Second flush

detail of gertiesIt’s always a relief to find the roses having another go.   The plants are sold as climbers and good long flowerers.   But in this wrong climate you have to hope for the best.   The main flowering is at the end of May, and now here they come again.

Even the old resident red rose is having another go.   And I really must feed it a bit to keep it happy.   Another thing to add to my list. old rose

sunflower detailOne flower that is doing much better than I expected is the sunflower.   You can’t imagine how pleasing it is to have plants that are almost as tall as you are giving height to the vegetable garden and thriving in what is frankly the worst soil.   The variety is called Black Velvet and it has become a firm favourite. The birds will get most of the seeds, but I must try and keep some to sow next year.

The flowers are growing in about six inches of soil on solid granite.   The garden peters out around here as the barn behind it is on rock.   I have tried to add mulch and soil to this thin section of the potager for years, but gravity does its job and most things end up further down the slope.   sunflowers

shade clochesIt’s always great when your expectations are exceeded.   I have cut some for Daniele in a dramatic bunch, and hope that by cutting off the leader I will get smaller side shoots throughout the summer.   And they might even throw enough shade for me to grow lettuce.

Lettuce bolts here as it’s too hot.   It’s not something I should boast about, but I haven’t found the best place to grow the salad stalwart. So this week I have covered two of the cloches in the garden with shade cloth (fleece actually) and might try and plant them under there. Note the rather fetching squashes and pumpkins growing over the top.   Unless they get felled by deer, we might have a good crop this year.

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St michel hedge julyAnd that is about it for news.   I have done one session of weeding over at the village (busman’s holiday).   The hedge is holding up well.   I need another go to get out some of the more annoying weeds that have come through one foot thick of mulch.   There are stinging nettles in here, and I didn’t bring the right gloves to yank them out.S Michel hedge 1

But despite the erratic watering, it is a success.   And the climbers on the wall of the ugly concrete building at the entrance to the village area also coming along.   Titchy little things still, but green and growing in the right direction.

climber julyYou have to squint to try and work out where the plants are in the photo, but proof they have survived the Filippi watering method for the first six months of their life at least.

My final picture is of flowers, but of the indoor variety.   Thanks to Jan’s amazing sewing skills, I now have a lovely screen in my office.   When Dario can prize himself away from other building projects, this screen will hide my glamorous free standing bath.   Next month. screen