The Garden Year: July 2023

July 2, 2023

June was definitely a good month weather wise - and a good month to enjoy our garden. The roses have been fantastic and it’s said that they’re better for the cold and then wet winter which has meant they had a complete rest and then there were less bugs around than normal. Who knows, it sounds plausible - but either way we’re enjoying a bumper flowering of roses on our patio.

In our garden it’s been about maintaining the status quo, and enjoying the flowers. First the roses came (and came), then the purple clematis, the hydrangeas started as did the sweet peas, and then boom the jasmine. It’s scent is amazing - and still reminds me of balmy evenings on holiday in Seville many years ago.

I’ve still plenty of photos to share from Gardeners’ World Live, but am slower than ever following my operation so please bear with me. Plus I’ll have something new to share really soon, so please hang around for that.

Have a good month enjoying whatever you have planned in your garden and those you visit.

Advice, inspiration and places to visit

RHS advice: jobs to do this month
Gardeners World advice and inspiration
National Trust gardens and parks to visit
English Heritage historic gardens to visit

A field of sunflowers and a blue sky — Photo by Jacqueline O'Gara on Unsplash

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Post Comment Love 30 June - 2 July

June 30, 2023

Hello there, and welcome back to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week, please remember this, posts which are older will be removed from the linky. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

I’ve had a week away from blogging this week, so this week there’s no linked post from me - please do pop over to Suzanne’s post, and at least one other post to share some of that love.

This past week has been another dominated by my post-op hand - at times though it’s been quite frustrating. I know I have to leave it time to heal, but there’s a fair bit to do around the garden at the moment which I can’t quite do, or do well enough left-handed. I’m itching to get back doing some crafts, but that’s tricky too and I don’t want to overdo it. I need to learn to be patient!

But equally the resting and taking it easy is hard going, and I’ve not had much inspiration or inclination this week to pick up my laptop, or edit photos, nor a clear idea on what to share.

The healing is going well though so that’s something. The stitches are out and the nurses are pleased with how it’s going, the consultant is also pleased. So pleased that he started to talk about the op for my left hand, which surprised me. I’d much prefer though to get my right hand back to normal before thinking about that, which he understood. So that’s on hold right now.

This week my photo is of the 3D card MOH got me for our anniversary - he knows how much I like cards that are a bit unusual and especially things that I can repurpose. This one kept me quiet for a little while while I pushed out the cut-outs and brought the card to life. Clever isn’t it?

Post Comment Love 23 - 25 June

June 23, 2023

Hello there, and welcome back to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week, posts which are older will be removed from the linky. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

It’s been another lovely sunny week here, though the forecast storms didn’t hit us as bad as some other parts of the country, or even other parts of London. The weather really is quite strange at the moment isn’t it? It’s been great to mostly sit and watch our garden go through its rituals with plants coming and going, some earlier, some later than usual.

MOH is continuing to do the bulk of, well everything, and I’m so grateful to him for this - I know his patience has been tried on a couple of times (and not just by me), which as the most patient person I know, has been quite something. He’s taken the ‘supervision’ whether that be on emptying garden pots, or in the kitchen with incredibly good grace and hasn’t balked at anything whether that’s been as a chaperone, bag carrier, food cutter upper, dresser, or supplying me with even more cups of tea and cold drinks than normal. He really is a keeper.

MOH and I reflected in a mirror on one beautiful border, with biblical quotes hanging over the top corners of those black edged mirrors

I was so grateful to have a sling to wear at Gardeners’ World Live - keeping your arm elevated, especially when walking about, is much harder than you think it’d be. You can see in the picture though, that taking pictures still required two hands!

Over the past fortnight, I am gradually using my hand again more and more. I’m off to get the stitches out today, so hopefully I’ll be a little bit more back to normal shortly.