Jinxed

 For weeks the answer to the question "what have you been doing?" has been "gardening".  We have felt some pressure because I agreed, yet again, to host another garden group (no food this time). We have had unprecedented rain and storms in recent weeks coupled with temperatures in the high twenties with the result that the plants have grown taller and the weeds have gone berserk. 

By yesterday evening we were satisfied that the garden was ready for the visitors. I mean't to take some photos but forgot and was just too exhausted to go out again. We knew that a storm was forecast to arrive during the evening with the possibility of hail. However we did not expect a storm of such ferocity! It raged unabated for over 2 hours with fork lightening, thunder, heavy driving rain but the worst was the incredibly strong wind. We just watched helplessly as the Mallus trees in the front garden bent towards the horizontal, heavy pots blew over and the pelargoniums (just dead headed) looked like they were going to be up rooted.

By the time the storm began to move away it was dark so we could not assess the damage, however we were awake at 6am anxious to find out the situation. Most plants in flower nolonger had any flowers left, any plant around a metre tall was blown flat (even though I had diligently supported them this year) there was tree debris spread everywhere and a very large branch had fallen off the ash tree onto the long bed. We had no option but try and clear up before they were due to arrive around lunch time. It was a close run thing but fortunately they were late.

As usual gardeners are very nice people and they invited us to join their picnic (none of your egg sandwiches and a piece of cake) it was a veritable feast with the ubiquitous  wine of course! They seemed happy to view the garden in the plus 30 degree temperatures which prevailed after lunch.

We raised some more money for the OpenGarden charity. The last time we had a garden group I vowed never again but relented. We will defintely not be hosting a third this year as goodness knows what disaster will befall us.