A mini heatwave

Finally, it’s raining! I couldn’t be more happy.

It’s been scorching hot around here, well by UK standards anyway. My pond has completed dried out and animals and plants are sulking and yearning for shade. On the farm at the rescue, Wilma has taken to holding up the wall,

while Daisy and Maisy, along with their cockerel friend have retired to their den, and refuse to come out at all.

The sheep are dotted along the perimeters…

the chickens under the tyres.

Turkeys don’t seem to mind the sun. This guy is a monster, he attacks everything, people, sheep, and pigs, the only animal he fears are the geese, geese y’see, take no prisoners, ever!

This turkey is the opposite, he loves everyone and everything. The more I’m around animals the more I realize how like people they are. They all have totally different personalities, even within the same species.

Trying to keep plants watered has been challenging. I’m amazed these lilies flowered at all given the relentless attacks from the dreaded lily beetle, pretty but lethal.

The begonias are coming into their own now,

honeysuckle is flowering,

and buddleia is calling far and wide to the bees and butterflies.

Lady Marmalade hung on in there,

as did this pretty-planted by birds tea rose.

Laura, my wonderful dog sitter brought me another racing pigeon for release a few days ago, we were both delighted to see how quickly it found the bird feeder. Looks like it’s sticking around.

Of course, wherever Laura goes, Emmi, aka Baby Bear, my little foster puppy, goes too. It’s always so touching seeing how she remembers me, my face is literally dripping wet after a welcome from her! She’s always so at home here.

And Finally….

Summer wouldn’t be summer without Basilica!

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Subscribe below to stay up to date with the latest from Gardens and Wildlife!

Don't forget to check your email junk folder to confirm your subscription!

34 Comments

  1. Thanks Janet, yes, the heatwave has passed, rain, rain rain now. The garden needs it so I’m not complaining. Always good to make you smile. xxx

  2. Hi Dear One…..well the heatwave has passed, but your pictures are as usual fabulous…..always making me smile. I am sending you, Hubs and the Furies lots of hugs….Janet xxx

  3. I’m amazed to have lilies, the dreaded lily beetle is on the increase around here. Naughty, angry turkey came to us when he was very young, he was even angry then. An interesting question, I shall have to ponder on that! Thanks Jason.xxx

  4. Those Lilies look great! Funny about the Oscar and Felix turkeys. Could it be genetic, or their experiences as young poults? Maybe their personalities are formed in the egg?

  5. the animals are certainly doing what animals do! Glorious technicolour in the floral realms.
    xxx

    • Thanks Menhir, it always odd wandering around the farm in the heat, all the animals are quiet and oh so still, apart from naughty turkey.xxx

  6. I laughed at the chicken resting against the tire. She looks like she finally had it, and just was going to wait it out. Your flowers seem to have done rather well, all things considered, and it was a treat to see them all.

    I hadn’t a clue about Brasilica. It confused me, because it’s not the time of year for Canival, but thanks to the magic of Professor Google, I see it’s a festival there in Liverpool. It makes sense — in that kind of heat, it’s always reasonable to shed a few clothes!

    • The chickens make me laugh too, they could go into their pens but prefer to hang out under tyres…animals eh? I should have explained Brasilica, silly me. It always a great day out, how the dancers and drummers cope in the heatI don’t know, but many a tail feather is shaken. Thanks Linda.xxx

  7. I don’t like too much heat either and I love the way animals always find the coolest spots. Daisy and Maisy and the cockerel …seem unlikely bedfellows…. But it is obviously working well for them. We had a pet Tom the turkey and he was loaded with character. I agree animals are like people…. All different and interesting in their own way. Your garden looks lovely, everything in bloom despite the heat. Brasilica looks great!
    PS our cute little dog, Chockie never forgot someone who was kind to her …

    • I like it warm, but only when I’m in the shade. The chickens seem to like the pigs and often hang out with them. You have me smiling re Tom the turkey, oh yes, every animal is totally unique. Dogs always remember….yes.xxx

  8. The lily beetles are BEASTS aren’t they…. chewing the lilies up….!!

    The DEAR furry piggies! How hot all the creatures were in the heat wave… We had a heat wave the other week I when I was away in Aylesford…. but now it is like autumn – had the most spectacular thunder and lightening and rain last week…. all mad!

    Great to read and see pics of the lovely plants and dear creatures! xxx

    • Oh….those lily beetles are voracious, I’m always amazed by how quickly they cab devour a whole plant, and their offspring truly are yucky! We had a fantastic thunder storm last night, it came from nowhere and was most dramatic, we all got soaked, poor Annie hates thunder so pulled frantically all the way home. Lovely to hear from you, hope you sort a blog soon, I do miss you.xxx

  9. lowcarbdiabeticJan

    What a glorious post.
    I loved seeing all the animals, and you can’t blame them for doing the sensible thing and looking for shade!

    Your flowers all look wonderful, and those lovely lilies such glorious summer colours.

    It’s been a little cooler here today, I actually had to wear a lightweight summer coat!
    My good wishes

    All the best Jan

    • Thanks Jan. The weather has become changeable these last few days, I’ve had to don a coat too! xxx

  10. I’m like your animals, I stay in the shade when the sun is shining! We have had some torrential rain over the last few days and more is due on Wednesday, but the garden really appreciates it after all the hot humid sunshine we have had through July.
    Your flowers are gorgeous!

