Death of an old friend...

...and other garden news....

Sometimes old friends die without warning...as mine did this afternoon.   I was working with him and, just as we were concluding the task in progress, he died, spluttering to a quiet exit in my hands.

RIP Lawnmower.

The lawnmower, a little Flymo of indeterminate age, but I estimate about 12 years old, finally petered out after serving me without a cough for many years.   He was second-hand when I got him, as a gift, so he served me well in return for very little.   Just his cleaning after every task and oiling every now and then.   I wonder if they are made to last like that these days?

The garden has been fairly quiet this week.   The summer has not been too fierce, in fact it could be a bit warmer, sunnier.  Let's say I haven't had to water the garden other than the greenhouses.

Drip, drip, drip....

In between the showers it has been warm, sometimes sunny and a bit muggy.   I fear this might ruin the chances of tomatoes ripening...or may encourage tomato blight....warm damp weather.   Hopefully we have enough wind to prevent that nasty complaint.

I've had a couple of good harvests in spite of the weather.

Black and red currants

The currants have been good.   In fact I lost half the black currant harvest due to not being able to stand on my foot and then wet weather.  What I estimate is that I have about half the actual potential harvest.   It is enough to make a few nice batches of ice cream.  The red currants ripen more slowly and they have been good.   I only have 2 bushes of them and 4 or 5 of black currants.

Estima Potatoes

Potatoes have been relatively successful too.  I harvested another bag this afternoon, see picture above.   These are Estima.  Let's say I have not had to buy potatoes since returning from holiday.  I don't eat potatoes every day though.  Geraldine has also had a reasonable crop of potatoes...she reports that the children love to dig up the potatoes...this may be the start of two more gardeners.

Courgettes

Between the Potatoes and courgettes I have had quite a few meals supplemented from the garden.  Courgettes don't need to be much bigger than the one above to be perfect for eating with a dab of butter and some salt and pepper.

But, apart from those couple of little successes, there is very little news in the garden.

The clematis viticella shines in the evening.   I am not sure the name of this particular variety of viticella.   I thought I had mistakenly pruned it too hard...seems like it's enjoyed being bullied.

Clematis viticella

House plants.

I haven't many houseplants at the moment as most of them are relocated outside for summer.  Pelargoniums are wonderful right now.  D, I must try to get some cuttings of different varieties for you, also for Sarah and Chris if they want?

Softer pink centres to flower

The scented pelargonium with variegated leaves

A lovely deep red one

African Violet

 These have really come along nicely this week.  Sweet peas are making an effort but the weather hasn't really been sunny enough and Seren dug most of them out...

She has not dug the garden since I came back from holiday...maybe that whack with the spade taught her that my garden, at least, is forbidden as digging place.  She does pick up windfall apples and eat them though.   It is a wonder she doesn't have a belly-ache.

So...the African Violet is a house plant and it has flowered all summer long with very little attention from me.   North facing window sill seems to suit it.

The new baby Streptocarpus are dong fine.   One even has a tiny bud.   Probably I should take it off to give the plant a chance to put on a bit more growth before it starts trying to flower.

Streptocarpus.   One on the left has the bud - click, to enlarge photo

These are also on a north facing window sill.

The Dahlias are putting on a brave face in spite of the rather too cool weather.   The Agapanthus too.

Dahlia

Agapanthus

So all in all a very quiet week, though as I walk round the garden, it is not a bad place.   The bees have been exceptionally busy.  So are the blackbirds that seem to be resident, if not in the garden, then very near because I see one nearly every time I walk down the garden path.

Buddleja - bees love it as do butterflies.

Has the summer been a success in this garden?   Perhaps not a complete failure.   The set backs have been the dog, being young it was expected she'd dig.. it could have been worse.   And the weather, that has been a bit cool.

I remain hopeful of the tomatoes and apples.

Chat to you again sometime soon....

....happy gardening!