SoS 23/2/19
This summer is so dry. We had slightly mad rain burst about 3 weeks ago and since then, nothing. The only bonus is that the weather is cooler and tonight, it has the chill evening feel of approaching autumn. But the truth is the garden is tired. There are few flowers and very little colour.
The vegetable garden still gives most generously on a daily basis and we continue to eat very well. Not missing meat at all. We have yet to pick Beurre Bosc pears, Sturmer and Granny Smith apples, and quinces.
So what do I have to show in the borders, if anything?
Somehow my dry and tired garden has managed to produce six things.
There are exploding shoots of dark blue grape hyacinths – ready for spring, despite that we have to get through autumn and winter.
Ditto with white grape hyacinths.
Shoots of white autumn nerines. They need to hurry up (they’re all around the garden and are due for a liquid seaweed feed).
Autumn crocuses – standard mauve – waiting for others to pop up and then will bed with mulch, but they too need a feed.
This wonderful little euphorbia continues to floor and delight me in turn. It’s been featured before and is called Diamond Frost. I may also have mentioned that come winter, I must bed it in comfort behind glass in a cold frame (I have no glasshouse) . To me this whole plant looks like chains of fairy lights and I shall be so sad if I can’t nurture it through winter. I’m totally inexperienced at having to sequester anything through the cold.
And finally, today’s veggies. ‘Nuff said.
Cheers everyone and remember The Propagator for a fab look through gardens of the world.
It must be so hard gardening in such conditions, I always moan about our seemingly perpetual rain, but really it is a godsend for the garden, if not the gardener! Love that euphorbia, like fireworks.
Absolutely, Gill. It’s pay the water bills or forget about gardens altogether. And then, when they bring in water restrictions, one really does have to be very circumspect. Love the idea of the euphorbia as fireworks – absolutely describes it to a ‘T’.
We have been in the garden this week so nice to do that, the crocus are flowering and even some of the daffs have started to open. Its very mild here for February. There is even some blosso on the fruit trees, I hope we dont get a hard frost or we might be scuppered. We have ween busy wedding and I have been wielding the secateurs !!! hopefully get a little more done next week.
I know how much you’ve been champing at the bit, wanting to do this, Libby and so pleased it’s finally happened. I’ve been reading about your mild conditions – isn’t it odd the way the world weather is going? Southern Australia is in the grip of such a big dry whilst the Northern Australian parts are flooded with more rain than they’ve seen for decades.
It is raining here today!
Oh, bet your garden’s loving it! Not a sign here and coming up to a week of high twenties.
This euphorbia is simply gorgeous!
I’m happy to see true vegetables that ( I’m sure ) are tasty compared to those we can see in the markets in winter. Can’t wait for the summer !
Hi Fred. Yes, it’s great to eat fresh summer veg although I suspect this might be the last week – another week of seering temperatures!
Ah the sweet revenge of the northern hemisphere! We are on the downhill so slope to spring here. Sounds like hard work in your hot/dry conditions. We had a taste of that last summer and I can’t say I’m in a hurry to repeat it.
Indeed.
I saw the most wonderful pic on Instagram yesterday. Author Michael Jecks had just walked through a wood with his dogs and it was carpeted in the most superb varieties of spring crocus. I was in lust!