There is still no sign of a flower yet in the sink of seed bombs but most of the greenery is doing well, if a bit nibbled. I still don’t know what to expect. Anyone have any ideas from the leaves?
I love the delicacy of the verbascum flowers, cream with their purpley middles.
The rose we were given for our golden wedding anniversary almost nine years ago is giving us some delightful peachy/golden blooms. 
At Roots today we went to sit on the bench in the new orchard and listened to the birds – a wren and a blackbird sang for us. In front of us were the purple thistle flowers and the teasels and cow parsley in silhouette.
The line of poppies in one of the poly-tunnels was quite striking.
It wasn’t until I looked at the photo of our first Sweet pea flower that I saw the greenflies! The Sweet peas have been very slow this year. I’m hoping they’ll pick up if the weather improves.
The lilies are scenting the whole of the garden.
Our rhubarb is doing well since we brought some of it home from the allotment. Tonight I have made the very delicious Different-every-time- pudding, otherwise known as Rhubarb Butterscotch Pie and the recipe by Ambrose Heath can be found here.
Our first Day Lily has bloomed today and there are lots of buds to come.
I bought the clematis, Lady Betty Balfour ,many years ago and it has struggled. Suddenly it’s reaching to the top of the yew tree. I don’t think it had the right label on it as it doesn’t look like the Lady we once had in our previous garden. 
I have just finished a most enjoyable read. The salesperson at Waterstones last Friday suggested I might like this one set in Cornwall. I had already bought our books but had enough points for this one to be free so I didn’t resist and, boy, am I pleased that I did get it. It’s funny, clever, rattles along with delightful characters that are so alive and is a really good mystery. I read it in two days and didn’t do much else!  I really can recommend it, even if you don’t get it free. (Book buddies J and H, it’ll be available for the borrowing!)
There is a second novel coming in October, a series to watch I’m thinking. Any of you already read this one?
Last night’s sunset was glorious, a fiery orange cloud hovering over the tennis courts nearby.
Many Clematis are blooming and this purple one is lovely.
We bought a new beautiful blue Hydrangea today to go with the others I showed you a day or two ago. Click here if you missed them..
Our heatwave seems to have passed on by but the rest of the country and Europe are still sweltering. Here it’s just summertime warmth. How is it with you?
“Please Call Me by My True Names”by Thich Nhat Hanh
Don’t say that I will depart tomorrow,
even today I am still arriving.Look deeply: every second I am arrivingto be a bud on a Spring branch,to be a tiny bird, with still-fragile wings,learning to sing in my new nest,to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,to fear and to hope.The rhythm of my heart is the birth and deathof all that is alive.I am the mayfly metamorphosingon the surface of the river.And I am the birdthat swoops down to swallow the mayfly.I am the frog swimming happilyin the clear water of a pond.And I am the grass-snakethat silently feeds itself on the frog.I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,my legs as thin as bamboo sticks.And I am the arms merchant,selling deadly weapons to Uganda.I am the twelve-year-old girl,refugee on a small boat,who throws herself into the oceanafter being raped by a sea pirate.And I am the pirate,my heart not yet capableof seeing and loving.I am a member of the politburo,with plenty of power in my hands.And I am the man who has to payhis “debt of blood” to my peopledying slowly in a forced-labor camp.My joy is like Spring, so warmit makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.My pain is like a river of tears,so vast it fills the four oceans.Please call me by my true names,so I can hear all my cries and my laughter at once,so I can see that my joy and pain are one.Please call me by my true names,so I can wake up,and so the door of my heartcan be left open,the door of compassion.
Self seeded poppy
First courgette
Busy border
It’s been so hot today, 29C/84FÂ that I have barely been outside, just long enough this early evening to take these three photos.
This post is for our dear friend who lives in Flagstaff, Arizona and who loves hydrangeas. They were very small when P&J last visited but are thriving in our front garden and are looking very lovely this year. 
Hydrangea Petiolaris
Sorry I have lost the names of the others.
I love seeing the blue sky through bright green leaves.
I bought some lovely copper labels for the trough near the kitchen where I grow edibles, flowers as well as herbs.
There’s a birthday tomorrow at Community Roots so I have made a Sticky Ginger Cake which I know is the birthday person’s favourite.
Happy Summer Solstice to all my Dear Readers.
I made a favourite breakfast of Blueberry Pancakes with creme fraiche and maple syrup for my lovely Mr S.
Our eldest daughter came for the day and we had a delicious lunch in the Redruth Buttermarket in bright sunshine and with colourful hanging baskets and bunting blowing in the breeze. The excellent kitchens allow for each of us to choose – burger, foccacia, pad thai.
Later we had a rather warm walk down to the beach at Trelissick. All in all, a delightful happy day.
Walking down to the beach
Looking out over Channal Creek
Rock Samphire
Walking back up with the house in view.
And of course, my own lovely Dad is also in my mind today, especially as we enjoy Trelissick which Mum and Dad both loved too.
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