Staunton Harold

For various reasons I'd not been out with the walking club for a few weeks, so it was good to be back with St Mary's long walkers as we set off across the fields from Staunton Harold on a warm and slightly cloudy Wednesday morning. The walk took us through parts of the National Forest, where there was a wide variety of trees and wild flowers, attracting plenty of butterflies. I was quite blown away by the mass of willowherb and grasses below the tall trees but, unfortunately, as we brushed past the plants the pollen sent me into paroxysms of coughing. It's a good job I took the photo beforehand! Thanks to Brian, it was a very enjoyable day, ending with tea and cakes in the courtyard at the Ferrers Centre.

Much as I like this hot and sunny weather, I'm wondering how long it will be before we have a reasonable downpour to freshen everything up, water the gardens and allotments, and re-fill the empty waterbutts. As we are on a water meter at home, I'm rarely use the hosepipe to water the garden, although there is a self-watering system (running for only 2 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening) for the tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumbers in the greenhouse and a few plants around the side door. However, after the daily slog up and down my plot with two watering cans (I've never counted before, but it was 30 cans in total the other day), I arrive home quite exhausted (especially in this heat) to see the flowers in front of my house, in the window box and pots, are all flagging, as are some of the taller perennials in the back garden. My three water butts at home are now empty. There's nothing for it, but to get out the hosepipe occasionally and give all the plants a good drink. The way things are going, though, I wouldn't be surprised if there will be a hosepipe ban in general, and not just on our allotments.

The watering takes some time, and on top of this, everything is cropping so well at the moment that I seem to be spending even more time on my plot harvesting the bounty. Despite the drought, the weeds are flourishing too but, if I am to lead a life other than gardening, they must wait. Thanks goodness I left the flower bed at the front of the plot to its own devices. Apart from re-planting the gladioli, and putting in a few ornamental gourds, the self-seeded marigolds and nasturtiums are a blaze of colour, and need little attention, and are rarely watered, unlike the wonderful sweetpeas (which really do appreciate a good soak) continuing to provide me with bunches and bunches, to be shared with friends and fellow plot-holders.

I've decided that the 'on trial' blackcurrant bush will stay. It has produced little fruit since its rather drastic and necessary pruning last year, but what it has produced is of good quality and the currants quite large. Over the past two days I've returned home with potatoes, peas, broad beans, broccoli, turnips, carrots, courgettes, tayberries and blackcurrants - and even more sweetpeas.

Last night our lovely grandchildren came for a sleepover and what fun we all had. It's the simple things that give the most pleasure.