2025/25 - You should be careful what you wish for...

 I have uploaded a new blog to my website: Renée Grashoff Schrijft is the link.

Yesterday it rained so hard that Puck ran to the nearest patch of grass on the corner, did her wee, and ran straight back home.  Yep. The rain we have longed for for months has arrived, and stayed.

Mind you, there are brief periods of respite, due to the very heavy wind that is also staying. Welcome to the Dutch Delta!

The photo above is from my excursion to the next island over, Goeree-Overflakkee, to take a walk. In the sand dunes next to Ouddorp beach I came across this field. The rain does have its benefits!

Say goodbye to the last of my Iris. They are finished, and have done wonderfully. 

The spring flowers are done with their display and the summer flowers are slowly taking over.

Every year it is a surprise where these cheerful chamomile-like flowers will shoot up. They are doing a tour, having started in the orchard, and have now arrived next to the path. They are called Tanacetum parthenium, are perennial, (Moederkruid) and are used as a herbal remedy against migraines. Apparently you can eat the green leaves in your salad, but I haven't tried, as the strong scent puts me off eating it. 

Talking about the orchard, the Teasels are shooting up again.

The apples are looking lovely at this stage, but they do so every year, and then by the time I should be able to eat them, they have turned rather disappointing. But I enjoy looking at them, and the blackbirds are very happy to eat them.

I picked the first of my broad beans... before the snails got to them.

Say hello to my little nemesis... She has come out of hiding from the drought and has brought all her friends. Unfortunately they have invited all the slugs as well. Many of my leafy plants are rapidly turning into something resembling Swiss cheese.

From a distance the Artichokes look fine, but close up they are holey and the tops are covered in blackfly. But: there are whole herds of Ladybirds having parties, so it is okay I suppose.

A pristine wet leaf.

I was worried about my red Elderflower, it looked so sad, but now that it has had a week of rainshowers it has perked up.

This year there are not so many flowers in the Phlomis russeliana, but the plant looks healthy enough. Slugs and snails stay away from her!

And the Salvia is going strong - this is such a dependable plant!

The Prunella vulgaris (Brunel) is spreading underneath the Salvia. Such a sweet little flower, and bees adore it.

Right! I spie, I spie with my little eye, something beginning with...?

I will not blame you if at first glance you think this is a giant spider. It is actually a Calendula, isn't it gorgeous? All the others in that bed are the normal ones (well, to me they are) but this one plant has these long, long petals. I'll make certain to collect the seeds!

And that's it from me this week folks. Have a lovely weekend wherever you are, but especially you lovely people in Singapore and Mexico.

Renée Grashoff