THE WEATHER -

The 1st and 2nd were beautifully warm sunny summer days, although there were thunderstorms late on the 2nd. Very warm on the 4th, and again on the 5th, but with more thunderstorms. This is too many thunderstorms for me - I'm terrified of them!!! A mixture of warm sunshine and heavy showers for the next few days. A grey and rainy day on the 9th, but very warm and humid. More thunderstorms on the 12th, with torrential rain. Heavy showers continued on and off every couple of days. A lovely two days on the 21st & 22nd, but back to thunderstorms again on the 23rd! More heavy showers and and dull weather with little sunshine continued, becoming quite cold for the time of year as the end of the month approached. No rain for a whole three days though on the 29th, 30th and 31st! The weathermen have stated that this has been the wettest August since records began. Tell me something I don't already know!! Maximum temperature 26°C (78°F). Minimum temperature 8°C (46°F).

Sometimes, you see a plant and you've just GOT to have it! For me, this is one of those plants. I saw it whilst looking round one of the local garden centres, and they had an offer of three perennials for £10. They were in large 2ltr pots, and very healthy, so it was quite a bargain and I chose three different plants. This was one of them, and it is called Delphinium "Susan Edmunds". It has the most wonderful fully double flowers in a divine shade of pale lilac. I love all tints, tones and shades of purple, so I was attracted to this straight away. I adore Delphiniums anyway, but this was such a different type and colour to what I've seen before that even if it had been triple the price, I would have had to have it! Having double flowers, it doesn't set seed, so I will have to take cuttings next spring if I want to increase my stock.

Still on the subject of bargains, I happened to be passing a garden centre I don't often visit as it isn't local, and the car just turned itself in through the gate (as plantaholics' cars tend to do). I had a browse around and found a mega-bargain of Fuchsias on offer for only 25p each. Of course, I had to buy some - who could resist? This was one of those I bought, and it's called "Blacky". It has very dark, almost black, flowers when they first open, and as the flower matures, it turns a deep red-violet, finally changing to a deep maroon colour. Very long maroon stamens complete the picture. Mouth-watering for a purple person like me.

I've been very pleased with the container I planted up a few weeks ago. In it I have planted two trailing Fuchsias, an ornamental grass, Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue", a yellow leaved Hosta, "Zounds", three Clematis, - the evergreen spring flowering pale yellow "Pixie", deep red "Niobe", and lavender "Piilu". There is also a lovely white flowered Passiflora "Constance Elliott". The picture shows how the climbing plants have flowered together to give a wonderful show of colour. I added a metal obelisk for the climbers, and as they grow I am twining them around it.

For an amazing splash of colour in the August garden, you can't get much better than Persicara amplexicaulis. It used to be known as Polygonum amplexicaule, but the boffins have decided that as we're all too used to that name, they would change it, just to keep us on our toes! It is a herbaceous perennial growing to around 3 feet tall, with large dock-like pointed leaves and wonderful narrow spikes of light red flowers which last for several weeks. It can be a bit invasive, but is easily controlled by digging bits up and potting them on for selling at fund raising events or to give away. One of the great things about this plant is that it extremely attractive to insects, especially hover flies, which are very beneficial.

Rudbeckias are wonderful for creating colour in the August garden. I have several varieties of Rudbeckia, and one which is looking lovely at the moment is Rudbeckia "Goldquelle". This has bright yellow, double flowers, whose unopened petals are green in the centre. It is a hardy perennial, and grows to around 2ft tall, so is suitable for the front or centre of the border. A large group of these will give a superb effect in the garden.

I'm very pleased this year with my Kniphiofia "Bee's Lemon". I bought it as a small plant last year, and it produced a couple of nice flowers. However, this year, it has doubled in size, and has produced five large spikes of beautiful yellow flowers. It is an evergreen perennial with narrow strap-shaped green leaves. I usually tidy some of the older or damaged leaves in the spring by pulling them away, to make way for new growth. A very welcome and colourful sight in the August garden.

Every year, my Contorted Hazel, Corylus avellana "Contorta", produces a large crop of lovely hazelnuts. Unfortunately, I have yet to enjoy them, as a furry thief and his relatives and friends plunder the crop before I can get my hands on any! I happened to have my camera handy and caught this one in the act!

That's all for this month...... Happy Gardening!!

Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Robin, Rook, Seagull, Starling, Swallow, Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Wren.

RAIN
Patience Strong

A sudden shower burst from the skies upon the dusty lane -
In gardens thirsty flowers looked up, and sipped the cold sweet rain.
Beneath a tree's green parasol, I found a sheltered place
Where wet leaves dropped capricious kisses on my upturned face.

The storm swept like an angered god across the distant hill -
Defenceless in its path, the mighty trees bent to its will.
A cottage door swung open and a woman rushed outside
To gather in her sturdy arms the washing she had dried.

A man went by - a man of earth - bronzed by the sun's deep stain -
He touched his cap and smiled, and said, "A lovely drop o' rain!
This be a god-send for us folks - this be just what we need -
It's good for man and good for beast and good for soil and seed."

And I, beneath the dripping tree, remembered that in towns -
Men greet the gift of God's good showers with fretful words and frowns.
But wise and patient earth-brown men don't grumble or complain -
They say a courteous "Thank you" for a "lovely drop o' rain."