Thursday 6 August 2015

Early August in our Normandy garden


How on earth did it get to be August?  It seems only yesterday I was sowing tomato seeds and the polytunnel was looking somewhat forlorn and rather empty.  Now look at it!


The polytunnel is fit to burst

Tomatoes looking good

Outside there is very much a look of the second half of summer.  After last year's almost non-existent apple harvest, this year the trees as positively groaning under the weight of the growing fruit.  There will be apple crumble this year!

Ripening apples

You may remember that last winter I decided to not dig up my gladioli corms but left them in the ground covered by a thick layer of protective straw.  I am pleased to say that they all survived (but then we didn't have any really hard frosts) but there has led to one "disadvantage":  This year year they have all grown and flowered at the same time where-as normally you can space the corm planting out to give blooms for longer.  Oh well - you can't win them all and they do look stunning all together.
Gorgeous gladioli

What is summer without a sunflower and this year I sowed some smaller, orange ones?  My veg patch where I sow them can get battered by winds and I have lost many a tall sunflower to strong gusts so this year I've gone small.  I think I actually prefer their petite size and unusual colour.  What do you think of them?


Sunflower and friend

Finally, my runner beans are showing why in France you find the seeds in the flower section, not the veg section ... but we Brits know they taste good too!


Runner bean flowers

After an absence of 2 weeks with both camera and internet woes I am once again joining in with How Does Your Garden Grow over at Mammasaurus.  Why not grab a cuppa and head on over for a read too.


Mammasaurus

14 comments :

  1. Such a wonderful transformation in the poly tunnel from earlier this year, how lovely to see all your hard work paying off.
    And oh that sunflower, simply glorious!

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    1. Thank you - I am very pleased with the polytunnel this year with only a few failures.

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  2. how did it get to be august!? seriously. i miss having tomatoes...

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  3. Lovely to see all your hard work paying off. Those gladioli are amazing, I like that they're all blooming together in a riot of colour. We're heading for a bumper apple year here too, I've still got some of last year's in the freezer as well so it's time to get the recipe books out!

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    1. I didn't have enough apples to freeze last year so am really looking forward to the harvest this year.

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  4. What a change in there Rosie! Tomato-tastic!

    Those red apples look smashing - as does the rest. Loving the sunflower, one seed that Ozzy planted last summer has come up into a beast this year - no idea what took it so long!

    How are my piggie friends doing?

    You must have been going bonkers minus internet - bet it's been a productive fortnight at home though!

    Thank you fro joining in again you trooper x

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    1. Piggie friends are doing really well and we have recently put Coco in with Boris for more piglets hopefully this November. I am ridiculously excited about our apple harvest - it's looking like it might be the best ever!

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  5. A great time of year with all the produce, makes me happy. Love those sunflowers, I've actually managed to grow some this year which is a miracle.

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    1. A busy time too .. .and I may never want to see another courgette!

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  6. it all looks absolutely glorious and I'm feeling deep envy, I must visit france again next year, the climate is perfect for growing everything you need to be self sufficient. it's been 5 years since we last visited

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  7. Wow - your polytunnel looks fit to bursting. So many flowers on your runner beans too, looks like it'll be a good year :) #hdygg

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    1. They are cropping very well indeed to say we are having a dry summer.

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