My tulips this year were looking good, even after the rain they looked lovely.
But then came the gusts of windy weather over the last 24 hours and now they are looking a bit bashed. Please don’t let this be a repeat of last years weather.
That’s it I’m selling them, I don’t need them anymore, all they do is hold rain water, lots and lots and lots of it! Can’t see me needing them again until October when we will probably be basking in 102 degrees!
Anyone else bemused by the weather in the U.K this year?
However today I did manage to find a small piece of nice in my garden in between two torrential downpours
Some flowers had managed to stay intact even though they contained large amounts of water.
Other flowers where staying tightly closed, and who can blame them.
Others had been and gone fleetingly defying the weather.
Every time I try and get out to do some gardening the rain starts again, so now it resembles a jungle, all be it a very lush looking one. I have plants growing where they shouldn’t, the bindweed is looking lovely don’t you think?
Now this is a weird one coming from me, I have moss lots and lots of moss, maybe even too much! There I’ve said it.
Normal garen practice will resume next year, this year I fear normal is out of the window!
Now for two random things to watch just incase you are going stir crazy being stuck inside out of the deluge. (Those of you experiencing hot summers in far flung destinations need not bother, sorry but we don’t like you and you have far better things to do!) Only joking, I think!
This is worth watching if only for the very end part.
The most lovely owl I have ever seen, I want one! I may have shown you this before but I think it’s worth watching again.
The weekend fast approaches and just incase it rains AGAIN lets cook Lime and Blueberry drizzle dream cake, then we can console ourselves with a huge slice of cake and a nice cup of New England coffee!
Lime and Blueberry drizzle dream cake.
A delicious twist on traditional lemon drizzle cake. For a round cake, use a 20cm springform tin and cook for 1 hour 5 minutes.
Prep 25mins Total time 1hr 15mins
The cake will keep for two days in an airtight container and freezes well uniced.
Serves 12 (maybe 4!)
220g soft butter
250g castor sugar
4 large eggs
250g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
200g blueberries
zest of 2 limes
For the lime drizzle
juice of 2 large limes
100g icing sugar, sifted
For the icing
5 tsp lime juice
125g icing sugar sifted
zest of 1 lime
1. Preheat the oven to 180c, fan 160c, gas 4. Line the base and sides of a 20cm square tin with non stick baking paper. Beat together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer or electric hand whisk,until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time,beating well in between. If the mixture starts to look curdled, add a tablespoon or so of the flour and beat like mad until the mixture comes together again.
2. Gently fold in all but one tablespoon of the flour, the baking powder and a pinch of salt. Toss the blueberries in the reserved tablespoon of flour, then fold these and the lime zest into the mixture.
3. Spoon the mixture into the tin, smooth it down and pop it into the oven for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes or so.
4. Mix together the ingredients for the drizzle. using a thin skewer, poke holes in the top of the cake, then spoon the drizzle all over and leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
5. Turn the cold cake out onto a serving plate. For the icing, mix the lime juice and the icing sugar together and drizzle all over the cake. Scatter over the lime zest.
6. Make a cup of New England coffee, visit Glenfinlas Coffee the only place in the U.K where you can buy New Engalnd coffee. Two of my favourites are Hazelnut Creme and Cinnamon Hazelnut.
7. If you close your eyes whilst drinking and eating, you could imagine you are at,
Petersham Nurseries,
and The Inn at Mill Falls, Meredith New Hampshire, New england.
Enjoy, I know I will.
This afternoon summer appeared in my garden very briefly, everywhere looks very green and lush after all the rain, my Bee houses are weathering nicely as are my frogs!
A certain furry creature was busy looking for birds, frogs or really anything she could catch.
And yes once again I make no excuses for posting more pictures of tulips, some quite clearly think they are roses, which brings me neatly to the fact that my David Austin heritage rose is covered in buds and looking very promising for the weeks to come.
I had plan’s today, nothing earth shattering just painting doors catching up on a few things you know the kind of stuff. None of this has been done due to a mini migraine, the way I feel kind of matches the weather right now.
I am now at 5pm in the afternoon feeling slightly more normal and have played with plants and some nice giant luggage labels I purchased a while ago, the champagne thing I don’t think I’ll try today, I haven’t been to London today but am in contact with it’s mental going’s on on a daily basis thanks to my son Tom, and lastly the rain, well I don’t think it needs any explanation.
Hoping you and I have a better Sunday what ever the weather.
