Flaming June, I am sure I will not be the only one to point out the irony. Apparently this weekend will be an improvement, but whilst the rest of the country basks in righteous sunshine, I believe, after a short interval, more rain is to come next week. Of course this is not Saturday, but Friday and it is not the best. The “showers moving east” have morphed into “torrential rain lingering overhead and not shifting for the whole day even though the gusting wind should have blown it away”. Perhaps the wind is just keeping it in place. I was valliant and dashed outside to take a few photos as I was AWOL last week and two absences could easily become a habit. I am irresistably drawn to the lazy habit. Know the enemy. Someone who is busy preparing for his open garden is our leader Jim at Garden Ruminations, take a look at his blog for beautiful plants and wonderful SoSers. Let’s get on.
Gertie is doing well, as usual. Is she my favourite? I wouldn’t like to say.
This year I am growing four tomato plants outside and four in the greenhouse. You may be surprised to know that I actually considered long and hard which varieties would thrive more readily in each situation. This is ‘Cosmonaut’, a Ukrainian variety. Seems to be doing quite well in the wild. I gave a plant to Artem, a Ukrainian chap who works at Maesteg sometimes, he seemed quite pleased.
I have given into temptation again and this new to me Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ also seems to be enjoying the wet weather. Is it just me who is miserable?
Lilium ‘Claude Shride’ has fought the dreaded beetle, OH’s pet teasels (grrr) and now the horrendous weather. Bent over the pond inelegantly, it is still beautiful.
Poor old Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ has felt the full brunt of the recent craziness. I’m sure she is big enough and old enough to recover from the fast spin in the washing machine.
Gloriosa speciosa, the flame lily, was brought on a whim. Quite happy and adding a little glamour amongst the greenhouse tomatoes, I’m not disappointed by my recklessness. Perhaps I shouldn’t be encouraged into further whimsy.
That is it for today. I plan on enjoying the gap in the weather and try to tame some of the madness in my garden. Happy gardening!
Off The Edge Gardening 
You got some good ones this week. ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ strikes me as a difficult one to grow. Like all those blue or light purple types, it seems to lack vigor. Have you made the same observation?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tony, this one is strong enough but as it is quite tall has been at the mercy of the weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tall? So it makes nice vigorous stems? That must be nice.
LikeLike
I was discombobulated by the weather too this week. I’m a sucker for some varigated foliage, so I like your Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’ – the RHS says it’s hardiness is H2 – do you have to bring it inside during the winter? I’m sort of at my limit for winter shelter at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m definately at my limit too, but I will squeeze it in somewhere!
LikeLike
Gertrude is looking really good, as is your lily. The rain has been a problem this week but hopefully we will have a rest for a couple of days.
LikeLike
The lily and the rhapsody are both so beautiful! Even with, maybe even more so with, the rain drops bending them over.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly my lovely Martagon lilies are no more, the slugs made short shrift of them. Good luck with the Abutilon. Alex bought me one with variegated leaves, must have been 2019, but after the first year when it produced pretty apricot flowers it hasn’t done much at all. Even over wintering it in the conservatory didn’t help, and now it looks like it is no longer with us. The list of my failures grows ever longer…
LikeLike
Just a quick peek this week, as I must really get into the garden! Love the Gloriosa speciosa.
LikeLike
On-a-whim purchases are the best! Your lily looks beautiful.
I am jealous that your tomatoes are already so big! Ours are only just flowering now. We’re growing some in the back and some in the front at various levels of sun/shade, so let’s see what happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gertie is my favorite.
LikeLike
Well, I could see how Gertie could be a favorite. Your Tomatoes are large already. My plants are growing fast, but only flowers and tiny fruits so far. Your plants look so lovely bathed in light raindrops. I need to get back to the SOS, too. Hopefully, next weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gertie is such a good rose – and wonderfully fragrant.
LikeLike
After a proper read, and following up on a couple of the plants which was the Abutilon and the other the Gloriosa, I really want to grow these next year, I shall have to get organised next year and get them at the right time of the year.
LikeLike
I know too well how sad it is to be in the rainy gloom but WOW! just look at the photos you presented this week. Bejeweled blooms and a lovely specimen in the greenhouse. Well, they cheered me up after looking at my soggy flowerless Tasmanian garden
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gertie is definitely one of my favourites. And Sunday was sunny here as we cruised from Ilfracombe to Hartland and back on the Waverley. And I wayverleyed in your direction but you might not have seen.
And I hope it was sunny for you too 😎
LikeLike
Lovely selection again, and Gertie is one of my favourites too.
Sunday was sunny here as we cruised along the coast from Ilfracombe to Hartland and back on the paddle steamer Wayverley. And I wayverleyed in your direction but you might not have seen. I hope it was sunny on your side of the channel 😎
LikeLike
I might rush out and take photos the next time we have rain (although that seems a distant prospect at the moment) because yours look so beautiful with the rain drops.
LikeLike