Hairy Newts!

Hi,

Some very welcome rain this week and we actually got reasonably wet this time. I think it was Tuesday we got most of it, but with cooler temperatures and some moisture we are noticeably more comfortable and relatively rel axed. It looks like June was record breakingly hot, so that's yet another climate related weather event to chalk off, just hoping that might mean a cooler and damper summer than last year.

The farm aren't sharing our rain rejoicing, as harvest has come earlier than ever with several fields ready to go. I can hear the roar of the combines in the field opposite us as they try to get in what they can before tomorrow's forecast soaking. The farming side of the family all try to rush off for a quick break pre-harvest, juggling timings so there is cover for all eventualities, but they have been caught out this time and things have had to get underway in their absence.

Potting has been bowling along with another compost delivery arriving on Tuesday evening to keep the wheels turning. More and more of the young modules are arriving each week and we are hoping this year to keep on top of the potting timings a bit better, so far so good. We are even contemplating stopping the Saturday potting team in a week or two so they can take a well earned break and get their full weekends back. It's been a long slog since the middle of March, but time flies when you are have so much fun!

There is loads of early summer wildlife activity to report on. After a few years absence we have a young family of swallows in the donkey shed, already grown and fledged today. One looks less keen to fly the nest but we can all sympathise with that. I moved the last tray of a big batch of Sanguisorba cuttings this afternoon to be surprised by 7 frogs and a toad underneath. I reckon 2 frogs and the toad were last year's crop and the others this years. A very healthy population considering how dry our area had the potential to be. We are seeing loads of this year's batch all over the nursery it is surprising how far they travel for such tiny mites.

The main pond has needed to be topped up on occasions over the past few weeks but it seems to be recovering well after last summers dry up and clearout. Opening up the water surface and thinning the plant growth has made everything more visible again which is lovely to see as I wander back home and take a peak each evening. There are lots of tiny baby newts in there, another population that has rocketed here over the past few years. No fancy rare varieties spotted yet but just to find them about the nursery is exciting enough. Slightly alarming when they play dead if disturbed, but when turn you back for a moment, they come back to life and disappear from sight.

Forgot to mention Glastonbury last week, which we thoroughly enjoyed from the comfort of our own house and bed. Great BBC coverage and lots to catch up with on iPlayer. The headliners aren't always the most exciting, although Elton did a great job despite walking on like he had spent the week on the potting machine. My favourite bits were; The Pretenders who I can remember seeing back in the 80's, Chrissy can still rock it even at 72, Rick Astley and The Blossoms playing a set of The Smiths songs. And best of all a band I had never heard of before, The Nova Twins, who absolutely took the stage by storm. All the things I like, loud, different, great attitude, multi talented, and once again proving that all you need is drums, bass and guitar to make things happen. CD arrived today so that is going in the car to be played loud all summer.

Availability list.

Our perennial list remains on the short side again this week and we are still quite short on some lines so please don't be surprised if there are a few restricted volumes or subs caused by shortfalls in stock. Please don't be tempted to put in big orders for the most popular lines it won't make it any more likely that you will get what you ask for, we will do our best to fulfil where we can, but will be doing some sharing out to keep things as fair as we can all round.

There are now a few more buds showing up now and there are still more new lines growing nicely which will be appearing on the lists fairly soon. Our list constantly develops over the season so it's always worth just keeping an eye out for the new appearances.

Take care out there,

from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.