WAITING FOR

 The garden is very still, hot and humid, waiting. Mist in the morning - it seems a bit early for mellow fruitfulness.

The lower garden pre strim is lush with paths in the long grass. There are a few wild flowers like the wild carrot but it does seem to be mostly grass - so much for yellow rattle.

When the sun shines it is hot, 31C on Monday, and the doors in the extension are wide open. We have a new flush of flowers.

I am not sure I like the ratty tailed white flowers here but the valerian seems to go on for ever. The wild fuchsia by the gate I planted to remind me of hedges at Glencolumbkille is loaded with hanging flowers.

Elsewhere there are warms colours, yellows and reds in abundance. The rose is called The Poet's Wife.

But we have blues and purples - a shrubby clematis and Perovskia Blue Spire (never blue).

Just to confirm we do have weeds I found this delightful clump of nettles and bindweed yesterday.

And of course we have fruit - friends picking the glut of plums and damsons but leaving the elderberries and pears - the latter not yet ripe.

I notice that something has had a nibble at the pears.

But fruiting bodies that are not edible - well I have not tried to eat them - are also interesting - yellow flag iris and marsh thistle.

One thing I do like is the peeling bark on the white birches but this year the eucalyptus is doing a much more spectacular job. And then there are surprises like the horse chestnut sapling deep in the wood.

And so to wild life, no not the rabbits that gather by the cattle grid in the morning but the butterflies. Suddenly the garden is full of them, especially red admirals and speckled woods.

Let me finish on a small and perfect not with this little geranium -

Perfect.