Friday 21 April 2017

I Garden in a Sun Hat and Thermals

For days now we have woken to brilliant blue unclouded skies and a vicious north-east wind straight out of Siberia.

The shaded edge of Monsieur F's field down by the stream is frosty where Tod walks the dogs first thing.

We've had no rain since early April and I'm already watering newly-planted pots and the shrubs that I have been busy moving before summer sets in. I worry that I have already left it too late.

We had virtually no rain last year from April through to October.  The winter rains have been sparse and the stream is already low for this time of year.  If we have another dry summer, the plants I've just moved - roses, cornus, potentillas - will struggle.

Our lawns have never been cut so early or looked so good.  They are already so dry that Tod can whisk over them with the mulching mower. Even the field is being tamed.

The tulips and lilac are finished and the wisteria, looking magnificent for too brief a period, has already gone over in the strong sun. All our troughs along the terrace are filled with young geraniums, begonias, lobelias and trailing variegated greenery whose name I don't know.

We've moved back to the house - and wish we were still in the cottage. The cold north-east wind finds its way into every room and we create small puddles of warmth - in front of the log fire in the lounge, next to radiators in our studies - and we scuttle across the cold tiled floors of the dining room and the kitchen.  The dogs come in from outside, bringing an icy draught.  They've learnt to open doors but sadly not to close them.

Bedtime requires a hot water bottle and two duvets.

No doubt we will be grateful for this draughty old house come sweltering July and August.

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Even when they are dying tulips still look beautiful.



The wisteria, almost over, through my study window.


8 comments:

  1. What a lovely photo of the wisteria! That wind is cold though.

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    1. Hello Sue, thank you for passing by and for your comment about the wisteria. I think the wind is finally easing off. :)

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  2. The photo of the wisteria is stunning....I don't envy you the weather, though.

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    1. Hello Helen, thank you for liking the photo. The wisteria has been particularly spectacular this year. Hopefully the wind is finally easing off and the house can begin to warm up.

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  3. Wisteria curtains!
    Two weeks after a fall, I'm still unable to start the mower and take advantage of keeping the grass down. The delicate choice of when to plant out new stuff to avoid the frost or have to buy plants that are left available in the garden centres is never easy. I can see the watering being hard work this year.
    Lesley

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    1. Hello Lesley, so sorry to hear you've had a fall. Frustrating not to be able to do things. Hope you'll soon be fit again and racing round the garden! Glad to say we're having some serious rain today. :)

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  4. Re-looking at the tulip, it could be a fancy Ascot type hat. Lesley

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