Perhaps it’s not so much the garden versus the heat but the plants staving off the lack of rain. I have not watered the Bougainvillea, the Lavatera and the winter flowering honeysuckle at the front of the house. They are not happy but surviving.
Strangely, the Hollyhocks, which I regard as reasonably drought tolerant do not have the same resistance.
The heat has not bothered the Colutea and the seed pods are particularly pink this year.
I have to water the vegetable garden but I have covered the roots of the tomato plants with straw.
The courgettes are indifferent to the heat as long as they are watered and my “Sungold” cherry tomatoes on the wigwam are already producing ripe tomatoes. The strawberries, though, have given up producing any quantity of fruit.
The little tomatoes are hidden by the French Marigolds which are considered over here to prevent any diseases in the tomatoes. Interestingly, we call them French Marigolds and the French call them Indian Carnations (L’œillet d’Inde) and as they originate from South America… Anyway, a friend gave me the seedlings and they certainly look attractive but as to the therapeutic value, I am undecided.
Another winner on the heat front are the cucumber plants. The seeds were given to us by a friend and they produce small, exceptionally tender cucumbers that Kourosh eats as a fruit, as well as allowing some to find there way into the salad bowl. The small cucumbers are very refreshing in the heat.
The chick peas, too, have taken a leap forward with the heat. This is the first time I have grown them. I bought the seeds and I was bitterly disappointed when they did not survive as I had used the whole packet. Not to be fazed, Kourosh put his hand in the cupboard and handed me my jar of dried chick peas. Now I feel a little foolish for not having thought of that in the first place.
I was intending to cook them if I managed to produce any but a friend told me he used to buy them in the green and eat them. So I have tried one and it is delicious! A bit like peanuts! I have not got a lot so I think I might just eat them raw.
I do try to grow only things that I will eat and can either be consumed rapidly or support being frozen. I love Butternut squash and they have proved very reliable to keep. Last year they remained many months in a cool area without spoiling and if anything we were a bit short.
To extend our potential production of Butternut we tried a raised bed last year and again this year but, as you can see, the results are not convincing. Perhaps raised beds are not a good choice for this area with low rainfall.
We have planted some decorative gourds which is perhaps a bit frivolous.
All these pictures were taken at 8 o’clock at night because the temperature touched 40 degrees centigrade in the garden yesterday (Tuesday, 23 July) and it was too hot to take photographs during the day.
I know the Borlotti beans would like more water but it is difficult getting around everything and I feel so guilty as the dried grass crunches under my feet.
The ornamental plants are on very reduced rations. Basically, new plants and some favourite plants get watered sparingly. I do not want my Hydrangea “Saville Gardens” to die so the parasol will at least prevent the leaves from being scorched.
I collected Senna seeds from a beautiful plant in Spain and the seedlings look very healthy and at home in the heat. I love the way that they close their leaves at night as if they are sleeping.
Water is such a precious and limited resource. We have several containers for water throughout the garden. The bees claim this as theirs but there are others for the birds to drink and wash in. As I write temperatures remain high but a storm is forecast for Friday so hopefully it will bring rain and cooler temperatures.
The other star of our June/July garden is the Larkspur (Delphinium consolida). I have found these grow best here if left to self-seed or sown in the autumn straight into the soil.
a french garden 