In the garden

After several days spent with curtains closed whilst flopped out in front of the rotating fan in my living room, it was slightly cooler today with a light breeze.  So as rain is forecast over the weekend, I decided that today was the day for mowing the lawns . . . . erm . . . meadows complete with leggy wildflowers. 

Of course, as soon as I had dragged the lawnmower from the depths of the garage, the sun came out again and the heatwave resumed. But I battled on, cut half the front lawn, emptied the grass box 3 times before sitting in the shade in an old camping chair stored in the garage. Phew! I was debating whether to phone a gardener to come and finish the job and trim the ever-expanding border shrubs; the postman will soon need a machete to reach the front door.  But after cooling down and regaining my breath, I finished the job - just the front lawn - and cleared up before retiring the lawnmower and garden waste bin back into the garage. Back lawn tomorrow?  Maybe? But it's so good to keep virtuously admiring my tidy, shorn lawn through the front window, knowing I've beaten the rain. Ha! 

AND  I've actually spoken to someone - a lady who walked past as I was toiling.  I must try to have more conversation; Benji isn't the best at it. 

I bought 2 Standars Fuchsias, but they are so top heavy that the slightest breeze kept blowing them over, so they are now standing in a redundant plastic storage chest, until they finish flowering and can be re-potted into large,heavy pots for next year. (Along with the Honeysuckle, Clematis Montana and the Salix Caprea Pendula Kilmarnock Willow Patio Tree.)  Crikey!  It's name is longer than the little tree!

Pretty Geraniums - many varieties

I love this shrub / tree? It appeared last year in entirely the wrong place but I decided to leave it until I knew what it was.  Still don't know but it's growing and growing. Goodness knows how big it will get. I cut a few sprays in home but the flowers fell quite quickly, so best left growing in future,I think.

Here it is again at the side of an Acer, planted in ericaceous compost - maybe the white shrub likes that soil?

I got quite excited when I saw this 'Garden Services' van pull up next door, because my neighbour had told me she was intending to have the ugly, dark conifer removed.  Yay!  But no - she changed her mind. 😞 It's still there.

And finally - a tidy lawn. Ta-da!