Happy Wedding Day

Well the Fuchsia plant did us proud - opening to order - and it was indeed a happy wedding day: the sun shone and a good time was had by all.

Yesterday I took lots of Pelargonium and Fuchsia cuttings and potted on my Licqorice plant which at long last seems to have taken off. I've started harvesting Physallis, Tomato and Chilli seeds and I'm going to try saving my own Cucumber seeds this year as well.

On the flower front my Toad Lily and Gladiolus Callianthus are in bud and the first of the dwarf Sunflowers is just beginning to open. I have some fantastic looking seed pods on the Tweedia and the fruits on the Passiflora are just beginning to ripen.

I'm still getting a good harvest from my salad and fruit plants and I've started to think about what to grow (and what not to grow) next year. More about this when I've drawn up my plans.

Georgie

Daughter's wedding day approaches

My daughter is getting married on Saturday 23 August so I spent yesterday having a good tidy up after all the wind and rain of late. I'm hoping that all my Fuchsias will put on a good display on the day, particularly 'Happy Wedding Day' which I am growing from a cutting sent to me by a friend last year. (The one pictured is Royal Mosaic which was a freebie.)

Apart from cutting the grass, edging it, pruning some of the larger shrubs, staking perennials and moving some of the pots around I've been gathering lots of seeds for next year. I've also been harvesting more Cues, Toms, Physallis and Raspberries, all of which continue to do well.

And pottering around I was surprised to see Kerria, Cyclamen and Primroses in flower for the second time this year. Proof that there are advantages to a cooler summer!

Georgie

Rained Off

It's been raining most of the day here and as much as it is needed it's a bit annoying because I'd hoped to do some potting on and sow some Beetroot, Mooli and Spring Onions for autumn crops.

The picture is of my Eucomis, the first time I've tried growing it. It's aptly known as the Pineapple Lily and I think it is rather splendid. It's a shame it isn't scented. However, the Heliotropes are in full flower now and smell absolutely gorgeous so that makes up for it, now that the scented Lilies and Jasmine have all but finished. Also in flower this week are Agastache and Fuchsia Happy Wedding Day - this biggest flowers I've ever seen on a Fuchsia! And at long last I've got buds showing on my dwarf Sunflowers.

On the edibles front the Alpine Strawberries are cropping well. I've got lots of Cucumbers developing - Burpless Tasty Green and Crystal Lemon - and Micro Tomato continues to flourish unlike Tiny Tim whose fruits are disappointing this year. I'm getting a few ripe Physallis every day and I've picked the first of the autumn fruiting Raspberries.

I've just read in a magazine that died lavender flowers and leaves spread around plants deter slugs and snails (I assume it's the oil the don't like) so I'm going to give that a go next time I plant out anything vulnerable. If it works I suspect Rosemary leaves might also be affective. So as I have to keep my huge bush in the front garden well pruned I might try those too.

Georgie

Harvest

I've picked this crop for a picnic tomorrow. At long last I have my first Cucumber of the season, Burpless Tasty Green, and also pictured are Micro Tomatoes, Spring Onions, Physallis and two Alpine Strawberries. There are a few more Strawberries that are nearly ripe so I'll check again tomorrow before I leave.

I spotted a few tadpoles swimming around today but they are still showing no sign of developing their back legs. And once again the only Butterflies I spotted were whites. On the plus side the Bees and Hoverflies continue to work the flowers and thankfully there is little sign of pests or diseases .

New flowers out this week include Fuchsia Tom Thumb, Milk Thistle and Eucomis. The Agastache is now in bud, I've got two Chilli Thai Hot fruits ripening and the Passiflora is covered in the biggest fruits I've ever seen on it: they are the size of limes!

I am continuing to collect my own seeds and some that I sowed last week, including Chives and Hesperis, have started to germinate already. All of the Wallflower seedlings I pricked out have survived and are looking healthy. They each have four true leaves now so I'll pinch them out soon in the hope that I get nice bushy plants.

Georgie