After nearly three months of drought we now have rain. And lots of it! Not quite the soft, balmy, gentle showers I longed for. No, it pelts down, flattening the grasses, scattering poppy petals everywhere, and incidentally filling up my empty water butts to overflowing. The good news is that my plants have perked up in a huge way!
I swear I could hear them sing last night when I rushed to water my veggies in the greenhouse after work.
The frustrating news is that in the Dutch Delta it never rains without there being wind as well.
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| My balcony mini-pond |
And although my obelisks are secured now, the bamboo trellisses are not, not even with their heavy stone slabs. After rightning them 5 times within 2 weeks, I have given up. This week I will dig up the cup-and-saucer-vines next to them and move them to the obelisks, where there is space still due to the struggling clematis* and rose. And I've decided to relocate those trellisses against my greenhouse and use them to help the windblown hollyhocks stay on their feet. *Talking about clematis:
I am happy to tell you that the cheapo one I bought in a well-known cheapo supermarket and which I planted in my balcony trellisplanter is doing great! Apparently it enjoys the company of the campanulas which romp away in there. So please, please, please let it stay alive for a change. The way my clematis are struggling in the garden makes me think again about my heavy clay...
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| The clematis in the middle |
That list I am compiling about plants which do not like my clay grows longer and longer. Mediterranean plants? Nope. Clematis? Nope. Roses? Iffy. Verbena? Doubtful. Wallflowers? Struggling.Thistles thrive (ha!). So do salvias, poppies, calendulas, and campanula. Apparently aquilegias like clay, so I will pamper the purple specimen which has planted itself next to my plume hydrangea. And I see masses of blue and white bernagie in my neighbour's plot, so they do well. Come on over, then, my sweeties, you are very welcome to self-seed! The nigella and nasturtium help me cover up that soil, too. Still. I have decided to throw some money at my garden after all. Next year, there will be raised beds.
You can read more about my garden on Instagram @songsmith2962 and Pixelfed@DutchDeltaWoman . Have a lovely weekend in your garden!
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| Wet hostas are gorgeous |
