Saturday 28 July 2012

Watership Down

No it's not about the rabbits.


This is Phlox paniculata Bright Eyes, purchased five years ago from Hayloft Plants. It took a while to get established in my garden, probably because it likes moisture, and we usually have quite dry summers. But not this year, and I've never seen it look so happy. This is the first bloom, there are many more to follow.

Remember I mentioned a while ago, that the birds were particular about where I get their food from? Well I've solved the problem of what to do with the food they won't eat. I put it in my 'squirrel-proof' feeder. You know, the one where the squirrel just lifts the lid up. He eats anything, problem solved.


And finally, a little observation on the weather. Hope you enjoyed the recent heatwave. Only I've noticed that our very weird weather this year, has actually kept to a very fixed pattern:

End March:   heatwave
April:            wettest April for 100 years
May:             heavy rain like April
End May:      heatwave
June:             wettest June for 100 years
July:              heavy rain like June
End July:       heatwave
August??

Erm, I suppose the pattern could change, but then again........


24 comments:

  1. Lubię floksy za ich delikatne kwiatki i miły zapach. Wiewiórka jest sprytna i ma co chce do jedzenia. Pozdrawiam.
    I like these flowers with their delicate flowers and a nice smell. The squirrel is clever and has what he wants to eat. Yours.

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  2. My phlox is behaving the same way I think you are right all the rain suited them - wonder if they will carry on behaving properly next year.

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    1. Will depend on the weather, I suppose. Hopefully, we'll have a better summer next year.

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  3. Bright eyes is a pretty one. I thought phlox were happier with less water but will try giving mine more to see what happens.

    The squirrel is so funny, squirrel-proof feeder is even funnier.

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    1. The extra rainfall has also made the phlox foliage a lovely deep green colour. The plants looks extremely healthy.

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  4. Lovely phlox, I haven't tried them in my garden yet, but they are on my wish list. As for your weather observations...hmm...lets hope August will be the month that doesn't follow the pattern!!

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    1. We've already got a weather warning for heavy rain, and August has only just begun. Oh dear.

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  5. I have a lot of phlox. I really love them. The squirrels in my garden have started sneaking into my garage, opening new blocks of suet,and chowing down when I'm not around. Geez! Your phlox is beautiful. :o)

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    1. I keep my blocks of suet in an outhouse. The squirrels haven't found out, yet.

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  6. I love phlox and the colour of this one is superb.

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  7. The phlox is pretty. I'm betting on one of the wettest July(s) as well although we have had quite a few warm days, some of the warm days with no sun however. A crazy year.

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  8. That's a very pretty phlox indeed - great colour. Fingers crossed for an Indian summer....

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    1. Yes, I'm hoping for an Indian summer too.

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  9. It looks like you are in for more rain; however, we are having much more seasonable weather, finally, so maybe you will too. I also very much like your approach to problem solving.

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    1. Trouble is, I've run out of the cheap stuff. The squirrels have moved on to the better food now.

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  10. Hi,

    Let's hope the weather has turned at least and no more of this shockingly bad summer! I know we're due rain over this weekend - but actually August is looking OK, considering the past few years when August has suddenly turned cold (actually cold too, heating needed etc) and wet... Last summer I was writing my dissertation and wasn't too upset that over August I had to come indoors and get writing as I wasn't missing nice weather! ;)

    Ah, Squirrels... Now, they're one pest we don't get just here - in our last place we did though but thankfully I rarely ever see them now.

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    1. Well it didn't rain today, but tomorrow ???

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  11. Well...I've sold the TV as I've given up on TV weather reports...yours is a far simpler & clearly a more reliable system.
    Looking forward to January 2013...bikini poised! xx

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    1. Funnily enough, I remember one year when January was warmer than the spring that followed. Anything could happen really.

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