This is what I choose to call our garden at this moment, a sub-tropical wilderness. It all happened in a week or so of soft rain during the beginning of July, come to think of it there was an awful lot of rain, both soft and heavy! There were some warm days and some less warm but overall the climate was conducive to rapid growth resulting in our present wilderness. It did not help that I tripped and fell and was out of action for over a week.

All the same there are lovely surprises to be discovered among all this wild growth. The most beautifully coloured hydrangeas have not been affected by the wet weather, whereas the lavender this summer disappeared rather too fast, they got destroyed. The shasta daisies held out beautifully despite all the wind, I did tie them to bamboo sticks though.

The lush growth is itself really lovely to experience and I’ve learnt to embrace it and not worry about the neatness that most of us expect in our gardens. I’ve learnt that such wilderness is very beneficial for our pollinators which at present is so important, I’m happy to say that our garden was absolutely brimming with all sorts of insects and butterflies during the past summery days.

Of all the flowers that I sowed the lobelias did best of all and are still in full bloom. Some of the self seeding flowers like the marigolds also did well. And I’ve got rudbeckias coming on. First year using a small greenhouse and I have found it very beneficial for all sorts of plants and seedlings. The tomato plants did not do well despite looking up information and trying to follow it, they became affected with some sort of fungus and I have no harvest. The potatoes on the other hand did fantastically well, we are still eating them.

First time growing gladioli, I find them such majestic flowers, and the colours are wonderful! Seeing that it’s becoming late summer, I’ve been drying several different herbs and saving lots of seeds.

I took a soil sample and tested for pH, I’m pleased that it is 7.0 to 7.5 which is ideal for growing vegetables and flowers alike. Though I did nothing to the soil around our hydrangeas the colours are changing, more purple and deep red which I love. I’ve also looked up our regional growing zone and see that it is 9a, it is always good to know what zone one is in, especially when planning new purchases.

Somewhere in the dark back of this last photo is our back gate… it’s not surprising then that my most urgent job tomorrow will be to cut down some of this elderberry tree at the very back of the garden, we cannot get to the gate anymore because of growth! I was hoping to save some of the berries but will have to cut some down before they are ripe. That area is also full of montbretias which of course are very good at self propagation. I love to see these grow for their bright orange colour and fresh green leaves, and they are so easy and hardy, totally taking care of themselves. For the next week or so I’ll also be planting out some leeks, kale, kohl rabi, and celery, but first I’ll have to make space for them.

Here in West Cork it is 16 degrees Celsius at present, and raining, no sun. I hope that wherever you are the weather is bearable and good for your gardens and your health.