From a Cumbrian Garden...

We have had very little rain since the beginning of May, a lot of sun and some hot days. The winds have been calm until this week when some strong winds even managed to break some lettuce. Now the wind is coming from the north and the temperature has dropped from 24º to about 13º.

This week we have eaten the first strawberries of the year from our garden. They are about a week earlier than usual – and very sweet.

We also had our first potatoes from the garden. They had been planted on Good Friday in accordance with local tradition.

We have been eating our own salads since the middle of May. 

Our beans – of all colours – are about 20 cms high.

The apple trees are very green and full of fruit. They look healthier than they have for years, thanks to some expert help with pruning from Monique.

In the flower garden the roses are beginning to flower. We have a number of old varieties which are heavily scented. We will be picking some for tomorrow’s guests and more for Saturday’s.

The sweet peas are growing quickly and are about 1 m tall. The first flower stems are forming but we will have no flowers for at least ten days.

The camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, peonies have all finished flowering.

Some of the iris are still in flower as are the violas.

The grass in the main lawn is beginning to lose its colour as a result of the lack of rain.

Steve & Yvonne, 12/06/2008.