It’s been a great week. Rain has fallen. That’s what rain does. Enough of it, at last. Not biblical quantities, admittedly, but enough to put a bit of life back into the place. The ground has softened. The leaves have perked up.
The weather, as usual, refuses to settle. One minute there’s rain tapping against the glasshouse, the next there’s a brightness in the sky. Temperatures are neither here nor there – not quite autumnal, not quite summer. It’s that curious bit of the year when the garden seems to be asking: Are we finished yet?
The rainfall has certainly helped. The jaded look has given way to a cautious resurgence. Buds are forming and flowers are gathering themselves for one last show, but there’s a sense that the garden is holding something in reserve. September is only around the corner. Perhaps there might yet be an Indian summer?
For today, though, let’s simply be grateful that enough rain has fallen. There is something satisfying about hearing it on the windows after weeks of watching the ground dry out. Tomorrow will bring its own weather, its own situations and probably its own little surprise.
Enough of the waffle. Let’s take a wander through the garden and see what’s happening. I’m joining in with many other gardeners across the globe for Six on Saturday hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations.
New And Old
It’s my first time having some hydrangeas in the garden, and I’m tempted to self-administer forty lashes for not growing these before.
This one is a bigleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla. As August comes to an end, many of the giant blooms are fading, but some new ones appear.
As I snapped a few early morning shots, I noticed that the plant is decicately laced with silky webs. Check top left. An ambush awaits.
Pretty Pansy Purple
Pretty pansy purple,
smiling in the sun,
Petals like velvet,
Dancing for fun.
Extract from “The Pansy Song” by Plooshi, a children’s song from the flower-themed album Flower Songs for Kids, Toddlers, Preschoolers, released in March 2025.
I was happy to revert temporarily to toddlerism, as I ambled down the garden today.
I sang it for my granddaughter on phone face time. She isn’t very impressed with my singing. Others have mentioned that I’ve got Van Gogh’s ear for music.
Begonia: Front And Back
I love trailing begonias. This is one of my favourites. It’s in a small pot sitting on an upturned square pot, with a saucer beneath it to hold water.
I rotate the plant, perhaps twice a week, so that front and back will face the light.
This is unfortunate. I neglected to take my own advice. My guess is this side was facing backward for 7-10 days. Again, I am willing to submit to self-flagellation. Ten of the best should do the trick.
Sorbus acuparia Romina
Back in May 2020, just as Covid lockdown began a phased easing, I purchased a beautiful Mountain Ash, Sorbus acuparia. I wrote about it back then. Here’s the link if you are really keen.
Shortly after that, a young Iranian girl was beheaded by her father to protect family honour. Sharia law is a bitch. I named this tree in her memory. Sorbus acuparia Romina Ashrafi.
Since then, the tree almost died, but it is now doing very well. I think the original article, linked above, is worth reading. I read it back during the week, and it saddened me.
Tomatoes / Trátaí
Is maith liom trátaí. There’s a nip in the air these days, and more particularly overnight. So I moved seven tomato plants back into the glasshouse. There was a glut of tomatoes from mid-June, but the last of them need the extra heat to ripen.
Allium
I can’t remember planting it. It’s a solitary Allium, with nobody from the immediate family for company. As in life, it looks a little lonely, but gets on with living its best life. The flower is spent now, and seed is abundant.
That’s my Six on Saturday for this week. Six-on-Saturday is a meme originally started by The Propagator. For more Sixes on Saturday, from all around the world, head over to the blog of Six on Saturday host, Jim.
In Other News
- When Trump hears I’m recovered from surgery and ready to protest at his Doonbeg Golf Club next month, I think he’ll chicken out. TACO.
- Dolly Parton RIP. I spotted this on X during the week: You want to honor her today? Put a book in a kid’s hands. Stay married. Do the works.
- Romina Ashrafi A sad Sharia Law tragedy in Iran (2020)
- The Great Irish Eclipse — Almost Missed Over a Beer. This update is a summary of the August 12th eclipse and what I was doing instead of gazing at it.
Until next time,
Slán, Pádraig.
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Beautiful plants! I love hydrangeas.
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My Garden is small, so for many years I’ve refused to include hydrangeas. This year I changed tack and got three! I’ll keep them in large pots.
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I’m in much the same situation, as I had plenty of tomatoes back in June. Then things came to a stop during the heatwaves. Now, some have formed and are just waiting to ripen. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for an « Indian summer ».
Well done on the hydrangea—it’s lovely!
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Yes, fingers crossed 🤞. I’m chuffed with the hydrangeas.
Torrential rain this morning.
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Not bad, right? Let’s just hope there won’t be any flooding in your area.
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As always full of fun and wisdom. I am a begonia fan too and I love your peachy pot of joy. I’m pleased you have found the hydrangea light, there is no turning back now. Have a good week.
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I found the light. Hurrah for the light.
Fun & wisdom. 🤔 That’s lovely, a chara. I shall quote you to my friends and frenenies!
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Loving that begonia: do you keep it from year to year, or do you indulge in different ones each year? Hydrangeas are easy to grow from cuttings! Have a great week.
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I’ve got three cuttings from each of my three, plus a few from friends. I dare not peek for another while. If they’re as easy as you say, all will be well.
Yes, this is the third year of that begonia. In previous years I managed to kill many of them overwintering while not completely dry. Now, I think I’ve got it figured out.
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Same here – we had the first proper rain in months this week. A nice drizzle that lasted for several hours. Everything’s much happier now!
I love the pansy and the sweet little song that accompanies it!
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Hi again Kathrin. 😜
Yes, drizzle so much better for the garden when soil is caked dry.
I loved that kids song. My granddaughter likes it too.
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The rain is certainly making a difference. Your Hydrangea is looking good and I love the begonia.
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I can’t argue with any of that. Yes yes yes
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I’m calling time on my tomatoes this weekend. It’s been a good year. My hydrangeas are all frazzled this year, I hope they rebound. I do have one in a pot that I have kept going so I guess I will have replacement material if needed. The begonias are lovely. I hope the tree continues to thrive.
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I think it’s time. I’m guessing if my tomatoes do ripen, they may well not taste as they have done.
I can’t advise re: hydrangeas. I’m still very much an apprentice.
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Hydrangeas are lovely but oh dear, what a chore to keep watered in a heat wave. Yours is pretty. I love your begonia too. You have had rain? How wonderful, I hope it reached Suffolk. Here in France we had a dramatic thunderstorm and a bit of rain but now we are back to hot sun and watering chores.
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Not Suffolk, Chloris. County Waterford, SE Ireland. 😜
The only way to keep them properly watered is to have a decent size saucer beneath the pots.
Some rain during the week and lots of rain today.
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I know you are in Ireland Pádraig, I was just hoping that the rain has reached my parched Suffolk garden. I am paying someone vast sums of money to water whilst I am in France. Then I will go back to the UK and pay someone vast sums to water my French garden. I am looking forward to Autumn.
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My misunderstanding, a chara. 🙈
Watering two gardens in difficult circumstances… First World problems.
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I know, such a pain having a French garden. Poor me.
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