So hot. So Sweaty.
Those in the know will be glad to hear I finally finished my ‘Dragons book’ this week, which I found on the Libby app (a free app connected to your local library which lets you access books and audiobooks on your phone). This book was really enjoyable, and, completely hooked less than 25% in… there was an extremely long, graphic sex scene, which occurred when I was on the ride on mower- so I couldn’t grab my phone to skip ahead. I had to choose between listening to the entire scene in depth or having nothing to listen to for 40 minutes (I ended up tuning out and focussing intensely on mowing the grass, waiting for it to end).
Unfortunately this book series is really addictive, and each book is 28hrs, each with 2-3 long, in depth sexual encounters that sneak up on you and hit you with intensity just when you are settling in to deadhead a rose. I know no one else can hear what is going on under my headphones but after that one traumatic ride on day, I have insistently skipped through them, dropping everything to do so. I really enjoyed Fourth Wing and also Iron Flame (book 2)- but I feel a bit squicky about recommending them given, uh, some of the content. Luckily one of my best mates is off work for a few months, having had an operation- she was reading it at the same time as me and we both laughed through the awkward.
What I'm obsessing over this week
How bad will thrips get this year, is running over and over in my head, on repeat. We have started preventative spraying with molasses now and attracting a lot of predatory insects, we have also discovered that coffee grind under the plants seems to massively reduce them. After moving house our seaweed tonic is still not quite ready to be used in gardens, after Christmas it will be fantastic. It seems to deter thrips quite a bit as well, but doesn’t kill them, which is what I want, really.
It feels like we are going to get a long, hot, dry summer- keep an eye on any plants drooping or wilting, and soil getting hydrophobic from being too dry. It is important to make sure beds are densely mulched to reduce water loss in the soil. A stressed, drying out plant, is a beacon for pest and disease.
What staff learnt about this week
Our weekly focus was “mow as much as you can, then weedeat as much as you can, then pull whatever is left.” There is nothing more aggravating than a lawn which isn’t mown right to the edges, or is shaggy on the sides.
Underneath the palm tree- the fronds, if cut off first, would have enabled a much better cut.
The lawn growth is slowing, which makes our lives less “desperately run around and sort them out” and more “what can we do here to really get it nice.” A few staff are still working on their weedeater skills, and a few are getting incredibly good at their dead straight lines. One of the things we have been talking about is how important it is to really get as far to the edges as possible- don’t let weeds sneak up and don’t leave undefined edges. This sounds obvious but when the lawn is on the edge of chaos, it’s really easy to mow a smaller and smaller lawn every time.
Some garden tasks for this week
Water your gardens deeply and thoroughly.
Remember that aphids love stressed plants, so if your plants are drying out too much consider how you could keep them from drying out- mulching, moving to a shadier spot, more consistent watering.
Keep deadheading your flowers as it will encourage more to grow.
Pinch off new shoots from tomatoes if they are about the right size and shape, and remove the bottom leaves to slow fungal growth.
Trim all of your hedges, and don’t be afraid to cut back roses which have gotten out of hand.
Have a fantastic week everyone :)