Clevedon

We went to Clevedon the other day, a town on the Bristol Channel. Years ago, when we had an old clinker-built National 12 sailing boat, we used to launch from the slipway on the small beach. The foreshore is muddy, the currents are strong and the rise and fall exceptionally high; people rarely swim in the murky water. We were coming ashore one day when I saw a small child run down the slipway and drop over the side. He disappeared completely from sight. No parent came running after him. I brought the boat alongside while Himself got into the water and searched about, eventually bringing up the small, spluttering boy who ran back to the beach. None of the adults sunbathing on the rocks took the slightest interest!
Two Victorian features in the town are the pier and the bandstand. The pier was restored thanks to energetic fund-raising. Planks for the walkway could be bought and fitted with a brass inscription and we purchased one for our daughters. On this visit we were offered some Brasso and a cloth if we wanted to polish the plaque. I politely declined. Another time, perhaps!
The small gallery had an exhibition of deckchair designs. Here is one by Neil Murison which is going to be auctioned to raise money for ongoing maintenance.

Now it is the turn of the bandstand to receive some much-needed attention.

And just in time, the decorations are in a very poor state.

There are some attractive houses on the sea front. I took a peep through this gateway

and admired the pots of lilies.

Then we went for an ice-cream. Well, we were beside the seaside!

Fettling up

I'm busy cutting back plants that have flowered, hedges and shrubs that  have grown out of shape, and generally having a right good fettle up, as they say up north!  I've put the soft growth on the compost heap but there remains a huge pile of debris. Once it has dried out and there is a steady west wind I shall have the pleasure of lighting an enormous bonfire.
The flowers with late summer colours are starting to emerge.

A small clematis is attempting to rise above the fennel. It is actually blue, but the camera occasionally seems to make up it's own colours on a whim!

I've spent today sorting out my garden store. This is my sole domain - Himself has the garage, a painting shed and a carving room, but he sneaked up with the camera to record what I was up to.

The little building is crammed with things that some might think a load of rubbish, such a various bits of string and bent wire.  I'm sure they will all come in useful sometime or other!

I'm winning!

Okay, so it looks a tad scruffy. But I can assure you that it's a whole lot better than it was before.

Salad days.

The torrential downpours have certainly perked things up, the lawn looks almost green again, the water butts are full to the brim

and the squash are swelling!

I'm very pleased with the King Edward Red seed potatoes that I bought at the seed swap, they've produced a good sized, clean crop and have a lovely texture. I'm storing a few to plant next year.

I've grown nearly all my tomatoes indoors because I wasn't expecting such a lovely summer.

I usually grow the cucumbers outside on the flat but this year they too are indoors, climbing up canes. They are performing very well, four large cucumbers harvested so far and another four on the way.

It's all very well, but there is hardly any space left for us!

We can just about squeeze in under the lilies and the cherry reds!

I've picked some sweet peas from the garden and carnations from the greenhouse for Jane's flowers in the house.

I'm a little late for her party - apologies - but I'm busy harvesting crops,

and eating them! Salad, salad....

salad!

Eating well!

The much welcomed sunshine has perked things up in the vegetable garden and we are gorging on soft fruit and veg. The brassicas are well netted against bird damage but hordes of white butterflies are having a lovely time fluttering in and out of the netting - I shall have to be on the look-out for caterpillars. I'm doing a daily patrol through the fronds of asparagus on beetle watch as it is but at least the torrential downpours of the last few days have filled all the water butts and barrels and removed the time consuming task of watering. I put some well rotted compost around the courgette plants and the combination of warmth and water has caused dozens of melon seeds to germinate. I've potted a few up, as have my neighbours on either side of our garden. I doubt that there will be enough summer left for us to end up with a crop of melons, but gardeners are optimists, so we live in hope!

The mange tout and peas have grown sky high

and we are eating the first of the potato crop.

The walnut tree is laden with young nuts. I've learnt not to get too excited about this harvest until it is safely in the bag as squirrels from the neighbouring woods are capable of stealing the lot! It has become a huge tree and I think that it will require some attention, possibly the removal of lower limbs, in the winter when the sap won't bleed.

The rose, 'Paul's Himalayan Musk' gives a glorious but short display of flower each year, It has now been pruned hard back and is nothing more than a green hedge.

Other roses are still performing well, 'Veilchenblau' climbing high into the plum tree

and other varieties following suite.

But, oh, how disappointing! I bought 'Cinderella' at the seed swap this spring and have been waiting in happy anticipation for her to bloom. She has done so in perfect weather, with no rain or harsh winds to ravage the petals. But nevertheless the flowers are marked

unsightly brown outer petals.

Cinders, indeed, and certainly not dressed for the ball!

The 'Queen of Denmark' is much better behaved.

I've put my auriculas into the garage greenhouse. During the summer when the sun is high it functions as a shade house and doesn't get overly hot. It has just a couple of panels of reclaimed Victorian glass  tiles in the roof that face east and west. (They took forever to clear of smoke and grime!)

Himself has taken advantage of the dry weather to do various tasks. Photographed here are the kitchen cupboard door knobs, getting a fresh coat of varnish. "Photograph my workbench," he instructed, "it's a design classic."

Okay, Captain! (The man's a marvel!)

Ah, everything in the garden is lovely!

A bit of bragging about bronze!

I've been getting regular updates by phone from my friend who joint owns and runs a recycling gallery in Manchester. They have created a garden for the RHS flower show at Tatton Park based on their philosophy of using materials that other people discard. They have never entered such a competition before nor created any garden other than the small outside area at the gallery. It has been a huge amount of work and a very steep learning curve. "Never again," said my friend at the start of the week when the garden was all in place. "We've done the best we can. If the judges think that it's a pile of old junk, well, it is!" The judges obviously liked what can be created from 'junk' and the enthusiasm of a small army of volunteers because they were awarded a bronze medal. It wouldn't be surprised if my pal isn't already scribbling designs for next year's garden on the back of an envelope! 

Here is the basic structure being set out - in very hot weather!

The finished result.

BBC camera crew.

The waterfall and pond is made from recycled glass

and it has received much appreciative attention.

The walls are hung with decorative panels.

(It has all to be dismantled on Monday!)