It’s usually the photos that are out of focus. I hope this week’s pass muster: slightly breezy conditions, sun disappearing into clouds and human error all had to be battled with. But the real lack of focus was the attention given to the garden this week. I was lulled into a false sense of security by all the rain we have had lately. I forgot to check the pots and the result was frazzled mint, drying out bacopa and geraniums. Rescue arrived just in time and all seems to have recovered. The newly planted hibiscus also needed an extra can full of water, it’s roots have not yet made it down into the ground. Here’s six from the garden this week.

One

I promise I am saying this for the last time. I will not be spending money on dahlias again. The three new ones bought this year have been stripped to the stems. This one is a real survivor. It was grown from seed last year, left in the ground overwinter and it miraculously survived. It has flowered superbly. It is at one of end of a raised bed, perhaps the several feet of oak sleepers have been deterrent enough, or the tasty lettuce leaves have been more tempting. This will be the only dahlia I grow for as long as it lasts.

Two

The apple trees had their Summer prune this week. When we first arrived here I asked the man from the apple juicing farm to come and reshape our trees. He did such a brilliant job of it that he now comes back every year. He tells me that the season is about three weeks behind. ‘The browner the pips the better the juice’ is the mantra. This tree is laden but one of the cox’s pippins has only one apple!

Three

Here’s the hibiscus before it’s water revival. Just in time I think. I bought a good sized plant to fill the space, there’s still plenty of room for it to spread out but it’s a start.

Four

The roses are making a comeback. This one is ‘Natasha Richardson’. Annoying in focus and there’s no hiding the need for some deadheading!

Five

I had a wonderful collection of echinacea pallida grown from seed that I launched off into the garden earlier this summer. Nah, mistake. The slugs got them. Not entirely to the ground so I hope there’s some hope. Here’s one that has been around for a couple of years now, looking suitably pallid.

Six

Well the slugs may well have kept their focus on the garden while I was distracted elsewhere. Although I wasn’t in the garden, I was thinking of it. The veg plot/paths project is slowly making progress. As you can see the paths are narrow. A contractor has been identified and he is coming next week for a site visit. Ruthless decisions continue to be made. The summer fruiting raspberries have been culled, the loganberries will join them next and then those gooseberries. I will have wide spacious paths along which I will elegantly waft, stooping now and then to pick glorious garden produce!

Here’s wishing everyone else well in their gardening. I have so much to do to finish the summer tidy up, more focus required. Jim, our host, never seems to lack focus. Stop by and be inspired.