It is 10 days or so since we had high winds and since then, we have had grey days and rain.

The garden is sodden,

The plants that should be standing up are collapsed.

And the weeds are heading straight for the [...]]]>

… And not in a good way!

It is 10 days or so since we had high winds and since then, we have had grey days and rain.

The garden is sodden,

The plants that should be standing up are collapsed.

And the weeds are heading straight for the sky.

(Crocosmia “Lucifer” – usually stays fairly upright but currently it is lolling around in the Mint)

I have reached the conclusion that July is not a good month to be living in West Wales.

Last year it was just wet all summer,

The year before I posed this Question

(Larspur and Ammi Majus (Bishop’s Flower) an unruly tangle in the cutting patch)

One of the reasons that I find this weather so depressing is that Late Summer / Early Autumn

Is my favourite time of year.

This year, I am not sure that many of the plants will make it through to the end of August.

(This warm damp weather also means the garden is an ideal playground for the slugs -

When they are not taking refuge in the house)

Next year I am resolved to be more brutal with the “Chelsea Chop”

And cut back every late flowering perennial and annual in the garden

In the hope that they will survive the inclement weather we experience in July.

I have been skulking in my studio for the past 10 days, it was really clean and tidy -

But I have started on a little project for myself – so another couple of grey days then it will be finished.

One the best things about July however, is broad beans.

How beautiful are these?

Broad Beans ‘Red Epicure’ – they turn green if you boil them, but should keep there colour if lightly steamed.

I always blanch mine and then pop the inside bean out of the tough wrinkly skin – much nicer.

And – as you can see by my dirty hands – despite the weather I have done one or two things around the garden!