The last of the white geese babies has gone. They are such appalling parents that they usually forget to remain on the eggs until hatching. It is as if they have attention deficit disorder and the slightest distraction makes them forget that they have any eggs. This year one goose actually hatched 5 and then led them back to the group to be trampled on. By contrast, the canada geese keep their goslings safe from the rest until they are at the gangly teenage stage and can hold their own in a crowd. There are some very pretty Canada/ grey lag goslings who have made it through even though they have lost the grey lag father somewhere along the way. I don’t know whether single parent families are common among this breed or he has met with an accident.

The roses everywhere are magnificent this year. I suspect they will be over quickly though. Some of the branches are weighted down by blossom and the lawns have circles of petals around the edges. The air is heady with their perfume but at night the philadelphus predominates. The candelabra primulas are still flowering. They really are good value and when placed against the gravel the vibrant colours are quite exotic.

One week later and already I am moaning about the heat and the constant watering. I couldn’t keep up with it by myself. Thank goodness for Sandra and Alan. They are usually to be seen with miles of hose pipe snaking behind them. Big gardening tip—–only buy the best hose pipes! The cheap ones constantly kink and then the connector explodes off the tap. I can never see out of my specs as they are splattered with water stains.

The dogs are finding the heat too much. Millie sleeps all day then gets her 2nd wind at around 11pm and disappears into the woods chasing who knows what –there is a lot of indignant yapping involved.

The lawns have not been cut as they are too dry. This is a good thing as it is the yearly migration of baby frogs at the moment. They are hopping around like the proverbial fleas on a dogs back(ours don’t have any-oh no). You have to be careful where you walk they are so numerous. It seems to be a very drawn out affair this year. Maybe they have to return to the ponds as it is so dry. There are thousands of them so perhaps it is just a very good year for them.

Will take some photos of the vipers bugloss by the meadow. The violet blue is quite startling against the lilac of the wild salsify in the meadow.

Sian