Early Summer Bonanza

What a difference a week makes! Having just returned from a very enjoyable holiday in France, you would think I had been away for month, judging by the look of my garden.

Returning to a mini heat wave can be slightly disorientating, especially in England. Everything in the garden seemed to have put on an incredible spurt of growth in my absence. Over the years, I have got used to the garden ‘filling out’ as early summer arrives, but it still made me gasp with surprise.

It usually takes a lot of persuasion to get me on holiday and is almost impossible in summer. On this occasion, a dear friend of mine invited me over to France. Marc, was born in France, but lived in England for over 25 years and then moved back about three years ago. He is working hard on his garden and he’s keen to grow lots of vegetables too. The climate of the south of France was very soothing and the bird life quite fantastic. Nightingales, Corn Buntings and Skylarks were everywhere, a real treat for any wildlife enthusiast. Those of you who like me, shy away from holidays during high summer, will be very familiar with the pre-holiday gardening routine. As if preparing for the holiday itself was not enough, we gardeners can’t just go at the drop of hat without any preparation.

At this time of year, there are so many jobs that need attention, all shouting to be the first in line. Priorities had to be set according to the work involved and somehow fitted in before I left.

Watering of pots and containers, pruning and tying-in of the many shoots of climbing plants was the most pressing. I managed most of the jobs and thought I had covered most eventualities.

On my return, certainly no disasters, but the growth that had suddenly appeared on all the plants, was quite staggering. Forests of clematis shoots were wafting in the breeze, there was shade being cast onto herbaceous plants from shrubs above. Then there was the hawthorn hedge. This had hurriedly had its sides, clipped, and now had very tall top growth, which made it look very odd.

In addition, I also returned to a cold frame bursting at seams with young plants desperately needing either re-potting or planting out in the garden.

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