As the rain sheets down outside and I can’t seem to get warm inside thanks to our ageing central heating system, summer feels a very long way off. So in an attempt to conjure up some inner heat, here are some pictures of our garden last summer.
June
1 June: this Phlomis provides some extra rays of sunshine in the garden4 June: the blooms on Rosa Gertrude Jekyll smell as good as they look5 June: the Little Weeds relaxing in the garden15 June: Gracie and Nibbles the Guinea pigs are part of the reason our lawn has been ravaged16 June: broad beans for dinner18 June: Gertrude tarts up our tired taps18 June: the morning after our summer party18 June: these lanterns were a quid each from Tiger29 June: garden has settled in for the summer29 June: rose arch and figs29 June: our grapevine is out of control again29 June: Buddleia tree29 June: steps with calendula, nasturtiums, strawberries, viola and petunias
July
2 July: après la pluie3 July: calendula flowers in the veg patch6 July: myrtle in bloom16 July: happy hydrangeas16 July: herbaceous border with Verbena bonariensis, Crocosmia, Nepeta, Fatsia and Alliums16 July: first apples16 July: shed finally cleared out with a helping hand from Handy Andy16 July: Middle Weed helps with watering20 July: Myrtus communis and Hibiscus20 July: Hibiscus close up31 July: pears against a blue sky31 July: grapes!31 July: this beautiful Begonia bloomed all summer on our shady terrace31 July: my mum gave me this hot pink Salvia which comes back every year
August
6 August: little shed needs a haircut6 August: veg patch overgrown with potatoes, runner beans, pumpkins and courgettes6 August: I left it too late to pick the plums and the rain got to them first6 August: harvesting the first apples and pears before we go on holiday6 August: shady den6 August: Erigeron karvinskianus is taking off
