I would say that cranesbill geraniums have been my favourite perennials for many years and this one, 'Roxanne', has probably been top of the list since I first bought it, a few years ago. It is plante d opposite my kitchen window where I can see it flowering, as it does, for weeks. I was delighted when it was named 'Plant of the Year' earlier in the season, and I would highly endorse this title. Sometimes my planting successes are more luck than anything as in this case, where the scrambling Clematis 'Annabelle', which also has a long flowering season, is almost a perfect colour match. However, both plants have completely contrasting flower shapes, which compliment each other.
Rosa 'Francis E Lester' fills the air with its perfume, as it scrambles up an obelisk, in a shaded part of the garden, where it's pale pink flowers show up well against the darker background. The bees love it.
The freezer is filling up again, with the first of my fruit and veg from the plot. I still have stuff from last year, especially fruit, so I must have another jam and jelly making session. Here is my 'cauldron' boiling away, during the redcurrant jelly session, a couple of weeks ago.
Tuesday evening I went along to the social club (my first visit apart from AGMs and for talks about veg etc) for the 'Live at the Hill' session, as recommended by Hazel, who picked me up, along with her friend Jane. Pat (who has the other half of my plot) and husband Nick were there too. Must say it was a very entertaining evening, with a good, friendly atmosphere, and some pretty good musicians, so I'm looking forward to the next one.
Yesterday was walking day and this time, led by Anne and Tony, we set off from Millers Dale in Derbyshire. It was certainly hot, but with the occasional breeze and we were very lucky, no rain (or thunderstorms) unlike the previous day.
Some of the climbs up had me huffing and puffing in the heat, but it was the steep climbs down, especially Gypsy Bank (in the photo), that had my knees crunching and feeling painful. I wasn't the only one. Quite a few of us are getting a bit arthriticky (or however you spell it!). Down at the bottom there was a long walk along the River Dove in the dappled shade of the trees, with the sound of the river splashing over the rocks and weirs. Once again, the wild flowers were almost waist high and my favourites, the cranesbills, at their best.
Back in Millers Dale people were sitting by the river enjoying the sunshine, watching the ducks, and eating icecreams. The little shop was doing a roaring trade.
Thought these pots of pelargoniums looked very pretty, on the stone steps, as we headed back upthe hill from Millers Dale, to the car park.
Must head off down to the plot to collect more veg. I enjoyed my first French beans last night, along with some of my peas. The courgettes are in full glut (much to the delight of my friends and neighbours), there are enough broad beans for me to freeze and the first runners are forming well. In the greenhouse the toms are coming on. The new ones 'Sweet Aperitif', which I thought were going to be the size of 'Sungold', are actually sprays of quite small ones, so I'll be interested to see how sweet (as promised) they are. Some of the 'Pomodoro' have got blossom end rot (apparently due to inconsistent watering). I must say the basil is the best I've grown so it must like the heat. I moved the cucumbers into the mini greenhouse, so they wouldn't take over, and there are plenty of little fruits forming. Another flower that the bees love.
Right, the sun is shining, the washing is out and I'm off to the plot - keeping an eye on the clouds!
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