Phew
It is hot and humid today. Temperatures could reach 35C (98F) this afternoon. If that is the case, I may possibly melt :)
The borders seem to be coping, despite the lack of rain for weeks.
I have a no water policy here, unless something is really struggling.
I have not grown lilies for years, due to the dreaded lily beetle. We have them in the garden. Someone suggested I use a garlic spray........I made some. I spray every ten days and sure enough it works.
Filipendula is just coming into flower. The scent is soft and almondy, like marzipan. You may see 'queen of the meadow' as you walk along country lanes.
The white form of the Rosebay Willowherb is not so invasive. It is gently making it's way through the border. I am a great fan of this plant. I have a peach form that has never flowered but I am not going to give up on it.
Five little wrens fledged last week. I was lucky enough to see them all. So tiny, and so very beautiful...........
Weather conditions in the UK this year have been testing.
Extreme, is the word I would use. Gardeners, I have found, have endurance levels beyond the norm, and rarely give up on a garden. It will always be a challenge and with climate change it is not going to get any easier.
The joy it brings, by far outweigh, the problems we face.
Happy gardening :)
It is hot and humid here too and I think I have melted! There has been a shortage of rain for sure, I'm amazed how well your garden is coping without watering, I have had the hose pipe out but many plants and shrubs are looking worse for wear and tear....let's hope we all get a little rain.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting about the garlic spray, it must be working, those lilies are gorgeous! I shall certainly give that a try...
Awwww....that wren chick is simply gorgeous, I had a wren nesting in the ivy of the wall, the chicks have fledged now but I haven't seen any of them, they do disappear in the foliage. A wonderful post, as always!xxx
Hi Snowbird,
DeleteI believe the advantage of living in a low lying area is that water is never far beneath the surface.
I do not know how long I can go on without watering but for a while yet I am sure.
It would be lovely if it rained though, just to freshen and clean everything.
Re: the garlic spray........I put one clove of garlic in a pint of water for 24 hours.........then put it in a spray bottle. As simple as that. Must say I did not think it would work but it certainly seems to, all lilies are doing well. Only spray the leaves when in flower :) Sure you know that.
I love the little wren chick.......so very sweet.
Stay cool :)
My goodness, isn't it warm? I can't stand the heat outdoors, I'm hiding inside but even with the windows open there isn't much air. We've just had a thunderstorm but it hasn't cleared it. Your borders are looking lovely, very natural. I've only grown lilies for a couple of years but I soon gave up on them, the lily beetles found them as soon as I started growing them, they seem to be all over the place now and seem to be expert at finding lilies, I only had a couple in pots but the soon honed in on them. Your little wren is so sweet, I've only ever seen a wren in my garden once, I wish they were regular visitors.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo,
DeleteTemperature have reached 34C here. Just been out to rescue hubby who was towing a trailer and the tow bar snapped. Nightmare.............everything ok though.
Do try the garlic spray Jo, it really does seem to work. I have put the details in my reply to snowbird.
I always have wrens in the garden. I have bird pouches around the garden for winter. This is when they are at their most vulnerable. If it is very cold they can die overnight.
I stuff the pouches with hay, nice and cosy for them :)
Stay inside Jo and lots of water :) I must have lost pounds in this weather :)
I read about your heat wave. Not good for people or gardens. I love the little wren. They are among my favorite birds.
ReplyDeleteMine too! So tiny.........lovely little birds.
DeleteHi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteIt's roasting here too. Just getting up for a glass of water is too much. Much easier just to stay still.... Either that or I'm very close to sitting in a bath full of cold water soon.
Your garden is lovely, and interesting hint about the lilly beetle. I gave up with lilies a while ago because of them. but they also like my fritillarias. No matter how many I kill, I still have around the same the next year. Best time of day for hunting them is early morning and evening in and around the plants.
Hi Liz,
DeleteCannot remember a time when I have sat so still, for so long. There is no air, it is awful.
I guess we are just not used to it.
I have lost many fritillary, due to the dreaded beetle or the rabbits. I have two plants left that flowered this year.....they are both white. The ones I have lost were purple !! Strange............
Poppi and I play hunt the lily beetle...........of course, Poppi thinks they are beautiful because they are so red ...........
Stay cool Liz..............
Hi Cheryl
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking as lovely as ever. I have been watering as my soil is very free draining. I am not a big fan of hot weather I tend to stay indoors with the curtains closed and only venture out in the evening - which I think actually defeats the idea of summer - hey ho! Remember you sent me a root of the white willowherb I now have a flower head on it and it sure is beautiful - it is in a pot at the moment but I will plant it out when the weather cools a little.
