The rain that has been persistent for most of the week – and not gentle fluffy drizzle, but the fat dropped deluge type that is often accompanied by thunder and lightening has finally stopped long enough for us to remember it is almost summer. But not without a final burst this morning.
Once it was no longer soggy and the sun had dried off most of the lingering moisture, I tackled a task that should have been done ages ago but didn’t – tying in the tomatoes and removing the laterals. I always aim to have nice single stemmed tomatoes, but it never happens. This year is no different – I have plants that branch off in all directions and whose stems twist and turn all about the place. I did my best to sort them out – but it felt more like binding them in place firmly to teach them a lesson for defying me yet again!
Then I looked around to see what else needed doing. I didn’t want to do anything boring like weeding, so when I spied the dead hanging baskets on the side of the house and the flowering petunias in the plant waiting room, I thought that it was just the job, and coincidentally it was on the list too so I’d be able to cross it off! Bonus sense of achievement. I got on with emptying the old baskets and adding a bit more coconut fibre to the liner so it would last another year, mixed up some rich potting mix and compost. But before I added the soil I put in my secret weapon – a third of a nappy! The boys have grown out of nappies years ago, but there was always some lingering in the back of the cupboard. If you have ever seen a toddler in a paddling pool in a normal nappy you know how effective it would be in a hanging basket and hidden in the base of the basket it should help the flowers stay fresh all summer long!
Then I pottered about for a bit, pulling a weed here and a weed there – nothing too serious. Then I realised there was a project I wanted to do and if I left much longer the window of opportunity would be gone. I wanted to make elderflower wine. So I headed off to the orchard to harvest what would end up filling a jug up to the 600ml mark with petals only. Apparently stalks would make the wine bitter. As a fresh flower they are delicate pretty things but don’t smell of anything much. I hope the wine comes out alright, but we won’t know for months!
As I think about the garden, the thing I notice most it is mostly green. There is a splash of yellow here and there as the pumpkins, zucchinis and cucumbers flower to flirt with the bees and the red of the strawberries, but the overwhelming range of colours are shades of green. It is such a fresh look. Looking back on the day I know I have been busy, but I just can’t put my finger on everything that I did, but I know it was good because my bones are weary and I am looking forward to bed!
Come again soon – now the rain has stopped I want to look at irrigation options.
Sarah the Gardener : o )
I wish I had a strawberry problem like yours….
Hi Kate, I think it is one of those things where you don’t realise how good you have it until it’s gone. Fresh strawberries are amazing, but it becomes a chore to have to pick them!
I should probably be more grateful to have strawberries at all!
Cheers Sarah : o )
Strawberry jam, strawberry icecream, strawberry leathers, strawberry sorbet, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry butter, strawberries dipped in chocolate… I could go on… Enjoy your glut! Meanwhile, I’ll carry on bottling mangoes and tomatoes while they’re in season!
Looking good, Sarah! I love watching your garden burst to life. Seems like it happened so fast.
Hi Jessica.
I think the spring kinda sprung itself on me this year… I feel like it has all happened so fast. I’m surprised I was able to keep up and get the garden going at all. I am amazed by the growth that has happened so far.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Our tomatoes sound like yours, despite our most ardent attempts they still end up straggling all over. I wish I had elderberries and will have to get a tree one day, but I have been intending to make gorse petal wine….will get there one day!! Hope you are back on top now 🙂
HI Wendy. I don’t thing you are ever on top of a garden, but I seem to be getting there. Elderberries are one of those cool plants to have, but you cant eat it as it comes – you have to do things to it. I’m not too sure but I think it maybe considered a pest down south – or is that just the deep south – you may need to check. it likes the cooler temperatures and the birds put the seeds in the bush — so not ideal.
The good news about the tomatoes is no matter how twisted and out of control the plant looks – you still get tomatoes!
Cheers Sarah : o )
I’m always excited to spot the first tiny pumpkin 😊
Sounds like you have had quite a busy time of it, especially with those rebellious tomato plants. As for your strawberries – they’re bringing back.fond memories of this seasons glut 😀
Hi Elaine. The first pumpkin is generally looked for with gusto as it is part of the great giant pumpkin competition, where the boys try and beat dad and each other with loads of bravado – but in reality it is me that looks after their plants so I win every time!
Cheers Sarah : o )
Those strawberries look delightful, I can almost taste them. As we prepare for a possible snow tomorrow, I really enjoy reading about your garden.
Hi Lucinda. Gosh snow. But today is technically the first day of summer so that would mean the first day of winter for you – if you go by the calender system and not the solstice.
I have been looking forward to summer for a long time.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Our summer usually starts around Dec. 21, but usually we have snow as early as Nov. 1 or Oct., but fortunately none of what we have had has stayed. Although around here the moisture is going to be welcome whatever the form. You keep enjoying summer and letting us see it from our computers. Ha!!
We had 2 very hot, dry days and today it is cold and raining…I guess we get the best of ALL worlds don’t we? 😉
Hi Fran. The weather has been all over the place. You just don’t know if you are coming or going. I would like a proper summer for once.
Cheers Sarah : o )
You can have ours…it’s supposed to be about 4 months long with about 3 rain events total in that haul…by the end of our summer (which was mid April last year…we still had 30C temperatures in April!!!) everything was dry, blowing away and the soil was baked harder than the bowl that I eat my breakfast out of. We were SO over summer, winter was bliss…