Well, the weather has not been kind! June is usually a month of sunshine, warm evenings and summer pleasures but not so far this year.
The garden has not let me down however. There is still much to enjoy and lovely colour to brighten the dull days.
I have a rose called “Vielschenblau” which is very temperamental and usually sulks but this year it’s splendid and giving me great pleasure. It scrambles through one of the pear trees and is a picture right now. The flowers are an unusual purple colour fading to pink with an open centre which is good for bees. Arranged in clusters they look very pretty.
Campanulas are putting on a show around the garden, flowering freely wherever seeds have been blown by the wind. I love them and leave them to flower wherever they choose. Most are a deep blue, possibly purple, while others range from palest lavender to white.
My “Sarah Bernhardt” peony has disappointed this year. Only two flowers. Lovely, though and I will enjoy their fleeting beauty.
Outside one of the tunnels a large verbascum, also known as a mullein, has grown right beside the door. It’s not easy to open the door but I’m reluctant to move it because it’s full of lovely mullein moth caterpillars.
It’s so important to preserve such creatures because they’re sadly declining rapidly. I’ve seen hardly any butterflies so far this year. Perhaps when the weather improves they will reappear. I hope so.
Other treasures are dotted here and there. The pink campions are still flowering and look pretty with blue geraniums. The yellow flowers of the herb Rue are a lovely contrast to the bluey-green foliage. My “Patio” rose has pretty pink flowers and even the hawkweed pleases me with it’s orange “fox and cubs” flowers.
At last the peas are yielding fat pods. Many of them don’t make it to the pan because I love the taste of fresh raw peas straight from the pod. One of the summer garden’s delights. Along with the first of the new potatoes and home-made mint sauce, they’re a special treat. Especially when strawberries are ready too.
As usual black fly have found the broad bean plants and are clustered thickly around the tops. I’ve pinched out the top few inches and discarded them to get rid of this pest. I never use sprays in my garden. It really isn’t necessary. A few old tricks can solve most problems. The plants will be fine now and produce lovely beans for a few weeks.
I held back from planting my outdoor cucumbers because the night time temperatures were so low. Now it seems to have warmed at night just a little, I’ve put them into the garden to grow on and hopefully in a few weeks I can start to enjoy them. I grow a variety called “Marketmore”. Small, juicy cucs full of flavour once the bitter peel has been removed. I also use them for pickles and chutney. I’ve always found them good reliable plants for our climate and they don’t require the fuss of greenhouse cucumbers.
A glimpse of the ornamental parts of the garden.
With my cooking head on, I had an idea for a savoury flan with the flavours of a pork pie but lighter in texture and with an added ingredient. It’s really delicious served cold with a salad or some chutney. Here is my recipe.
Sausage and Apple Flan
Make pastry for an 8 inch/22.5cm flan dish, with 1 cup of plain flour, one third cup of sunflower oil, one quarter cup of cold water, whizzed together in a food processor. Press into the greased flan dish, making sure the surface is covered. Place in the fridge while the filling is made. Or, use your favourite pastry recipe.
350g Sausagemeat with onion and herbs
2 Sweet Apples
1 large Egg
50g Bread (crusts can be used)
Peel and core the apples.
Heat the oven to 190C/170C for fan oven.
Slice the apples into the food processor.
Add sausagemeat, the egg, bread pieces and salt and pepper. Whizz to combine well.
Fill the pastry case with the mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes.
If only plain sausagemeat is available, add a small onion and a pinch of dried sage.
Although we enjoyed this straight from the oven it was even tastier served cold. Can be frozen if it's for another day.
Here’s a little poem I wrote a while ago, inspired by the weather. Putting a positive spin on our disappointing June.
Garden in the Rain
Rain splashes on the paving
And brings up unexpected shades.
Drenched leaves are gently waving
With glistening drops on grassy blades.
The sky is dull and overcast
Yet the garden sparkles in the rain.
Such a pleasing contrast,
Why should I complain?
Diamond droplets drip from flowers,
Astonishingly beautiful to see
And those life-giving showers
Refresh the blooms and also me.
I hope you have your own lovely flowers to enjoy and perhaps the sun will shine for us all very soon.
Bye for now. With you again in a couple of weeks.
Living a contented creative life. 