Wren chicks are adorable but we seem only to have hundreds of sparrow babies at the moment bathing on the lily pads! I saw a mother partridge yesterday with five or six little brown bundles of feathers on the side of the road - I fear for their lives - I just hope she guided them to safety.
It is the best thing to do Elaine............stay inside, nice and cool.
DeleteI am so pleased the willowherb is blooming. I am very smitten with this plant........
How lovely......I hope the mother partridge managed to get her chicks to a safe spot too!!
Glad to hear sparrows have done well.........ours have been successful.
They are in decline, so good news both end.
Stay cool Elaine................
It sounds like you are having our summer weather and we are having your summer weather. I am amazed that your garden looks so good. I love the lilies. I hadn't heard about garlic spray for lily beetles. I don't think I have had that trouble...yet. I will try to remember this remedy. The Queen is flouncing her pink froth around the garden here too. I love the white one you have. I haven't had to water anything but the pots so far this summer. Amazing for here. I hope you get some rain soon. I saw on the Wimbledon coverage that they players are getting heat breaks so I figured you were suffering too. Try to stay cool.
ReplyDeleteI put a lot of manure on the garden Lisa. Along with the high water table it all helps to keep things happy. There will be a point though when I will need to water if this carries on .
DeleteThe players have suffered at Wimbledon. Can you imagine playing tennis in this heat Yuk!!
Glad you are having better conditions weather wise Lisa........
I shall be doing a rain dance this evening :)
P.S. Your sweet little wren is so cute. They are busy nesting in our garden too. There has been at least one clutch that fledged. There are still two active nests. I hope they make it. The little darlings have such a hard life.
ReplyDeleteThey are the sweetest of birds. They are in my top ten of favourites.
DeleteHope all goes well your end, and your will have a garden full of fledglings :)
The flowers are doing well., have been watering mine on a evening and the slugs are thanking me for that. I did not know you could get white form of the Rosebay Willowherb it's beautiful, have you grown it from seed or bought the plant ?
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Hi Amanda,
DeleteI bought a plant around four years ago. It spreads by underground root.
I am happy to send you a piece at the end of the gardening season, if you would like to grow it.
I believe the seeds are sterile...........
My borders are coping well with the heat unlike me:) like you I don't water apart from pots and recent plantings. I must remember the garlic spray for lily beetles next year. Wrens are one of my favourite birds, how lovely to have babies in your garden.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see the fledglings Rowan......a little worrying as Magpies have been in the garden.
DeletePhew ... indeed. I have not been enjoying these temperatures, and my Dear Dad at 90 + is not enjoying them either, but he is coping well and taking in fluid regularly, which is important. It is amazing how the plants and flowers cope with what nature and the peculiarities of our weather throws at them. I do so hope we get some welcome rain soon.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside I hadn't heard of garlic spray... interesting.
As always your photo's are a joy to look at.
Keep as cool as you can, and take care
All the best Jan
Bless your dear old Dad..............how amazing, sounds like a wonderful man.
DeleteHi Cheryl.. Whew I can't handle that humidity stuff, I am just useless when it happens. Right now we are having a lot of rain after a very hot and dry May,June has been cool and rainy. I guess we are never satisfied.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking good with lots of color. Love the Wren, and to see the babies how wonderful.
I have a house Wren hauling sticks into a nest box in the garden near my bedroom window. You must know how noisy they are :} Ever morning he is very vocal, and wakes me with that chatter :}
Hope you get some relief in the weather.
Grace
I am like a limp lettuce Grace.................this weather does me no favours.
DeleteOur wrens are very secretive.............here them occasionally in the copse and along the woodland area, but never near the house.
Wow, that is hot! You know I don't like the heat, so I would be staying indoors in weather like this. But your garden looks so beautiful right now, I'd be up for an early morning or late afternoon stroll. The willowherb is so pretty; it reminds me of a wildflower that grows here, but I can't think of the name of it at the moment. It's a beautiful day here--not too warm and for once, it's not raining. Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteI survived the hottest temperatures..................my Mother struggled, I was very concerned for her. All is well now though Rose.
DeleteGlad your weather is suiting you more Rose.............these summer days will soon pass, we must try and enjoy them the best way we can :)
It's very hot here too, already for days. The problem is we are not used to it but fortunately the garden can cope with it. I only give water to the grass and of course the plants in pots. Thanks for the idea to use a garlic spray against lilly beatles.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful as always. I adore the white rosebay willowherb, I have never seen it before.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a lovely summer. xx