New Dawn rose

And now I’m back to earth with a thump. No more lofty peaks to gaze at here. I can barely see beyond the brim of my largest straw hat.

My this heatwave is relentless. I can see no change in this heat for another week. So I am keeping my head down and trying not to see how parched everything is becoming.

Lawn? Hah.

And here is a surprise.  This New Dawn rose which grows on the wall of the bread oven and faces the potager and herb garden has changed colour.

I suppose it’s the heat. I’ve never seen this evolution before.

What starts out as a white rose is now turning red in the heat.

It was so odd that I have actually written to David Austin, the rose breeder, to ask if I have been sold the wrong plants.

But I’m sure they will placate my concerns. An internet image search also shows some examples of the rose this dark.

I guess it only turns this colour in the relentless heat.  And we haven’t experienced weather like this for years.

What I should be showing you is the contents of my fridge. I seemed to spend most of my day coming indoors, standing in front of it, door open to cool me down and reaching in for some cool jostaberries or a creme brûlée.  But that’s hardly gardening.

I’ll be up early and out late in the next few days trying to get some chores done.