We really have had more than enough rain now! Back when we were spending our days lugging watering cans, we should have been more careful with what we were wishing for.
The rain alternates from just being wet and drizzly to a torrential downpour. We were caught in a storm whilst travelling along the motorway. The rain was so heavy that we couldn’t see for more than a few yards. We had to drive at about 35mph. It was scary and I was glad that I wasn’t driving. We were going to my sister’s and coming back later in the evening we had thunder and lightning and more rain. Fortunately, the rain was less heavy but there was lots of standing water to be negotiated. This wasn’t helped by heavy lorries taking no account of the conditions and thundering past leaving thick spray in their wake which cut visibility.
Ruby isn’t impressed by the weather either as she isn’t getting out as much as usual.
The rain has come a little late for some of our crops. Most of the potatoes had given up growing. Fortunately other crops are thriving as are the weeds.
We didn’t managed much time on the plot last week, so the weeds have had a reprieve.
Some weeds we don’t mind. A sunflower is growing in the middle of a potato bed.
I don’t know where it has come from as we only grow the small sunflowers. Maybe a bird brought it from one of the feeders that some plot holders put out. It adds some cheer and will stay until we need to lift the potatoes.
We usually have lots of mini cyclamens appearing all over the plot. They are also welcome weeds. It’s one good thing about having lots of ants about – probably the only good thing.
We also have borage popping up all over the plot. Unless it is causing a problem, we leave it as the bees love it.
Courgettes are loving the rain, the fruits just keep on coming. We try not to let them get too big but they are cunningly good at hiding. Fortunately, I have been able to give lots away, so they are not being wasted.
Courgettes – Defender & Sunstripe
When we have been able to get to the allotment, the priority has been harvesting. 
4 August: Runner beans – St George & Moonlight, Climbing French beans – Cobra & Blue Lake, Mangetoou – Kent Blue, Cabbage – Cabbice, Courgettes – Defender & Sunstripe, Peas – Onward, Raspberries – Autumn Bliss, Blueberries, Apples – Discovery, Tomatoes – Sungold, Dahlias, Sweet peas and a Gladioli
Between bouts of harvesting, I did manage to clear the bed where the early peas had been growing and I had a little helper.
We have had lots of small bees browsing our lavender flowers. Now that the flowers are over, the bees have a new source of food as the buddleias are flowering and filling the plot with a honey-like perfume.
The wet weather seems to be discouraging the butterflies, although I have noticed quite a few gatekeepers. These are not attracted to flowers so don’t visit the buddleias. Their eggs are laid on grasses, including couch grass of which there is an abundance on an allotment site.
Other than harvesting our priority, when the rain has abated for a while, was to take Ruby out for some exercise. (By the way, fans of Rubly may like to watch this video posted on our YouTube channel.)
A funfair was set up at Temple Newsam so it wasn’t as peaceful as normal. I reckon the weather will have reduced their profits.
To avoid having to walk alongside the funfair, we took a different route passing the enclosures that house various species of goats.
At Nostell, the whole swan family was preening together. For Ruby’s safety we keep her as far away from the adult swans as possible.
The heron was stationed on a log in the lake. It seemed to be on the lookout for a fish dinner.
The previous week, the path that we usually take around the lake was cordoned off. Last week we found out why.
A large branch had been ripped off one of the trees. I don’t know whether this was due to wind or whether the weight of the saturated tree canopy could have torn off a large branch.
Finally, as you would imagine courgettes are still featuring in our meals.
One meal combined turkey mince with our onion, garlic and courgette. I used this recipe.
Another meal was a chicken pasta bake that used some of our leeks frozen from last season, courgette and parsley. To home grown ingredients were added mushrooms tomato and a cheese sauce.
We also have lots of green beans so a third meal was a quinoa biryani into which went some of our garlic, potatoes, frozen cauliflower and broccoli, green beans, peas and onion. I used vegetable stock instead of water.
That’s all for this week so stay safe and well.
Once again I am linking to Harvest Monday on Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog.
I’m hoping that the weather gods remember that it is supposed to be summer here in the UK.
Nice potatoes. No rain, too much rain. The vagaries of gardening. Buddleia has been a favorite for decades. I now grow buddleia asiatica which blooms in the cool of February. It smells like freesia.
It would helpful our weathermen could give better forecasts, Sue
The sunflower does add a cheery touch, regardless of it’s origin! Too bad about all the rain though. It does seem rare these days when we get just enough of it, and not either too much or too little.
This summer has been non-existent, Dave JUst a wash-out
We were under an amber weather warning advisory for highway. for high winds over this past weekend. I think locally they recorded winds of in excess of 70 miles an hour certain not what we’re expecting in what should be high summer. Oh, the dreaded marrow courgettes It was only when I had a huge glut of courgettes. I discovered how disliked they really are by many. Frankly, I think if people don’t like courgettes, they haven’t had them properly cooked and probably have memories of the wet and mushy ones that were served up in the 1980s in a soggy ratatouille. That’s a really lovely photo of a heron you’ve taken there.
They seem to give warnings out willy nilly now Debbie. Fortunately my neighbours seem to like courgettes