July in the garden

Same old, same old. Or at least same since the trees did that growing thing, resulting in the ever decreasing amount of time the sun is actually on the garden. (It’s been reduced by hours since I started the project 13 years ago.)

The strawberries that looked so promising early on coughed up probably less than 10 actual berries. One of the raspberry bushes produced four berries, the others zilch. Not a blueberry to be seen. (Why, oh why am I wasting so much water?) 

Lots of flowers on the two courgettes, but so far not a single actual courgette. Epsom salts have been applied. 

I have ten rose bushes in the garden. I have had exactly one rose each from six of them with no sign of any more appearing. (I failed to take a photo of any of the six when they were in the bud vase, so you’ll have to take my word for it.)

On the plus side…

Lots of berries on the wild blackberry in the corner. 

You remember? The one thing in the garden to which I have never given a drop water or any other form of care? The one thing upon which I can actually rely to bear fruit? Oh, and the bees are happy, too.

Although not as happy as they are about the bee balm now in flower.

Unfortunately the foreground isn’t in focus, but hopefully you can see that there are not, one but two bees feasting. There was also one on the flower in the background, but he found something tastier round the back of the flower just before I took the picture. This is why everyone should have bee balm – in their garden, in a pot on their balcony, anywhere they can plant it. 

Peas are doing okay, as are pole beans. (Yum.) Cherry tomatoes also coming along nicely, including this very strange looking one. 

Interesting.

If the least I can accomplish in the garden is keeping the bees happy (and that is no small “least), perhaps I should just give up on everything except the wild blackberry and just fill it with bee balm and California lilacs. Worth considering.