The weather has been truly sweltering the last few days (approaching 30C in the afternoons) which has made watering a priority. Given the absence of frosts I have also taken the opportunity to plant out the peas, and have also been sowing the next round of veg - more broad beans, pak choi, spring onions and Little Gem lettuces. Not much evidence of slugs yet, but no doubt if there are any around, that will bring them out! The first broad beans are about 8 inches tall now and very sturdy. The salad leaves in pots are not far off their first cut, and the asparagus is now over 2 ft tall and going wild! All the 12 crowns have put forth shoots, which is very satisfactory.
I built the first cane supports this evening, for the newly transplanted peas - it was a bit of a technical challenge as I could not put bracing canes in slantwise at the ends as I would normally as these would be outside the raised bed and would present problems with mowing the grass - eventually realised that I could put two internal bracing canes in, braced against the inside of the raised bed - it's now a very sturdy construction, which I will replicate in the two beds that already have broad beans in over the next few evenings.
The roses have lots of foliage but no signs of flowers yet, but it's early days. The buddleia aren't galloping away as I thought they might, but at least they are still alive. The new trees are all looking healthy and happy, and the quince even has a few blossoms!
Fortunately the row of trees along the neighbour's boundary, although a little depleted since they thinned them out to make way for their impending garage, is now in full leaf and is offering a bit of shade in the late afternoon and evening. It has been wonderful to go out into the garden with a G&T, and sit on the bench on the patio of an evening listening to the birds and playing with the little cat from next door (I think she's bored - she always appears the moment either of us goes out into the garden!). It is so good to be able to get the use and enjoyment out of a garden, which we never really have been able to before. We even bought a little tiny table, just big enough for two glasses and some nibbles, last time we were in Ikea! So civilised...
Even Matthew is getting a bit interested in the garden - he voluntarily waters the raised beds a couple of times a week, and is entranced by the wayward behaviour of the asparagus! I have to admit, it is pretty impressive.
Cooler weather promised for tomorrow, and I will not be sorry - it's just been a bit too much - more like a really hot August than May. I have been very grateful for the aircon in the car, as it's like a furnace otherwise especially if it's been parked in the sun. And sadly it's actually too fierce to have the top down on the convertible...
No G and T I'm afraid, but we have managed rose outside in the balmy early evening sun.
ReplyDeleteLovely Mediterranean bit in my sheltered gravel area between the shed and the greenhouse - an olive tree in a pot with tall blue bearded iris to one side casting a shadow of its beautiful form on the old wall behind. Maybe one day I'll work out how to post a photo. Oh, and the lilacs - pale mauve and white - just to bury my face in!