Attack of the pumpkins!

Months and months ago I planted some tiny pumpkin seeds, hoping for just one pumpkin this autumn. I have to say, the three plants that I eventually put into the patch have surprised me (shock is probably a more appropriate word!) so much that I'm not quite sure what to do. They have sprawled and grown out of the raised bed and across the lawn! They're even taking over the raised bed that currently houses a similarly rampant potato crop.








I planted the seeds in February in small pots of seed compost. When large enough to handle I replanted in larger pots with regular compost and kept in the greenhouse until the last sign of any frost. At this point there were already flowers and signs of tiny pumpkins, but the stems looked a little weak and I was worried they might not survive. I planted in the raised beds in may with lots more compost (previously I added well rotted manure to the soil in the raised bed) and have kind of left them to it. They didn't grow much in the first few weeks, but with the recent warmth and occasional sun they've really taken off. I'm now in need of researching what to do with the monsters that I've created. My instincts tell me to cut them back and remove some of the flowers to allow the plants to focus all of their energy on the existing fruits, but I could be wrong!

Another worry I've had is with my potatoes. The huge amounts of rain and hardly any sun that we had at the beginning of spring/summer meant that the growth above ground was huge and floppy and falling out of the raised bed (sounds a little 'explicit' no?!) I took the choppers to it and cut it all back...thinking that if I get no potatoes for it then so be it, but it was worth a shot. I was impatient this evening and decided to dig a bit and see what was down there. This is what I found!



Some didn't look very good at all, and there were a few small green ones (poisonous...do not eat) but this isn't bad for just one small dig!! I'm going to leave the rest for at least another month, but this is a promising start. Now for a taste test. Fingers crossed!

Lavender

I'm a lazy blogger! However, I am not a lazy gardener! The recent blast of summer has really got things going in the garden, and it's a never ending task of cutting back, mowing, watering and feeding.

Check out my pumpkins....

 And the tomatoes are certainly coming along

What I am most excited about is the copious amounts of English lavender in my front garden. A few years ago I tried lavender meringues for the first time. A heavenly combination of subtle scent and a hit of gingery spice. It's amazing just how much of an impact a small amount of lavender can make. I'm thinking of a lavender and white chocolate muffin, lavender ice cream and maybe even lavender added to some kind of morrocan stew!

To harvest lavender, cut the freshest looking flower heads and wash them thoroughly. Leave to try in some paper towel and use fresh, removing the flowers from the stems. For dried lavender, which you can add to little sewn parcels to add to drawers or cupboards, or also cook with (dried lavender has a more intense flavour than fresh so use more sparingly), cut longer stems and tie together in a bunch. Hang the bunch upside down in a warm, dry area, and rub off the dried flowers when they are completely dried. This can take up to 2 weeks depending on how wet the foliage is to start with.

 It's July, believe or not. I'm sure I'm not the only brit with a large jumper on right now! As depressing as the recent downpours and chilly weather has been, the garden doesn't appear to be suffering much. My Clematis' just go from strength to strength. This cascade of purple loveliness pours down from my shady arbor; if it was a singer, it would most certainly win the X-Factor!

Other flowers are in all their glory as well. I love this blue lobelia, nestled in the centre of my hanging basket. It looks like little polar bear faces in the sea. And my sweet peas smell divine, although they have gone a little wild, I don't have the heart to disentangle them and manipulate them (plus I've snapped so much off already trying to do just that that it's not worth it).

In an effort to feel more summery, I used my rare weekday off to travel a few more miles than normal to my 'special' Morrison's for some gorgeous and unusual vegetables. Morrison's really have stepped up their game in the fresh food section, and these heirloom tomatoes, smoked garlic, fresh basil and striped aubergines are just a few of the kinds on offer. It's a real pleasure to wander around and buy unusual things; and at least if my veg growing fails, I know I can go to Morrison's! I plan on roasting all of this with a good glug of olive oil and serving with some flaky salmon tonight. The Med on a plate.

Hanging baskets

When I was a child my mum used to meet with her friends at this time of year and have a hanging basket making session. We always had such lovely baskets of trailing flowers all summer long.

In between down pours, and with help from my mum, I've put together my own, with trailing petunias, geraniums and lobelia. I just love how unusual some of these colours are.











Ensure that your basket is full of good quality compost, that the plants have some room to expand, and that you have fun!

Latino inspiration

In my dreams I swan about in a cool courtyard sipping margaritas and chowing down on my own home made refried beans (not at the same time). My years living in Texas really gave me a taste for all things mexicana, but somehow I must accept that it's now a Wiltshire life for me. I love the potted aloe, the iron gate and the white painted brickwork in this courtyard garden.


Photography by Coles Hairston

But just because the weather in the UK is dismal at best, it doesn't mean that we can't have a sprinkling of garden fiesta for ourselves. Aloe grows perfectly well indoors in the UK, and paired with a few lanterns and some candles, can make any English patio feel like a hacienda on a rare warm evening. Rusty metalwork, painted brick and climbers also create a Spanish feel that can't be spoiled by the weather. And if all else fails...here's a cracking recipe for a margarita...just turn up the central heating for a bit!

A classic margarita:-

35ml/1¼fl oz Reposado Tequila
20ml/¾fl oz Cointreau
35ml/1¼fl oz fresh lime juice
handful ice cubes
lime wedge, to garnish




http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/classicmargarita_84327

making the best of what we've got

Poppy

The weather has been so unreliable recently that the garden has been slightly neglected (I'm minimising this here!) I spotted a little petal hanging from a spider web and it sparked my desire to take a few pictures of the garden at the moment.

Petal from spider web

I just love the colours of all of these!

Today is the summer solstice...the longest day of the year! I am fighting the urge to think 'it's all down hill from here'. But the garden is looking fantastic and I am honestly in awe of the growth and the little miracles going on. How can you be miserable with that!?                                                                                                                     

Clematis- shocking purple

The prettiest, frilliest poppy I've ever seen!

Clematis- what a colour!

Some Jubilee Yummies

For the Jubilee weekend we went on a camping trip to Cornwall. Although the weather was dismal, I did get to enjoy using a posh new camera and here are some pics of delicious bread in the Chough Bakery (Padstow) and a Jubilee themed cake in a little cafe called 'Cherrytrees' (Padstow).

The weather can never spoil baked goods!