This is hard work in this heat. I don't mind the odd warm but this is getting a bit much for me. Still can't do much about it, so on we go. Slightly scary that the dreaded hosepipe bans are already on the agenda in some areas but reassuring in some ways that it isn't a shortage of water in the reservoirs but a shortage in the pipes! Apparently there are problems pumping it fast enough to cope with the extra demand of a sustained increase in demand caused by a 'prolonged' heat wave. Sounds like problems with infrastructure investment to me, they can cope with anything average but push it a bit harder and it breaks. Too cold or too hot and cracks appear. Good job that the climate won't change and make this more likely in the future.
Purchased a new toy this week to try and beat off the pigeons that are eating some of our crops. It plays specific predator calls of pigeons and electronic versions of the flapping wings of panicking pigeons as they supposedly fly off (they have different sets of recordings for other problem species if needed). The chip in the device plays these in a random fashion through waterproof speakers and can be set to turn off as night falls. To start with we are supposed to play all the recordings at full volume very regularly, but after a couple of days it was driving us nuts with so much apparent quite loud predator activity. Luckily the very programmable design of the kit means that we have now restricted the range and repetition of the sounds so we hardly notice them but it still seems to be disturbing the pigeons. Now we have to wait and see for the eventual outcome as it can take several weeks of changing the calls and timing etc to shift them off site or at least away from the tunnels with the crops in. We'll see. The other birds don't seem to be too bothered by it, just hoping the pigeons don't catch on to the trick. Must go and finish watering in the potting and tidy out the barn for Mondays arrival of the next container of coir pots. Possible thunder showers this evening so looking forward to getting damped down a bit.
Availability highlights
In case you hadn't noticed summer is upon us, cue Crocosmia coming into bud. The tall early Lucifer have already all gone but the others are following on nicely. The red Emberglow and golden George Davidson are both showing their first buds, still a couple of weeks from showing colour yet but ready to roll. The other two remaining varieties the two tone Babylon and orange Carmine Brilliant will only be a week of two behind.
Fresh batches of ever popular Salvia are back on line, budding up well in a range of varieties. The pretty white Erodium are in bud and showing a few open flowers, neat and floriferous. The summery Salvia Hot lips are still going strong as we move onto another fresh batch with buds bursting. Among the new varieties this summer are a new compact selection of Calamintha. Both are carrying masses of buds on very bushy plants with a few flowers opening now. A subtle blue variety and a pure white are available in limited numbers so don't miss out. We are desperately fighting off the pigeons who are attempting to munch through some of our scented Phlox Sweet Summer crop, so there are several varieties looking good with buds quickly appearing. We are into a nice batch of Catananche which are sending up their flower stems. The papery blue flowers are a delight, one of my favourites.
We have four long flowering Helianthemum this summer (pink, yellow, white and cerise) most carrying plenty of bud and a few open flowers other than The Bride which looks fab with its silver/grey foliage but not showing bud just yet. We are dabbling in a few Gaura too. Another summer stunner, but limited numbers at the moment as we try and select the best varieties. We are also trying out another couple of short new Achillea varieties, Milly Red and Milly Rose, both are looking great, short and strong with bud and colour showing. We also have fresh short batches of the Achillea Dessert Eve varieties too. On the theme of striking foliage, Tradescantia Blue and Gold is doing its thing. Blue flowers are opening among the bright yellow strappy leaves. Very sunny. The simple but delightful Armeria are still available with plenty of flower and bud showing. The garden pinks Dianthus are all in bud, showing colour and smelling delicious.
The massively popular Erigeron karvinskianus Stallone is sprouting flower buds, full of promise and the odd open flower. Subtle cream flowers of the pretty Foam Flower (Tiarella) are showing nicely with plenty of bud to come. The pretty compact pale yellow Leucanthemum Banana Creme are holding swelling buds. Have a good week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.
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