It rained and we celebrated. Tuesday, on the way to work, there was a proper downpour, the windscreen wipers were confused. When I reached my destination, I rang OH “Is it raining there?”, “I’m afraid not, just grey and threatening” was the answer. Disappointment. On the way home at the end of the day once more it did its best. This time our garden was blessed. In truth it barely touched the surface, but in the moment the joy was real. I’m hoping that our Six on Saturday leader, Jim from Garden Ruminations, has similarly been rewarded. Every little helps. Let’s get SoSing, I cannot neglect my rain dance duties.
Magnolia stellata has produced a flower. I’m not sure that I should be pleased about this. In my travels I have noticed a few other magnolias having a second flush, I know this is not unusual but there seem to be more than in past years. Everything is out of sorts.
I always do this, I get so excited by a new flower that instead of waiting for it to come to peak beauty I share it when it is just getting going. This is Cuphea ‘Sweet Talk Lavender Splash’ (please forgive the ridiculous name). I like it. I’m sure it will get better.
Gertie is having another go, she really is a super trooper.
When I saw a plant labelled “vinca” in the garden centre I took a double take. No normal periwinkle, this is Catharanthus roseus, a fabulous plant that I have grown before. Native to Madagascar, and indeed once called vinca, it possesses many medicinal wonders traits and of course is rather beautiful. Unfortunately, it is also extremely tender. I will enjoy it whilst I can.
One of the chosen ones, ie the watered few, is Abutilon ‘Souvenir de Bonn’. The flower is thanks enough for its exclusive care.
Although I am over the moon about the fruit on Melon ‘Charentais’ I am less than thrilled that it appears that Mickey Mouse has moved into the greenhouse. He has been nibbling on the ripe tomatoes and gnawing on my prize melon. Of course there is no firm evidence that Mr M is the culprit, but I have strong suspicions. Lupin seeds have been chomped off as they germinate. Classic mousey behaviour. I can’t blame wildlife for finding solace in a nice juicy tomato, but please spare the gardener’s favourite!
Off The Edge Gardening 
There was dancing aplenty here on Tuesday too. Windscreen wipers sat silently watching!
The melon is gorgeous, and no doubt very tasty. No wonder MM is tempted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering where you had got to! A six from you this week, I hope. Glad you had some rain. I keep seeing big clouds over Ireland on the weather report and feeling rather jealous. Hope you are well
LikeLike
Yeah, just unable to write every week, a chara. To be honest, if others read my stuff, I feel it’s only fair for me to read & interact, and I just don’t have the time, Gill. Tempus fugit very fast! I keep telling myself maybe Six-on-Saturday once a month. 🤔
LikeLiked by 2 people
I understand completely.
LikeLike
LikeLike
We had a tiny tiny amount of rain, that in a normal year would have been in no way noteworthy. However, some wet stuff did fall out of the sky for a few minutes, so I’ll take it. As ever SoS is providing info about plants I’ve never heard of. I particularly like that Abutilon and the Catharanthus roseus is lovely too.
LikeLike
This SoS malarkey is dreadful for our bank balances, isn’t it? Showing us tempting morsels that are hard to resist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m near Reading in Berkshire and we had literally a few drops of rain for about a minute last week, not even̈ enough to fill a saucer. Coming up to five weeks now with no rain. Very disheartening…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is disheartening, I have to avert my eyes when I go into the garden. Too sad.
LikeLike
Am still in awe of that melon, even with likely mouse nibble. Also the Catharanus roseus, is a name I did not know, though its looks ring a big bell and whisked me away on a sudden safari. When we lived in Nairobi years ago I’m thinking it was used a lot in municipal planting there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I bet it looked wonderful en masse! They had different colours in the garden centre, pinks and a peachy colour, it was hard to choose. Perhaps I’ll go back …..
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was mostly the pink that I remember. The Kenyans are rather good at ‘parks and gardens’ style planting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds incredible
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed this week my Magnolia (some sort of Stellata cross) is already chock full of flower buds…for next spring I hope. the melon does look delicious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let us hope it holds on and gives you a good display in the spring. I will report back on how delicious or not the precious melon is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mouse munched melon still looks very impressive. Catharanthus roses is a beauty. Good to hear you finally had some rain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not nearly enough now and the joyful memory has faded. Nothing in the forecast to give me any hope. Good weather for melons though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Catharanthus roseus even – pesky autocorrect.
