Last week I ended my post by saying, “Now all we need is a little rain, a little less heat and a return to long walks.”
I suppose you could say we achieved one and a half of those three wishes. It was certainly cooler and Ruby got her walks, although we still didn’t manage a longer outing. As for rain, we had a drop or two, but nowhere near enough to make our watering can redundant. The heat of the previous week was replaced by strong winds that we could well have done without. Not only did they batter and bruise the plants, they also continued the work of the previous week’s heat by drying out the soil and undoing much of our effort to keep everything hydrated.
Home and Garden
The new borders are, for the most part, growing well despite being buffeted by the wind. There are just a couple of plants causing concern, but we are keeping them well watered and hoping they’ll make it through their first rather inhospitable year.
I also weeded the beds. Many of the ‘weeds’ turned out to be self-sown seedlings from plants that had previously grown there.
Much to Ruby’s delight, we paid a visit to the garden centre to buy a couple of dianthus. She can never get to the checkout quickly enough, knowing there’s every chance she’ll be offered a treat.
At the Allotment
The gales have devastated the cardoon, just about finishing the job started by last week’s heat.
Other plants have also suffered. Some of the bean supports are now striking a pose remarkably similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Summer gales are nothing unusual for us, but this year they seem to have been particularly persistent.
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I planted a few more cauliflowers and broccolini. Although I watered the area before planting, the moisture had penetrated only a few millimetres before giving way to dust-dry soil. I filled each planting hole with water twice before planting, then watered again afterwards. Even with all our efforts, we are no match for a good, sustained spell of rain.
Martyn made a support frame for our first peas using hazel prunings. Unfortunately, wood pigeons are attracted not only to the tender pea leaves. On neighbouring plots they’ve been seen pecking off the flowers. We’re hoping the hazel twigs will provide both support and a little protection, but just to be safe we’ve covered the whole structure with netting.
One of the hazel bushes has produced nuts, although I suspect the squirrels will discover them long before they’re ready for us.
Despite the netting covering the blueberries, we found a blackbird inside on one occasion and, at the weekend, even a wood pigeon had somehow managed to get in. We carefully examined the netting but couldn’t find an opening large enough for any bird to enter—especially not one the size of a wood pigeon. It remains something of a mystery.
Thankfully, despite these feathered break-ins, there were still plenty of berries left for us.
We also lifted all the overwintered onions, adding them to our steadily growing harvest.
Out and About
The scent of lime flowers has been ever-present during our walks in the park and at Nostell. While we enjoy their sweet perfume, its real purpose is to attract pollinators.
Nostell
We fully expected Nostell to be closed on the days when the winds were at their strongest, as this has happened several times already this year. We were therefore surprised to find it open, only to be confronted by a huge bough that had been torn from one of the huge trees.
The area had been cordoned off and was close to one of Ruby’s favourite places to chase her ball. Fortunately, the restrictions didn’t extend quite that far, so her fun wasn’t spoiled.
We decided it was wiser to avoid the wooded areas and instead walked through the meadows
The swan family were gathered together by the lakeside. A crow ventured a little too close to the cygnets for one of the parents’ liking. The adult stretched out its neck in warning and, almost immediately, the cygnets copied the gesture.
They are learning how to be swans and, with each passing week, becoming a little less vulnerable.
In other news
Ruby has learned how to take a selfie.
Finally
So, one and a half wishes granted. The cooler weather was welcome, Ruby enjoyed her walks, but the rain never really arrived. We’ll keep the watering cans busy for a little longer and hope that, by next week, some rain arrives and the final wish has finally been granted.
As always stay safe and stay well and if you know of a good rain dance let me know.
