Be careful what you wish for.

Lovely photo's Seaburn, I too wanted rain and like you we eventually got it, now into our fourth day, I have been so thankful but only today told it that was enough for now, I've just spent an hour in the greenhouses tying in tomato's then as its stopped for a while I grabbed a tray of homeless Zinnia's, my trowel and set to popping them in gaps, would you believe that after all the constant rain, hail, snow, you name it we've had it over those last few days, I couldn't get my trowel into the earth more than halfway , had to get a fork out, its so disappointing as I thought we were doing so well

yes I know what you mean. Victoria planted out some broccoli and she said 2" down was dry. I love Zinnias.

Lovely blog and pics, Eileen. I have to say the rain was most welcome, but, now..I’d like the warm sunshine to return..water butts are now full! Pretty colours in your garden, lots of pretty jewel shades too. Your astrantia pic is lovely, plus your hosta is so immaculate! Thank goodness for hedgehogs and certain birds - they soon scoop up the slugs and snails!

Thanks for the compliments re the hosta Katie, I am very fond of this one.
Meadowland the honeysuckle was a present from the birds about 15 yrs ago now. It gets hacked back regularly and doesn't seem to mind. I do have others up through the beech hedge so they are 16-20ft tall and no doubt spindly.

PLEASE, please can we have your rain? 20 mins. downpour twice a day for 2 days and that's been our lot. We need a pickaxe to get through the soil!
All your pics. are interesting, but I'm amazed at that hosta. Where are the nibbles? It's pristine! I can smell the honeysuckle from here. Lovely plants and it's useful to have the hedgehog, even without any manners.

Beautiful flowers as always, can I ask if the Sarah Bernhardt will still flower, I'm worried about the rain on mine too........

Anget if I could send you it I would. It is cold enough for the heating to kick in. This hosta just doesn't seem to be nibbled [famous last words I will look tomorrow to see if it has nibbled].
Sunnydais I expect the larger buds will go on to open, the small ones maybe not. I will let you know.

Please send some rain to me and the hedgehog! Lovely fresh looking garden, and photos.

Lovely photos...enjoyed the 'walk' and can smell the perfume of that honeysuckle...

Yes its lovely. Can't beat a nice big honeysuckle on a warm evening! Love the irises and the Glad - I started off with several of those but they are down to one now. Your hedgehog would be very welcome here if it fancied a long holiday anytime - but because of the dry weather there has been no sign of any slugs or snails. We have had one evening of gentle rain but it hasn't made a lot of difference. At least while it was being dribbled on the soil wasn't getting any drier.

We've had even less rain than Anget. A bit of dampness in the air, and a token shower but that's all. I would describe it as "raining because it's been told to, not because it wants to"

Garden is looking lovely, I do like the astantia, I have just planted some more this year but if they are anything like the first lot I planted it will be a few years until see the full benefit, we have also got a hosta like yours and the dry weather was a bonus, I recon it stopped the slimy little buggers having a good old meal on the leaves, got some great smells going on in one corner of the garden, with the honeysuckle, jasmine, mock orange and sweet peas all out. Just waiting for the lily's which now look like the buds are at bursting point.

I use a tomato cage to prop up my flippy floppy plants. Would work for your Sarah Bernhardt. Nice tour of the garden. Love that lite blue iris. Lately, I've been getting nickel size hail storms that come with gail force winds and dangerous lightening. The hail slices & dices everything it touches, including me. You don't have it quite so bad. lol . I enjoyed the garden tour.

Lovely pics SBG, especially the iris only wished they flowered for longer. When mine are in flower I'm bowled over and make mental note to buy more, then in no time the beauty has faded and I remember why I only have two plants. Would love your hedgehog too. Why "atrocity corner" ? :-)

Sarah Bernhardt is supported with a grow through frame but the flower heads are about 8" across so the rain does damaged them. Some of my Asiatic lilies are opening today and they do look lovely.
We have sunshine this morning so I think Victoria and I are going botanising. She needs to brush up on her wildflower id skills.
We went back to Flamborough Head yesterday for a look on the beach and were delighted to see a seal. Lots of sea anemones and hardly anyone else there.
Victoria set the camera trap up last night to see how the hedgehogs are doing.

Atrocity corner was the last part of the neglected garden to be done. It got that nick name as the family home had an area of that name, that never seemed to do anything. Our daughter Elizabeth who was 3yrs old at the time knew which bit I meant and the name just stuck. Regular visitors also know it as that.

We had enough rain to fill the water butts but it doesn't seem to have done anything to infiltrate the clay in my front garden - but at least I don't have to save my shower water at the moment! Enjoyed going round your garden and I'm amazed at your nibble free hosta, beautiful.

checking yesterday only one has any damage and that is August moon, the others look ok so far.

So may places all around the world have either too much rain or not enough, and that includes your garden ! A good, well-written blog.. well done.

Thank you Homebird and TT, we have had 2 dry days now and the warmth has returned. The pond overflow did its job and the path was a bit sodden but otherwise all is well. The grass has put on a spurt haha but that is hubby's domain.
my Sarah Bernhardt and bowl of beauty seem to have come through unscathed but several taller plants , lupins and Sidalcea have been flattened.

lots of seeds germinating now too but that is all part of nature's rich tapestry. [keep telling yourself that and all will be well;p ]