Strawberries

After a glorious week of sunny weather, we had a handful of alpine strawberries, and six 'real' strawberries ready for picking today.

Oh, so good. Fresh from the plant, and perfectly ripe, they've restored my faith in strawberries. Because they're new plants, they're a behind established ones, and these are the first ones from our plants. So far, we've had bought strawberries and---as normal, I'm afraid---I've been slightly underwhelmed. These, however, were wonderful. They looked perfect (deep red, firm, and big), and tasted just as good.

Punting

We've been visiting friends in Cambridge this weekend: Saturday on the river (punting to Grantchester for a picnic), and meeting people today. The weather's swelteringly hot, and it's just got to the end of term (graduation Thursday to Saturday, in order of college foundation dates), so the city was packed. Fortunately, the river wasn't too busy, and---although busier than normal---peaceful above the rollers (up which one drags the punt, to get to the upper river).

Lovely to see 'everyone', and well worth a hot and sticky journey home. We've got two weddings to attend in August, and we saw the bride for one, and the couple of the other: plans appear to be going well, and they should both be memorable occasions. One's in Dorset, which we'll break up the travel for in Ludlow; the other's in Derby, which I intend doing in a day.

Of course, having been away for the weekend, I'll now need to find time during the week to mow the lawn...

Solstice!

It's the solstice today (at 1128 UTC): I always like noticing such astronomical events. This one's bitter-sweet for me: although it marks the formal start of 'summer' (although I think it's been summer for a couple of weeks), it's also slightly depressing to know that the days will now get shorter for six months.

On the topic, I'd really like to find a way to build an analemmatic sundial into the garden, possibly one where the observer themselves is the gnomen. Don't know where, yet!

Next stop: the cross-quarter, Lammas/Lughnasadh on 1st August.

Straw-berried

After getting a big bale of straw (from a equestrian supplier, where it was £3, instead of a pet-shop, where it would have been £5 for something a tenth of the size...) included in a neighbour's order, we've now put straw down around the strawberries. It's rather later than 'normal', but there you go. At least it's before the strawberries have started ripening, and it'll help keep them happy and clean.

We've done a fair bit of tidying up, too, and sorted out a number of pots that needed attention. I've also collected seed from a Pulsatilla vulgaris, and sown it: they're really attractive seed-heads, and I'm fond of the pulsatilla foliage and flowers, so a few more plants would be nice. At the same time, I've sown Erythronium 'Pagoda'. The parent, unfortunately, dried out before it was properly established, but I'm hoping to do better next time.

New Cooker

The new range cooker arrived today! It is a thing of beauty, even though it's standing in the dining room. When the kitchen's rebuilt/reinstalled in late July, it'll get moved, obviously, but is safely out of harm's way in the mean time. We got (predictably) a rather good price, and I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

The weather's been rather warm, so we've been putting the new irrigation system to use. Seems to be doing the trick...

Brief Note

A quiet weekend, visiting my parents. Weather's been nice, and it was good to see them both. We've had some complications with the windows, which will hopefully get sorted, but there's not a lot to report, otherwise.

Weekend to Plan

I'm as astounded as anyone: the weekend went, pretty much, to plan. Yesterday we installed the irrigation system. It's about 30 360º sprinklers, and four 90º sprinklers (in the strawberry bed). Not quite perfect, as a few strawberries are being missed, and some of the potatoes/onions aren't being reached, but the permanent fruit bushes are all covered. This week is now forecast to be rather wet, so it won't actually be put properly to the test for a while, but it's good that it's in. I also laid a hose down the side of the garden (hidden behind the shrubs/trees/undergrowth at the edge) from which to water by hand, or attach the irrigation. When I have time, and possibly in stages, I'll install the new outside tap and move the existing tap.

We've also prepared for the double glazing installation, which starts tomorrow. All the windowsills have been cleared, and furniture moved from in front of the windows (including some pots from outside the windows). I'm really hoping it'll go smoothly, but we're not going to be present while they get on, so I'm a bit nervous...

(Oh, and to boot: I mowed the lawn on Thursday!)