Early Summer Flowers and Shrubs

Let's do this in an orderly fashion; so first there are photos of flowers that are currently doing their best in our garden.

This photo shows the poppies still flowering away but what I was really trying to photograph was all the birds. The grass in the field next to us was cut, baled and taken away. Then all the birds in the neighbourhood descended on it to have a meal.

The tree cotoneaster is producing lots of tiny white flowers.

This is a ranunculus that I bought in May because I love the colour. It was planted immediately in the bed next to the road. It isn't flowering now but I thought I'd let you see it when it was.

There are flowers in pots and window boxes.

Most Saturdays (there are very few exceptions) we go to Banbridge for coffee in the Greenbean followed by a visit to the nearby market where we nearly always buy a plant or two during the summer months. Last weekend we got these pelargoniums. They are the trailing variety and have very stiff stems that would break easily. I love their colours too, especially the sort of striped ones.

The weary gardener is always grateful for a blue seat in the shade.

This buddleia is just about to burst into bloom when it will attract lots of butterflies and bees and smell delicious.

We bought these yew trees a few years ago. They were all the same size when they were bought but the dark variety has grown much quicker than the yellow one.

This giant thistle is about to flower too.

I love this glauca which was a birthday present for the husband a while back.

The holly hedge has grown much quicker than I thought it would. Look at the heaps of berries forming! We should have lots for Christmas if the birds don't eat them all.

The sweet pea has finally started to flower properly so I've cut some (lots!) to bring inside. I love the smell and the pretty colours. I also cut some lavender and put it in these enamel coffee pots; they are sitting on either side of the Aga.

Have a look at how the fruit trees are coming on. Still quite some time until they'll be ready to harvest.

Even the conifers are producing these lovely cones.

And finally, Nonem deigned to sit long enough for a photo. Normally she runs madly from one side of the garden to the other trying to protect us from passers-by and tractors.

Hope you are enjoying the summer weather in the UK - which has taken a turn for the rainy! Just as well I had taken all these photos while it was sunny.

A Bit of a Garden Update

This is the time of year when the garden changes every day. There's always something new to look at, some progress towards the harvest of fruit and vegetables.

Here are some photos to let you see what's happening in our garden. There are still lots of flowers and the poppies are really great this year.

I love that photo of the pinks; our wee Jack Russel managed to get in the picture and I didn't even realise she was there!

This is a new climbing rose we bought at the weekend. It's planted at the front of the house.

There are lots of pots with flowers too.

We bought a small thistle when on holiday a few years ago in Scotland. It grows really tall and produces lots of baby thistles for the following year. This is the first time we've had one in this particular flower bed. It will grow taller before the summer is over - usually they top six feet.

The apples, pears and plums are still tiny but there's going to be a good harvest (I hope!).

Lots of tomatoes in the greenhouse - the most we've ever had so far.

We also have a vine in the greenhouse which provides shade for the tomatoes while they are growing. Once the grapes are ready they are used to make jelly and cordial. The vine leaves are given to my brother-in-law to stuff; he uses his own traditional recipe.

There's a vine outside too but, if it ever produces grapes, these are quickly eaten by the birds.

Let me introduce you to some of our flock. This is Winston and below is Winifred. They are both Light Sussex and very mild tempered.

 

We need to get some more hens and hopefully we'll do that very soon. Possibly some ducks as well. That will be fun!

 

I'm still picking strawberries but I think they will soon slow down and finally stop for this year. I hope to dry some of them to see how they turns out - I haven't dried soft fruit before. It would be nice to have some to add to the muesli when I make it.

 

Bye for now!