7 August 2022

Not much is thriving in the Garden-that-has-not-been-loved: bindweed, brambles, honeysuckle with particularly small flowers and little scent. The drought has not helped – the grass (which is not a lawn) crumbles when you walk on it and the beautiful magnolia stellata which has graced every spring we’ve been here looks as if it has really had enough this time.

The roses, however, are doing their best to hold on. A little battered and stressed, but still there.

This is my absolute favourite, velvety red and with a glorious scent.

These buds start off apricot and fade away to cream.

And there is hope for a productive garden. There are apples on the apple tree, and the raspberry canes are so well established that they are pushing through into the lawn. Strawberry plants are growing on, to be planted out later, and another apple, a plum and a pear are settling into their vast pots and, so far, have had just enough water to survive. If the gooseberry, redcurrants and rhubarb survive transplantation there are the bones of a proper fruit plot.

For now – it’s back to the bindweed.