Quick - before the rain!

Today we have rain forecast most of the day. 

Yesterday we bought the remaining pot plants from the garden centre, which we hope to plant before the rain!

UPDATE 0937z:  Drizzle.

Bedroom view

This was the view of the garden from the bedroom window yesterday. 

There are signs of new life everywhere.

Tea in the garden

Yesterday was the first time we could have tea in the garden. It was warm and sunny. It should be similar today. 

View from the shack

The shack overlooks the garden. At the moment the ornamental cherry tree is in blossom. 

It lasts a few weeks then it is gone until next spring.

What a difference

We had a very dry spell in July and the grass turned brown. 

Since then we have had about 60mm of rain. The grass is long and green. 

The flowers have done well too.

No mow May - NOT amateur radio

One of our neighbours does not cut the middle of his lawn to encourage wild flowers to grow. 

It looks great: a mixture of kept, yet wild. The garden looks really good.

Primroses planted - NOT amateur radio

Most of the primroses bought yesterday have been planted (see photo). 

It is dull this morning, so ideal planting weather.

It’s coming - NOT amateur radio

At the moment most leaves are still on the trees, but they are starting to fall. 

The garden looks far more autumnal with it looking “soggy “.

Climber - NOT amateur radio

Every winter I have grand ideas about replacing this climber but never do. It grows very fast, has no flowers but looks great in the autumn before it looses all its leaves. I cut it right back but always grows back!

Garden yesterday - NOT amateur radio

So far, we have had a nice warm and sunny August on the whole. Up to very recently it was very dull and wet and we were beginning to think this summer was a wash-out. 

My wife puts a tick on the kitchen calendar when we have had a decent day. So far we have had 9 ticks, which is pretty good. Our grass is just starting to turn brown and will look bad in about a week unless we have a good downpour.

The photo shows our garden yesterday.

Mid-summer in the garden - NOT amateur radio

For several years our grass went brown, before recovering in autumn As we had a wet spring last year and this, the grass is still green ..... for now. 

Today is expected to be very hot, so I don't want to speak too soon! The photo shows part of our garden this morning.

Lunch in the garden - NOT amateur radio

This year has been miserable so far with it being both dull and wet. Today was the first day we were able to eat lunch in the garden. 

Probably we will soon be moaning it is too hot. Well, we are English! Moaning about the weather is in our blood.

Our back garden - NOT amateur radio

Spring is a great time of year. Blossom briefly appears, leaves have a fresh green appearance and everything is new. Spring soon goes and the fresh green turns to a tired green.

Mysore Trumpetvine? - NOT amateur radio

We saw lots of plants at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens earlier today. I think this is called Mysore Trumpetvine, although I am no expert.

Our garden - NOT amateur radio

Spring has sprung. Blossom in our garden yesterday.

View of our back garden - NOT amateur radio

This is the view out of the window of our back garden. My shack has probably the best view down the garden.

Cold!!! - NOT amateur radio

For the third morning in a row we have had a frost. For us, it is very cold. Although 1011z, it is still below freezing. The photo shows our back garden.

Neighbour's garden - NOT amateur radio

 

This was a neighbour's garden last week. His grass is still growing. My grass could do with one last cut.

Leaves - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year the garden looks dead. Leaves are falling off trees, the grass is wet and all looks, well,  past it. We swept up a bin full of leaves this morning, but there will be a lot more in a couple of weeks. I look forward to seeing bulbs pushing through and signs of new life. 

At first, we have to accept that things are asleep following cycles that have been the same for thousands of years.

Basically I like the seasons.

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall .  This poem  by Gerard Manley Hopkins to me says so very much.

Our garden in summer - NOT amateur radio

Usually, our grass turns brown about now. At the moment, it is still largely green as we have had a few useful showers. Our borders are mainly perennials with a few bedding plants to add colour. We are not keen gardeners. I usually cut the grass each week and water when needed.