Here in Wales, last summer was wet, too hot, and wet again in turn. The garden suffered and so did I. I ended the summer of 2023 fed up to the back teeth with gardening. It didn't help that we were in the process of extending the green house so the far end was more like a building site. There were areas I couldn't access because of piles of wood etc. and plants suffered. I had black spot on my roses, mildew on the clematis. I was not happy. 2024 began on a better foot. Having rediscovered my enthusiasm over the winter, I began clearing the beds and preparing for Spring with gusto. (see previous post.) The daffodils and camelias have been outstanding. However, since then the weather has been appalling - rain, rain, rain and wind. So I've been hindered. As soon as I get one job sorted, the weather comes along and ruins it, sending me back to square one. But I guess, that is the challenge of it. Thankfully, I now have a refuge, somewhere to hide out from the relentless rain, s...

The paved area at the back of the house sits in deep shade for most of the morning and then blazing sunlight until dusk. I tried roses, cottage style pots but they didn't like it; the poor things wilted in the heat of the afternoon. The area looked stark and unfriendly with no planting at all so I decided, on a whim, to try more exotic things. I shouldn't really call it a jungle since some of the things I am growing there wouldn't survive in a jungle at all. It is a mix of small palms, bananas, bulbs, fuchsias, anything that enjoys or will tolerate unrelenting sun. I bought cheap palms and bananas from the garden centre department at the supermarket.  When I brought them home they were small plants but I was astonished at how quickly they grew. By the end of teh summer, the four inch high banana plants were taller than me! Since I am new to this style of gardening, I stuck to easy to grow varieties that would put up with growing in pots. Along side the more unfamiliar thing...