Summer 2025 in the Garden
We are having the most wonderful summer. The very best since the past five years. Fortunately too, we are not experiencing the extreme heat, that some nearby European countries are. Just lovely warm, mostly sunny days.
There is a time, in life, when we appreciate gardening and nature all the more. When we have wound down our careers and have more time to just be still.
For the past few years, now, I have thoroughly enjoyed building and maintaining a reasonably sized, walled, city container garden.
At this moment in time, everything planted, is in full bloom or about to.
I appreciate nothing more than the joy of taking a leisurely stroll around the garden, early morning, in the summer months.
My current pride and joy are the cooking apples and the little red eating apples on the miniature apple trees. With the glorious weather we are experiencing, the harvest is plentiful, in their second year. Unfortunately in their first year, 2024, we had very little sunny weather and a lot of windy stormy weather. The young apples growth was hindered by all the wind and most of them fell off the branches.
Delightful to harvest the cooking apples from the trees and add to a home prepared treat. A recent treat enjoyed was shortcrust pastry with vanilla custard and the sliced apples placed on top. Sprinkled with cinnamon and baked in the oven. The apples, slightly tart, softened to a stewed texture, contrasted beautifully with the vanilla custard.
The red berries are wonderful added to a freshly prepared salad. Not only do they add a sparkling pop of colour, but also antioxidants and vitamin C. Harvested directly from my own backyard.
The sunset roses with their varying palette. The white roses with the raspberry ripple effect. A visual feast.
The multicoloured delicate little Violet flowers are sublime.
Producing your own plants, from existing plants, is so rewarding. Especially when they are a success. In this instance the Hydrangeas, coming into bloom, not quite there yet. I took some cuttings a year or so ago and potted them up.
One of which has gone on to produce blooms, this year. The other cutting has plenty of growth just no blooms this year.
When the Hydrangeas do blossom, they will look like giant strawberry and vanilla ice cream cones. Their beauty doesn’t end there. Their pretty petals will turn autumnal colours. They make a great dried flower arrangement that lasts and lasts and lasts.
The Petunias multiply when re-planted into a larger container from their small young plant pot. I’ve already garnered another plant from the original, placed in the garden a few months ago.
I came across an outstandingly creative, mind blowingly talented person who creates arrangements from fruit, vegetables and flowers. You can check him out on Instagram under glenn.arvor
