Hot. Hot hot hot. So hot we have all the upstairs windows wide open and I'm using the organza 'insect curtain' in my room (finally put the hooks onto the skirting board and made the loops so it holds taut against the door jamb. Well, sort of tight. Enough to keep most insects out, anyway, though not the most determined) with the patio doors open to make it cool enough to work (because it's only May and faaaar too early to start using the tower fan).
Though I'm not sure how long I'll be here - I'm knackered. And it's been busy. Yesterday Ken and I had to spend several hours trimming the goat willow, which this year has produced a bumper crop of millions of tiny seed that are so light they get everywhere. I mean, the first time it happened it was kind of pretty, like something out of Legend, and only lasted about a week, but last year that grew to two weeks and was a lot heavier, and this year it became unbearable. We managed to strip the tree of about half of the damned things, which will no doubt help, and while Kai's on holiday (two weeks wef next Friday) I'm going to see if he can safely lop off some of the higher branches. He's also been told that it has to be kept under control, and he has to help, since it's his tree. I'd rather not lose it - it's native, and the bees love it - but we can't have this hassle every year...
'course, that really helped my hayfever. Though actually it was the breathing in of the things that was worse (ended up wrapping a scarf over my nose and mouth and looping it around the top of my head: looked like a pale blue ninja gardener!) However, I'm very pleased to say the tea-with-honey is really working (Gary, thanks for the suggestion, but I don't take pills unless I absolutely have to, and I'm not sure we have Benadryl over here. If it ever gets really bad, I keep Piriton anti-histamines in the house, in case anything stings me, since I seem to react badly to insect bites. Heh - allergic to insects and adore (working in) my garden: can't not write even though I have teno. It's not deliberate, honest. Where was I? Oh yes...)
And we have an apple tree coming, from Almondsbury Garden Centre - this one, in fact (though not this nursery, obviously!) Sue and GoodTwin may remember I was havering over the patio version when we were there: the one we have coming is full size, to plant on the edge of the meadow. Strictly speaking it's as a replacement for the goat willow, because I suspect that we'll have to take the thing down in a couple of years or so (the bark at the base has been attacked by something and is peeling away a little alarmingly. The tree is still sturdy enough for Kai to climb, but I'm keeping an eye on it.) This particular apple seems to have good disease resistance, so will be ideal for us since we prefer not to use chemicals.
In the greenhouse, I now have another batch of dragonfruit seedlings sprouting, and several of my clementine pips have germinated. Whether anything will come of them we'll have to see, but they're beautiful plants anyway. The first flowers on my big tomatoes are opening, the peppers - both organic and non - are almost visibly growing as I watch, and the cherry tomato seedlings are now in the big trough and looking happy. And the Swiss chard has sprouted. Oh, and my paeony is twice the size it was last year (though it still only has one flower bud. Maybe next year.)
And I'm running out of space.
Ken thought that would happen. [rolls eyes] Eh well, I'll manage.
We all went out after dark last night to see if we could see Mercury (we could. I spotted it first, in fact, which rather surprised everyone!) As a bonus, our bat is now awake and patrolling the garden every night (and is a bit confused by the greenhouse, I think; it wasn't there last year), and the flamewings are back. We are very fond of our flamewings. We know summer's almost here once we hear their high-pitched skreeeeing.
Kai's class earned 250 gold credits this year (so far) and their form tutor took them to Laser Fusion at Aspect Leisure Centre after school this evening. I was going to go and collect him, but after getting the Sainsbug's shop done and FirstDaying it into town to pick up a skoosh cylinder (Robert Dyas are now the only people who stock them anywhere near us, which is a bloody pain in the arse), and finding Wilkinson's are selling little acers for £2.99 (and of course buying one. No guarantee it'll be a success, but I'm keeping fingers crossed. It's a beautiful spring green with pale red bark), I struggled home and Ken volunteered to go instead. It's annoying in a way, as the place is only about a mile as the crow flies, or perhaps two in a car, out to Hick's Gate then around on the ring road, but it's two buses and over an hour for us... But one of Kai's form mates' mum offered them a lift back, which was very kind of her and cut almost an hour off the trip. I think Kai had fun, though laser quest isn't his favourite pastime...
The UK Gardens channel is showing highlights of previous years' Chelsea Flower Shows at the moment, in the run up to this year's I assume, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the programmes. 2001 is on at the moment - before I got hooked, so it's fun to see what I missed.
And it's started raining, only light, but it'll do the seedlings good, and has cooled everything down nicely. Unfortunately it'll also bring the thrice-damnèd 'pods out of hiding, and I should really go out there with torch and scissors, but I'm too tired and aching. I'll just have to deal with any damage tomorrow.
Bed soon...

Labels: garden, gardening, gastropods, greenhouse, sprogs, weather