The solstice, the very last sowing of annuals.
Monday June 17th. Middling sort of day. Too hot with a jumper. Too cold without. Thinned the self sown nigella in the top beds. Harvested remaining honeywort seed. Left the rest to fall and grow on for another crop in the autumn. Sowed one last line of ammi majus. It is said that seed sown before the summer solstice will flower this year, seed sown after will overwinter and flower in the spring.
Tuesday June 18th. A trip to Bath on a grey day. Stopped in Queen's Square to photograph the trees against the stone. Coffee at Collonna & Smalls to celebrate Gill Meller liking an instagram photo. Drove home in the rain wondering if it will be dry enough to mow the orchard ever again and reflecting on the meaningless joy occasioned by social media. Papaver Nudicaule becoming prolific, esp oranges. Potted on verbascum, more briza, Rupert's pinks.
Wednesday June 19th. Pulled first beetroot from the house garden. The blue nigella is out in drifts in the field. Tips of the sweet peas showing colour & are inspected them almost hourly. Planted Moluccella laevis straight out into beds. Second sowing had much higher germination rates.
Thursday June 20th. More rain in the morning, but muggy. Talk of thunder. Sheep in the back field and avoiding them on the dog walk led us past a bank of honeysuckle. Smelled it before I saw it. Evening - launch party at Lyme Bay Cafe whilst A swam in the sea. Much champagne. Lovely chat. Gill Meller there. Did not approach.
Friday June 21st. First sweet pea fully out. Valerie Harrod? Absolutely beautiful. Also first black ball cornflower. Pinched out cosmos purity in cutting beds. Mulched new beech hedge.
Saturday June 22nd. No work today. A wedding on Brighton bandstand. Scorching blue skies. Bride wore gold sequins. More champagne. Home very late to ecstatic dogs.
Sunday June 23rd. Expected sunshine but rain again. Dug out top beds. Cleared sweet rocket which had reached six foot high & fallen on everything else. Cut pods for drying. Packed meadow seed for a September wedding in Italy. Deadheading roses.