UPDATE FROM UP HERE

Down through the jungle to the pond, the writing shed on the left is now a sort of potting shed and I must get the scythe out to trim the long grass.

The Albertine rose is almost done and its last scent is cast over the path by which it grows. 

There is something special about roses.

Also, the white campanula beloved by R has self sown again. It is such a pure white. I do like really white flowers like this and the mallow which also self seeds.

The hebe is in flower and Welsh poppies continue - the orange ones seem over but the truly wild yellow persists.

I am still waiting for my order of Zinnias from Thompson and Morgan - sent them an email but no reply though they did acknowledge they received it.

The trees are now one green with the May/June variety of leaf hue over. Some trees/shrubs have only flowered poorly - deutzias, big magnolia, olearia - perhaps the long dry spring?

There seem to be a few butterflies about - mainly the whites though the odd red admiral and tortoiseshell.

The poor old Victoria plum is sagging with fruit despite some fruit fall - as is the Bramley Apple. Most of the damson trees have little or no fruit - the blossom must have been hit by a frost earlier in the year.

We are back from checking on the grandchildren in Oxford and Herefordshire - my how the grass has grown, the weeds have grown, the work needed has grown!

House martin update - nest 1 no activity, nest 2, there are two dead chicks under the nest but still activity. All the rain may have prevented the adult birds getting enough insects to feed them. Nest 3 active and had to move bench seat away from underneath to avoid dropping droppings.

No it is not a wasp, this is a fly but a whopper on the mower shed door.
So much to do and so little enthusiasm but have picked yet more black currants, just need to go over them now before the freezer or jam or pudding or something.

Finally get the zinnias and got them in where I could.

So the virus goes on and will go on, the traffic seems to have recovered but the motorway service stations are eerie, half shut etc. When we got to the Chester services they had shut the petrol station! Good job we had enough left to get to the next one.

The plums are not ripe yet but there is some fruit fall - natural thinning - the apple too. All we need is a little sunshine but this is England and here it rains a lot.

Friday picked more black currants, night and Gardeners' World on tv and Charles Dowding again with his no dig method - fascinating, have his book.

Saturday morning and RAIN!

At least the rhubarb will like it.
 

The experiment to cut back after the first flush has worked.

Enough.