The star of the week has to be the clematis Montana Alba at the front of the house. It is all the better for Doc’s hard prune last year, otherwise it tends to be bare at the bottom with just a cap of flowers at the top.
The hosta by the back door has put on so much growth it is already obscuring its pot. I love the contrast between the yellow and green, the leaves are glossy and waxy and I always give them a little fondle when I pop out to the dustbin.
In the kitchen, we are making the most of the asparagus which needs cropping every couple of days. This is its first full year of cropping and we love it. However, if the yield continues like this for several weeks, I may run out of recipe ideas. Doc is holding a fraction of what he actually picked the other day! However, we won’t give it away, it is far too precious and delicious.
This is the first year I am trying to grow outdoor tomatoes and only have a few pots in the greenhouse. We are going away for up a fortnight in the summer (birth of first grandchild!) and I am hoping outdoor plants will need less attention outside. However, it is very much an experiment and for an experienced greenhouse tomato grower, I found it very strange planting the plants outside. I am growing good outdoor 'doers': Amateur, Vilma, Red Alert, Garden Pearl and Money Maker – so fingers crossed that we get a crop that does not need to be made into green tomato chutney.
These two raised beds have a new arch which is another experiment. I did not get round to sowing sweet peas to climb up it so I am trying some yellow runner beans for interest. It has been somewhat of an afterthought but we will be more organised next year and plan the area properly.
We wanted warmth and we got it but the intense heat today is taking some getting used to. Could somebody out there please turn the thermostat down – just a little, please?
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