We have puddles!
We actually had water falling from the sky, on and off, for a couple of days. We never were treated to the torrential rain that had been promised, but there was enough to allow us to ease off with the watering.
Ruby employed her well-practised puddle-avoidance strategy.
The temperature fluctuated quite dramatically over the week. At the beginning of the week it was around 24°C, but at times it felt positively chilly, with temperatures falling to 16°C. The jumpers and raincoats came out of the wardrobe.
Home Garden
The damp conditions have encouraged weed seedlings to pop up. There’s always a downside, isn’t there?
There was a gap at the end of one of our borders, so I bought three dwarf platycodons — one blue, one white and one blush pink. They fit nicely with the overall colour scheme.
Martyn has done more clearing of the bed at the side of the house.
At last, the tomatoes are rewarding us with plenty of ripe fruit, while the mini cucumbers and peppers are also being harvested regularly and finding their way into our salads. It’s lovely to be able to step outside and pick fresh produce for lunch and dinner, especially after the long wait for some of the crops to get going.
The fox was absent for a couple of nights, but she — we’re pretty sure she is a vixen — is back. So far, we haven’t managed to work out where she comes from.
The hedgehogs seem to arrive earlier when the fox is away, before she can clear off the food.
At the Allotment
There is a distinct autumnal look to the allotment. This year it has seemed as though the seasons have shifted.
All the watering we have done seems to have paid off for some things. The brassicas look even better than they often do at this stage of the year, which has made me wonder whether, even when it rains, some plants still need supplementary watering.
What’s going well in the drought?
Last week I decided to tackle the strawberry beds. I removed all the runners and old leaves from the plants to clear the way for the new growth, and then fed them.
Martyn cleared and dug over some beds. Beds that hadn’t been watered for a while were impossible to dig, so we will have to hope that the weather breaks down the boulders created when Martyn tried to dig them.
The self-sown cosmos have a starring role on the plot. The bed has a wonderful variety of colours, including some bicolours. I think I will leave this bed to get on with it next year and see what happens.
We also had to remove the netting from the peas in order to harvest them. We will just have to hope that the deer don’t take a fancy to them.
The weather models all seem to agree that it will be wet towards the end of the week, so we brought the onions home just in case the heavy rain finally materialises.
Last week’s harvest included a mighty Tromboncino d’Albenga. It was just the right size and shape to encircle my waist like a belt.
Out and About
Nostell
It hasn’t been a good summer for Nostell. Just at their busiest time, their water supply keeps being cut off, meaning they have had to close the café on several occasions. They have also had to close their pizza trailer because the wood burner on which they cook the pizzas could set the dry vegetation alight.
They must be losing a lot of money, as both food outlets are usually very busy at lunchtime, particularly during the holiday period. This is why most of our August visits have been in the morning.
Thursday morning was wet, so we visited in the afternoon instead. The rain and lack of facilities meant it was much quieter than usual. We were caught in some light showers, which gave Ruby a taste of what was to come, as when we arrived home it was spa time.
The National Trust are operating the Pooch Passport scheme again, starting in September, so we called into the office to collect a passport for Ruby. This year they have reduced the number of stamps needed to five for a bag of treats, while ten stamps earn some sort of badge.
While I was in the office, I asked about the missing cygnet. Apparently, it had injured its neck and was taken to a swan rescue centre to be treated. Unfortunately, once it had recovered, it couldn’t be returned to its family as it would have been rejected, so it will be rehomed elsewhere. That was better news than we had expected.
Finally
So, despite the distinctly autumnal feel, there are still plenty of signs that summer hasn’t quite given up yet.
The allotment is still producing, and even the cosmos are still going strong.
Garden plans are progressing.
With a little rain finally arriving, perhaps we can put the watering cans away for a while and enjoy seeing what the next few weeks bring — although Ruby will be hoping that the puddles don’t stay around for too long.
As always until next time stay safe and stay well.
