Sunset sky as another storm cleared away leaving a calm but soggy evening in its wake

Earthing up the potatoes with some homemade compost between showers. I am trying not to buy compost in because it is expensive & potentially contains persistent aminopyralid herbicide. Poultry manure, used shavings, grass clippings & nettle tops seem to make a good mix. 🌱🥔🥔🥔

Today's new blooms: gloriously scented 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' & coral pink 'Boscobel', both accompanied by the heady fragrance of Azalea 'Rosata'. I have always felt azaleas are at their best immediately after a rain storm - sweet memories of the spectacular Isabella Plantation

Blackbird singing his rain song as wet cow parsley (known as kek round here) bows its sodden head. Back to wellies as mud returns to our clay soil. Plenty to be done in the garden yet - planting more peas & beans & potting on callaloo, red orach, erbette, parsnips & kohl rabi. 🌱

Sunset sky. Bats & moths swirling over the meadow. Tawny owls in good voice. Rain forecast before dawn.

Rosa gallica hedge looking (& smelling) fabulous 🌹

Just picked 🌱

With the cost of living crisis showing no sign of ending soon I am trying to grow most of my own food. Inspired by French Eco-Homestead to look at perennial vegetables I have acquired some Taunton Deane kale & skirret plants to enjoy. Now to find somewhere emu-free to plant them 🌱

A few of today's scented #rose s : glorious dark purple velvety Louis XIV, a China #rose with a spicy lemon fragrance; two David Austin roses - Lady of Shalott & Dannahue (the latter of which smells like freshly squeezed orange juice); & floribunda Belle de Jour 🌹🌹🌹🌹

A pretty & rather striking white-rumped hoverfly (Leucozona lucorum) on hogweed flowers, enjoying on an overcast afternoon.

Almond 'Ingrid'. My two 4 year old trees are heaving with nuts for the first time. The gorgeous pink blossom appears in mid February & the lack of severe early spring frosts has resulted in a bumper crop. Beyond excited.

Sweet dreams from the happy cat 💤

Cream-spotted ladybird keeping my garlic pest free 🤎🤍

Bedraggled roses managing to put on a good, fragrant show this morning on another overcast, damp day. Moschata hybrid 'Comtesse André d'Oultremont', Shrub roses 'Boscobel' & 'Renée van Wegberg' & floribunda 'Dusky Maiden'.

That's not kind! Moth caterpillar (I think) feasting on Charles de Mills gallica #rose bud after the rains have pushed through

Soggy. Another day that tests my not-waterproof jacket, still wet from last night's rain. Potatoes, beans, peas & roses are loving it, as are the slugs; bees, hens, beareded irises & me, not so much. Meanwhile the first flowers of the honeysuckle have opened

A wet end to the day for Rosa gallica 'Cardinal de Richelieu' (Parmentier, 1840) & tea rose 'Clementina Carbonieri' (Bonfiglioli, 1913). My photo does not do justice to the colours of either bedraggled beauty 🌹💦☔️

Rain arrived & I am hiding in the polytunnel potting on pumpkins & planting beetroot. I have had to weed out quite a few nasturtiums but don't have the heart to remove them all (not least as I added a few peppery leaves to my lunchtime sausage sandwich).

I thought I'd start today with another one that I haven't shown for a long time. This is 'St Anne's, Soho' by B A R (Sam) Carter from c.1949. It is in the collection Government Art Collection #SamCarter #StAnnesSoho #EastLondonGroup

Forecast heavy rain overnight did not materialise so I shall be watering thirsty plants today. A grey, cool morning brightened by the heady scent of Bourbon rose Boule de Niege. Introduced by François Lacharme 1867 from his nursery in Lyon. Here surrounded by white Sweet Rocket.