I claim credit for the rain here. I collected the car from its rented garage so that I could wash it at home. Washed it and was halfway through polishing it when..

Meanwhile look at how stressed the trees are.

Tomorrow 07:00 40% chance of rain! Fingers crossed. But before and after that hour long window, 10%. Obviously these are indications and if the rain arrives a little early or a little late I will not complain. Nor will the forecasters be wrong if it doesn't rain here at all. It may fall on Hemel or ...

21 again OH? Happy birthday

Hmm. If I was on parade, things might be different.

I confess, it is getting me down. It seems to be a question of what is tough enough to survive.


P.S. the boot (size 6) is for scale

No Covid for me, unless asymptomatically. Nor has the undergardener suffered.

All the open air helps I'm sure because it creates separation.

I've been away on a trip to Germany this past weekend (and separately to Cheshire today). Sailing back into Dieppe I can say that the South Downs looked like they had been under the grill for a while.

I always miss some, despite going over the ground twice!

40 minutes walk! Wow! I'm clearly lucky in having just a 10 minute walk. Meanwhile:- . The Met Office said on Thursday that the heatwave and dry weather show no signs of letting up, with little rain forecast for the next week and temperatures that could rise to the mid-30s. Meanwhile I am in Germany...

Should I mention there doesn’t seem to be any blight about…

I think I had some early blight about a month ago. As they were earlies, I lifted them immediately.

No, no rain, nor any forecast (15% chance overnight Sun 14 to Mon 15 is the best on offer).

No rain predicted over the next 2 weeks so pretty much inevitable.

Just the same here, just one day in the next fortnight has a % chance of rain in double figures.
I think my arms will be longer by that time from carrying the watering cans!

Primrose, similarly here. I'm going to harvest what I can quickly.

Mike, I start by pulling the halm out, this disturbs everything but you just need to start well clear and work your way in. I don't think there is anything special beyond the obvious.
Everyone spears some, just as everyone misses some.