavy rain forecast for Saturday has now gone, so no chance of rain until next Tuesday….
So this afternoon I got the hosepipe out to top up the pond, whilst I still can. Then deadheaded some flowers, weeded some of the drive bed (got moss growing through the creeping thyme), watered the tomatoes from the rainwater tank, and some deadheading of the rhododendrons.
I also harvested some apple mint and added it to the preserved mint pot (finely chopped leaves, mixed with golden syrup to form a paste - keeps for years, and is great for mint raita, mint sauce etc). The kitchen now smells lovely.
Now just need to wait until hubby’s hotline cover duty finishes, then we can deliver the bundled herbs, and head off for a cool evening walk in the beech forest…

 

Got the hose pipe out and watered all of the bedding plants and lilies.

 

Apart from watering practically everything on the balcony I also repotted a Fuchsia cutting that had been put in a small pot a few months ago but was now trying to flower. This Fuchsia had been in the small kitchen window for some time & finally I've got around to giving it a decent pot to grow in for a few months!

I took some photos of the plants that are flowering in the hanging baskets as well as the Violas still flowering in the troughs on the balcony railings.

One other thing I'm pleased about is being able to take a picture of my three Orchids altogether & in flower! The 3rd opened its first flower of this year early this morning so I put all 3 plants on the living room table (before my wife could see the yellow one with all the ariel roots which she dislikes!) for a photographic session!
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Orchids (3) on living room table 16th June 2022
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Got out after tea and edged the top of the lawn. I then planted a row of Phlox subulata “Pharao Blue Eye” I had been bringing on in the cold frame. I then moved four Delphinium “Pacific Giants” and a Geranium “Orchid Blue” seedlings from my potting shed into the space vacated in my cold frame.
We then watered the hanging baskets which, despite today's rain, were getting really dry. There is heavy rain forecast for midday tomorrow so that should do my Phlox the world of good.

 

With the couple of days hot weather forecast I've given the slabs a good clean today and will give them some sealer tomorrow.

 

Weeding and on ladder duty. We're both working in the shady areas while we can, by lunchtime all shade will be gone.

So teabreak over ,better get back to it.

 

The Crocs Couple. I wear the Portuguese equivalent by Lemon Jelly ... but sandals as I don't like my feet covered in summer ..

I have black, royal blue and clear grey. I

 

Ooh yes I like those Vicky.

These blue ones are my gardening ones, but I also have other pairs in black, pink and a lighter shade of blue too.

 

I bought genuine Crocs when they first came out. I hated them and they made my feet sweat and blister. Nowadays I can't wear any shoes without socks so I have no sandals.
I've watered and will plant when it's cooler