Top of the mountain

I feel like we have been climbing, climbing, climbing then just as every bit of soil in the veg garden at Heale has been filled, we begin our descent and start to remove the first of this years crops. The year begins with such promise of whats to come, we plan, we sow, we sow some more, we sneak in some more just incase, we plant and plant and then we reach the peak.

At Heale we have begun to remove some early sown Broad beans and Peas which have stopped producing and we have started to fill the soil with Leeks. We have planted out the last of our crops - the Squashes and Cucamelons - filling any gaps. Last week we began the mammoth task of laying down the Single Cordon Sweet Peas which attracts much visitor interest, as HG and I begin to lie the 6 foot stems down. It does look a little strange. Most visitors are astounded that we can gain all of that growth from a single Lathyrus seed. Well nature is a marvel and not only do we gain that growth but the plant continues to give us another 6 foot more!

A very meditative task, focus on the moment.

We continue to maintain growth in all areas of the garden. HG strimming, mowing, cutting, pruning. Fruit pruning is quite a task at Heale, we have 50 year old Apple and Pear tunnels to Summer prune amongst others.

We began trimming some Hornbeam hedging this week, keeping it in check. HG likes to lift the canopy of the Betula trees amongst the Miscanthus grass borders and we continued with this yesterday. The beautiful whitish papery bark is revealed as you remove each limb and the grass can extend upwards towards the sky. A lovely job.

It was very hot this week and on one of my days I was working in a clients 'Hot' border. You're not kidding. Baking hot position for hot colours of Dahlia, Verbena, Crocosmia and Iris. Just as I was about to pass out in the heat, we finished and moved onto a shady, breezy bed. I fell to my knees!

A hat is a must, along with suncream, Piriton tablets and my latest addition to the Gardening paraphernalia; insect repellent. It doesn't smell too good but I have avoided the Horse flies these last few weeks so that's good enough for me!

At last

At last we have produce at Heale, a vast variety and all the long wait has been worth it! It seems like eternity since I last picked a Courgette from it's mother plant but yesterday I did just that. Gorgeous lush Courgettes, all shapes and sizes. Along with Broadies, Peas, Salad leaves, edible flowers, Beets and Strawberries.

Along with the Sweet peas, what a haul!

This year has been different to last, as it seems with gardening, never the same twice. We have had lots of rain and mild weather which seems to have caused plants to take ages to get going and then when they do, they are slugged or go mouldy. Yet I am heartened by the Beets that I pulled up. Our two ferral cats Bo and Fennel, seem to be helping with the demise of the Heale Bank Vole population. Each Beet was a perfect cylinder, untouched, no nibble holes, no damage. A joy!

The wider garden is in a state of flux, some of the wild meadow has been cut, the Roses are going over, the Apple tunnels have new growth reaching for the sky (almost ready, dare I say for their Summer Prune). Already? Again???!!). The weeds still keep coming, planters stuffed with Salvia, Sweet pea and Nicotiana are settling in to their own.

This week I was lucky enough to get to Hampton Court Show (a gift from my Tuesday client). It is always good to get out. I enjoyed having more space to get around than at Chelsea. However, I am afraid to say I found it extremely commercial and elitist. I liked some of the ideas, especially the Rocket made from, yes, Rocket and many succulents. Imaginative and out of the ordinary. An interesting display. But the rows and rows of 'stuff' (if you put 'Garden' in front of it you can sell anything) didn't float my boat. Hardy's Cottage Plants did though, every time. Well done Rosy and Rob for another fine display of gorgeous plants.

I am a practical girl and I rather enjoyed the plethora of sheds on display. And then there were the plant supports from Plant Belles. Attractive AND practical. We are currently using one of their tunnel systems to support the net on our Brassicas at Heale and it looks lovely. So much better than a hand made rectangular construction. Well done to them.

My week ended with Strawberry picking at the local farm. NOT my own but really good and when you only have a patch, sometimes you need to collect from someone elses. Far superior to shop bought and supporting local enterprise.

Summer rain

The last couple of weeks have been very mixed indeed and I don't just mean in the garden (it's OK I won't bang on about it but WHAT IS GOING ON IN UK POLITICS?).

OK so amongst the world falling apart, I have been trundling on in the great outdoors.

This time of year, although it is the beginning of Summer, we are nearing the end of our mammoth propagation season and most plants that need to be out in the veg garden are on their way. We have just planted out the Cucamelons and are trying a new support this time, post and netting, for them to clamber up. Beans are coming up, Celeriac is beginning to form, Tomato flowers are morphing into fruit.

I kept walking past the most beautiful flower this week which comes out from a clump of grass. HG told me it is called Dierama, with the common name of Angel's fishing rod. You can clearly see why. The flower delicately climbs up out of the grass and arches over, gently flowing when the breeze comes. really hard to get a good pic as the stem is so fine.

 I have been planting out the flowers we have grown from seed, into various parts of the cutting garden at Heale : Tithonia, Stocks, Rudbeckias, Daucus. Once they get established, they should be great.

HG and I pruned the old Akebia which sits on the balustrade of the boat terrace. Lots of unruly growth, like pulling at a bundle of Spaghetti. Gentle pruning though allows you to look after the plant, prune to 1 or 2 nodes from the old growth and you get a lovely neat bush.

We have had such mixed weather and so much rain that we seem to be constantly fighting a sea of slugs and snails. We have tried Nematodes to see if there is any difference in population to that when using slug pellets. We are vigilant and try and check pots for the beasties but it is so hard when the weather is so wet and the air so thick. I am not alone in wanting the Summer to arrive in earnest. In the meantime how can you not feel happy when you see these Daisies???

Happy Gardening folks.