It's obvious to say and is being said often, but we really do need some rain.... and not a flood, just days and nights of gentle drizzle. No indication of that happening sadly so, with a hosepipe ban in place, I'm watering with ex-washing up water or "brown water" as I think it's known. Actually, I'm a bit shocked by just how much water I do use for washing up - could this be an ongoing practice? The plants certainly don't seem to be suffering from my using it and it does my conscience no end of good!
Certain plants have coped well, others are definitely not on the list for mediterranean planting or candidates for climate change resilient gardens. Rose 'Roald Dahl' has done very well, constant flower and the second flush, albeit a little smaller than the first in terms of flower size, is abundant and very sweet smelling. My Echinacea (and I use 'my' advisedly since they were grown from seed and I am dangerously proud of them), are also enjoying the summer hight temps and sunshine.
Some plants have really suffered, and in the case of Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame', I'm a bit surprised at just how unhappy it is. I'm NOT surprised that Cornus controversa 'Variegata' is looking ragged. She's very singed and I'm concerned that she may not rally. There's very little I can do other than water and mulch well later in the autumn, her fate is her own then but I would be very sad if I lost her.
Dahlias and Crocosmia, as tubers and corms, have better resilience and Salvias, Agastache and Achillea have all come into their own. Learning for me has been that Hakenochloa like dry conditions - I had always thought they preferred damp ground but no, shade is good but they don't mind dry soil. On the back of this discovery I have treated myself to 'All Gold' to go with the 'Aureola' that Mum gave me and it has settled well under the Crab Apple tree.
Plans for the future? To finally pull my finger out and get some water butts - at least one under the eaves of the shed - and another 'Dalek' compost bin to go behind the raised veg beds. It would be a little big but I think I could squash it in!
Speaking of veg beds - a good year! Tomatoes are sweet and juicy with the best performer being 'Golden Sunrise'. The early spuds - 'Sharpe's Express' were reasonable - a bit floury but a decent number of them and the Pink Fir Apple are ready to harvest now. The French beans - 'Blue Lake' and 'Cobra' - are cropping well and are very tasty and I've had plenty of courgettes and marrows. I'm also hopeful of Maize with 8 or so ears ripening. I got a nice crop of Shallots - 'Longor' - and they're proving lovely to cook with. I could have done better with them I think if I'd stopped watering earlier - I cared a bit too much! Rhubarb has been good and so has the rocket and I have 2 cucumbers ripening and plenty of green chillis and basil. I managed to bring on Cavolo Nero and Sprouts to go in the ground after the early spuds and the shallots but they have been decimated by Cabbage White caterpillars. I hadn't the heart to net them as I just felt the summer was proving hard enough for the birds with temps of 38 degs without taking away another food source. There have also been plenty of apples and not so many with moth damage this time around. The only low point has been the gooseberries and blackcurrants - only a bowl full from each bush. It could just be a year off or maybe I pruned too hard or at the wrong time in the winter? I am going to be very gentle with them this year and do it before the frosts.
One sadness has been the passing of my two head gardeners Scout and Nala. They were a constant garden companion and always gave excellent advice on pruning and hole digging. They are very much missed but I do now have a new deputy who is learning the ropes (perhaps a little too enthusiastically!) and of whom I have high hopes.
Fingers crossed for a damp but colourful autumn!