Beat by the heat

We are really behind with everything. Sorry to blame the heat but, sadly, we cannot take it the way we once did. Sun is fine but the heat knocks us out. In the garden, poor old Codger did a bit here and a bit there but only very slowly

And as for getting near a computer – no chance, my brain seemed frazzled by the heat. So, we were very thankful for the rain when it came – and come it did (see photo towards the end)

But first, a word about the white rose that we found growing wild on the side of our nearby walkway that was once a canal. 

I photographed the rose in late May – a lovely single white flower – and made a mental note of where it was located. Returning last week to obtain material for cuttings, I was surprised to find the bush in flower again. When we walked that way on Thursday I was wondering if the last few blooms had been demolished by the storm – some of our garden plants having taken a hit. A chance to get a final photograph? 

There was one flower left. We were struck by its simple beauty – now suffused, as it was, by a delicate pink shade which I hope shows up in this latest photograph

You won’t be surprised to learn that I immediately checked my cuttings – so far, so good – still signs of life. I sense that the humidity in the greenhouse has helped

I would love to know more about this rose and hope very much to use it in our garden

Walkway hawthorn taken beginning of May - note the double flower

Hawthorn again

I mentioned last week that I am hoping to produce some hawthorn plants by taking hardwood cuttings. I have now had chance to look this up and find that I am way too early. Several online videos suggest that I would do better propagating from seed.

This involves macerating the berries to extract the seed which has then to be over-wintered before sowing the following year. It appears that the main ingredient for success is patience. Whether by cuttings or by seed it takes two years to get a result

Vert petit de Paris

Funny shade of green

Speaking of results, this photograph shows a gherkin (which is actually a small cucumber). The variety is, I’m told, a French classic: vert petit de Paris. I could not get ‘ordinary’ cucumber see because of lockdown so settled for this French variety which looks to me in need of a new name. Does anyone know the French for ‘sun-tanned’?

With apologies

Only time for a short post this week. As explained above, our main problem has been dealing with heat - and not just by day. Wednesday's deluge was impressive. I reckon that we had over 100mm of rain (inc hail!)

The photograph shows the depth in old money (and, rather cleverly, reveals the identity of the photographer!)

Our plant list is now way out of date so I must work on it tomorrow. We still have plants available

Finally, the shot below shows another reward from the walkway although I wish our local blackbirds went for these rather than the blueberries in our garden

Best wishes from a rather weary Garden Codger

We got strange looks when picking these - perhaps folks think they are poisonous?