LikeLike
That vinca (simpler name) is gorgeous. I would have been tempted too. Gertie is off again here too – mine is perhaps a little further on than yours, I tend to post late rather than early but the ‘STLS’ looks good to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is well deserved of her most favoured rose status. Shining while all around her struggles. Saying that Absolutely Fabulous is doing well too. Probably be on next weeks six if I haven’t given up and moved to the antarctic.
LikeLike
Your melon is very impressive, I do hope the mouse will spare you some. The Madagascar Periwinkle is very pretty and an amazing cancer drug. I don’t think I can be bothered to learn its proper name though. I think the bloom on your magnolia is a sign of stress. Your lovely abutilon deserves a bit of extra effort, so pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spelling is far too exhausting at the moment. I agree with the stressed magnolia, join the club!
LikeLike
Can you email me your address Gill so I can send the promised seeds. I think you must have a new email address since I last contacted you, the old one doesn’t work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have changed, I’ve emailed you. 😀
LikeLike
Well, your melon looks delicious even if Mickey has had a nibble. Looks ready to consume? So sorry about the continued drought. We’ve had some relief over here in the Midwest U.S., so the corn and soybean crops (and gardens) won’t be a total loss. I do hope Europe will get some much-needed, gentle but plentiful, rain soon. I’ve grown that “Vinca” in the past, and it’s a great annual in my part of the world. Thanks for the reminder…maybe I’ll try it again next year. Regarding your Cuphea, I tend to favor the buds and bud breaks, too. It’s so exciting to see it happen after all the anticipation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a bit puzzled as when to pick the melons, I looked on YouTube and the chaps said when they change colour to a more yellowy tinge and the tendril next to it begins to wither. I must go and have a look!
LikeLike
I was gifted some Catharansus roseus seeds and being unfamiliar with the plant, I have been keeping them aside. Now, I am giving it a go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, you must give them a go. In fact, I think I might try and source some seed for next year.
LikeLike
Rain here on Tuesday and my windscreen wipers were pressed into action. A brief downpour on Wednesday too that soaked me to the skin when trying to get the washing in from the line. Hardly lasted 2 minutes! The soil is still bone dry though… My Gertie had another flush too, unfortunately whilst clipping the clematis montana around her this incompetent gardener managed to clip her too! I do hope she forgives me and puts on new growth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure Gertie will forgive you. You will probably get a third flush when the rain comes. The rain will come won’t it?
LikeLike
I’m with you about getting excited about the first flower, but then I do hope you will show it again later. I like your Madagascar vinca. It is just the same as the one my parents had in their garden in Mauritius, a nice little filler there. We must all get started on our rain dances. I wonder whether I shall have anything left in my front garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A happy memory for you then, I’m pleased about that. I really shouldn’t be buying new plants when others are struggling from drought, but an addiction is hard to beat. How did you get on at the show?
LikeLike
We had cloud and drizzle sunday/monday and my rain gauge hit 3mm. I was peeved to be told today that our partner garden openers down the road had 7mm. Some of my fellow allotmenteers have been getting vole/mouse damage, leeks particularly, which I’ve escaped so far. Everything is struggling, plants and animals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and it is very sad. At least some creatures can find a little solace in our gardens, the non plastic ones, that is!
LikeLike
Oh, that would be infuriating to have a mouse damage such a perfect melon. You got some nice flowers again this week. Vinca is available here, but I have never seen it perform well. The foliage is always yellowish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh, I see what you mean about Micky Mouse! I doubt they can be relocated in the same way as my dratted possum…..what is a gardener to do?? Don’t worry, I do the exact same thing….showing off my newfound flowers before waiting for them to properly get going…..I can’t contain the excitement. Have a wonderful week and I am hoping and praying for rain to fall on gardens over there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I should try a little restraint, but it is unlikely I will change the habit of a lifetime now. Thanks for the rain wish, it really is much appreciated. I’ve just seen the week’s weather forecast and not a drop on the horizon. boo!
LikeLike