Today in the garden

June’s the month for roses, and this year they are doing well; perhaps all the better for the administration of a spot of good muck last year.  This one is Ingrid Bergman: we planted her in memory of our lovely neighbour Rowena, who succumbed to the same illness as Ingrid. 

The thing with roses is that they need good pruning, regular dead-heading and the occasional feed, so I tickled in a handful of blood, fish and bone at pruning time.  Even the miniature roses by the front door are doing well, since Ben put the last of last year’s muck round them.  We’ve yet to replace the climber killed by the fencing people.  Perhaps we’ll get a bare-root one later in the year.

The membrane and gravel at the front doesn’t really stop the weeds, but at least it makes them easier to pull up.  I’ve pulled out dozens more verbena bonariensis today, as well as the usual suspects: dandelions, willowherb and grass.

A first lot of tomatoes are now in their final growing pots: the tall chrysanthemum pots we’ve used in years past.  I’ve prepared some wider pots with the watering trays designed for growbags, so will harden off a few more tomatoes and try them with that method.  We’re a bit late with the tomatoes this year, but ought to get something of a crop.  The first sowings in a heated propagator failed almost completely.  I might have to break down and get some decent seed compost next year - if I’m spared!

Family and things

We took a ride over to Rochester yesterday to meet some of Martyn’s Canadian cousins, who have been visiting to hear another family member sing at Glyndbourne.  They’re a very musical family, the Relyeas, and really delightful people.  They currently live on Vancouver Island, where I have lots of friends and relatives: must renew contacts.

We all met in the cathedral, where Sandra gave a guided tour: she is one of the company of meet-and-greet volunteers there, so is well briefed.  (She and the late Michael were married there, having met in the cathedral’s choral society, and Michael’s funeral took place there.)  We repaired to the Royal George for lunch, then wandered round the castle grounds before going our separate ways.  

Driving around here is dire.  We’ve been over to mid- and north Kent twice of late, and the experience has been altogether dreadful.  Decades of neglect have left the roads in a terrible state, and overdue gas main replacements are screwing things up still further.  I wonder what our new far-right county council will do to remedy matters, and am not holding my breath.