Summer starts in the garden

We have had it very dry for the last three weeks - and very hot, with temperatures in the mid-30's C. This has made us rather anxious for the new wild-flower meadow and we have pumped the well water to provide a daily soaking. It seems this might be paying off, as we can now see the start of a carpet of seedlings .... and just hope these are the wildflowers and not weeds!

The vegetable garden is planted out with tomatoes, courgettes, and a range of brassicas and beans:

- and the herbs in the raised beds are doing well, along with some earlier courgettes and tomatoes. We have planted about 30 tomatoes, with 9 varieties ... and we'll see which do well ... there is everything from those producing (allegedly) fruit of over a kilo to those that provide clusters of small red and yellow fruit: 

As I walked round the garden this evening there were rolls of thunder and some very particular cloud formations:

- so perhaps we'll have a storm and some rain. But the weather has been good for the blossoms and fruit this year - the mulberry tree is thick with its little red, furry fruit:

- and the roses and honeysuckle that surround the house are prolific, with powerful, heady perfumes in the warm evenings. Very beautiful:

And what about our wildlife cameras? Well, we are still being rather disorganised about setting these up each evening ... so, some disciple is required - more of this soon. In the meantime, here's a night prowler who was around a couple of nights ago.