    • Oh, you and me both re the sun! I’ll be the first to moan when it’s cold again though…we had a marvelous thunder storm last night, it came out of nowhere, the dogs were not impressed but The garden is.Thanks Pauline.xxx

  11. Wow! Fantastic Header picture…..sets the scene for the super post of pictures. Enjoy the weather…… 😉 Hugs! 💕💕

  12. The post went before I completed my sign-in. I do find an iPad over eager

  13. I behave a bit like your animals when it is too hot . We also managed a drop of rain but not a remendous amount. So far I have noticed just two butterflies (not counting the ever present whites) on our buddleias. Some beautiful photos.

    • Thanks Sue. It was a slow start around here re butterflies, usually they come in droves when the buddleia is out but not this year. The numbers have really picked up now but are still down on previous years, we’d expect to see about sixty or seventy peacocks alone, this year only about fifteen at any one time. It isn’t looking good for them, at all.xxx

  14. Oh my goodness, I didn’t know you had pigs at the rescue, how cute are they? I do have a soft spot for piggies. Nooo, I don’t want rain, I go away at the weekend and I’m looking forward to spending time on the beach so I don’t mind it raining this week but then no more for a week. How lovely that you still get to see Emmi, it’s amazing how good a dog’s memory is and that they remember people from years ago even.

    • Yes, we usually have about ten pigs at any one time, they get re-homed to lovely people with plenty of land. I enjoy hanging out with the pigs, they can be so friendly and curious, also quite affectionate. Oh….I’ll hope for NO RAIN on you hols, here’s to glorious sunshine for you all. I love seeing Emmi, I can’t believe she’s two and a half already, she’ll always be my Baby Bear, however old she gets.xxx

  15. Lovely post and pictures. I don’t like heatwaves, and tend to stay in when we do get them. Nice to see plenty of colour in the garden, and I especially like the Lady Marmalade rose. xx

    • Thanks Flighty, no, I’m not fond of excessive heat either, a shade-loving girl am I. Lady Marmalade is such a rich colour, she hasn’t many blooms but those she has are beautiful.xxx

  16. An angry turkey, who’d have thought? That second turkey has the most amazing rainbow- coloured face.
    When I kept chickens I realised that they all have a different personality and their own funny little ways. Up to then I thought a chicken was a chicken.
    You have lots of lovely colour in your garden. How wonderful to have your very own unique rose, you should name it.

    • He has to be the most angry animal I have ever met, god know why, we’ve had him since he was a youngster so he’s only known kindness. He whacks everyone with his huge wings as they go by and runs at the sheep kicking …… a bundle of grumpyness for sure. Chickens do have individual personalalities don’t they, some of ours behave more like dogs, clucking softly and following us around. Oh…I shall name that Rose. Dina’s Delight! Ha! Thanks Chloris.xxx

  17. I know how the animals feel I don’t go out in the sun but stick to the shade whenever I can although at the moment it is rainy and miserable so not much chance of getting a tan. Having to water every evening is a bit of a drag but you have to keep the garden going and yours is looking good despite the heatwave.

    • I’m no good in the sun either, a total shade lover. Watering the pots takes forever around here when it’s warm, each year I swear I’ll plant everything out, sometimes I do but then just go and fill all the pots again. Thanks Elaine. Good to hear from you.xxx

  18. veggiemummy

    Wow, you have farm animals too! I love the photo of the pigs keeping cool with the cockerel and who knew that turkeys could be so friendly?! Your garden is looking spectacular. Ours is looking a bit battered after torrential rain this weekend. I’m sure it’s been very good for the weeds though! xx

    • Yes, we have farm animals, pigs, sheep, and a host of different birds, it’s always nice hanging out with them. That brown turkey is adorable as opposed to the angry one, he even runs at and kicks the sheep, he’s been with us since he was young so has never been mistreated, he’s just naturally grumpy. The rain has now flattened the tall plants here….sighs…thanks Veggiemummy.xxx

  19. Wow, you must have just posted this, Dina! i didn’t even get me e-mail alert; just missed you and thought I’d check in!

    We’ve had a heat wave, too, so I’m glad you’ve had some relief and the poor animals can enjoy their surroundings a bit more.

    Your garden looks great, despite the heat. I do love that gorgeous hollyhock. I was just looking at some different hollyhock seeds today; they’re such a lovely flower and garden feature, aren’t they? Everything looks beautiful. I didn’t even get out to weed this past week; way too hot and lots of in-between rains, so I’m excited to get out tomorrow and catch up with weeding. Got a new garden book I’m enjoying: Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes. the author strongly believes in using under-planting as mulch, which intrigues me and appeals…something to shoot for, anyway.

    Brasilica looks like too much fun; I’d probably join the dancing group. 🙂 Did you?

    Thank you for a beautiful post. Baby Bear looks like a sweet bundle of love, that’s for sure. xxoo, K

    • How lovely that you thought of me and came by, telepathic re the timing!!! Hollyhocks are fantastic flowers, we have rust issues here, it only affects the leaves though. I hope you got a chance to do some weeding, it’s just too hard in hot weather isn’t it? I do like the sound of that book, I will look it up.
      Lol…is the pope a catholic? Of course I joined in, a bit wobbly on the dodgy hip but still, I gave it my best shot!!! Still hoping for a new blog….thanks Kitty, always good to hear from you.xxx

Leave a Reply to Snow Bird Cancel

Your email address will not be published.