Rain and more rain!

I can’t remember a wetter August- it often is a fairly wet month but this year is exceptional. We have had almost 11 inches/ 300 m so far, over 7 inches in the past 9 days, with more promised this afternoon. The ground is now saturated and most of the plants are loving it- new growth is strong and colourful even on those who put it out really late.

There is the wonderful sound of running water through the garden- quite deafening when you are near the burn. Yesterday we found a blocked drain behind the cold frames which I cleared but the next 2 gullies were also blocked and Mike spent the afternoon alternately rodding and digging- luckily he managed to clear the blockage sufficiently to let the water through.

In the rock garden I noticed the sword fern Polystichum munitum looking quite refreshed. A couple of weeks ago I thought it was dying but it was just waiting for the ground to be saturated and drip through to it on a quarry ledge. It may make for difficult gardening but the plants are happy!