A Reason Not To Tidy!

I would really like to be a tidy person, but naturally I'm not!  I try to keep things put away and filed correctly, but piles of papers and books just appear from nowhere.  Downstairs I just about manage to win the battle, most of the time, but my study is another kettle of fish.  Alot of my work stuff is filed in baskets on shelves, and I even put up another book shelf a couple of months ago (which is now full!), but still piles appear on my desk.  Sometimes they appear within a few hours of me tidying.  But today I realised that I shouldn't worry about it, because if I had cleared this pile away then Florence would have had nothing to use as a pillow!

 And that seems to me to be a perfect reason not to tidy up!

Waterlily

Today my waterlily opened.  Back in April I blogged about how I was hoping to avoid the thick green soup type of pond water and had bought a minature waterlily last year to try and provide the necessary shade.  The water is very clear this year so I'm guessing the waterlily shade has helped, although I suspect that the duckweed is also providing some necessary shade too!  I do skim it off regularly but it's a never completed job!  There are more buds, so I'm looking forward to many more weeks of blooms.

Nymphaea Walter Pagels

Sadly Dora died last week, but Nemo and Chilli are still happily enjoying each other's company and are swimming around under the lilypads.

Hemerocallis

I have several hemerocallis in my garden.  This one I bought many years ago and planted it in an "ali baba" type pot.  I'll never get it out of the pot (unless I smash it), but it's quite happy as long as I remember to water it and feed it.  I have no idea what variety it is anymore!

The rest are all ones that I acquired with the garden, and so are also mainly unknown varieties, apart from this one which had a label near it.

Hemerocallis Pandora's Box

Yesterday I noticed that one had opened that had not flowered before - I don't think I've ever seen a double one before and I think it is quite stunning!  Again I have no idea of its variety.

Unknown double orange hemerocallis

Is it, or is it not?

When I bought this house I inherited a Magnolia Grandiflora, the neighbours say it has never flowered.  I was cutting it back today as it was threatening to take over the patio when I stopped, and went inside for binoculars and camera.  Is this a flower bud?  It doesn't look like a leaf bud.  There is only one, but one will be better than none.

Veg Growing

I have just picked my first two courgettes!  There are lots more to come as well.  When I first had my allotment I planted 6 courgette plants and practically supplied the whole village with them!  I learnt my lesson and only planted 2 plants the next year.  Now I don't have an allotment but I manage to squeeze a small veg plot in behind the greenhouse.  Currently I an growing various cut and come again lettuces, onions, carrots, rocket, red mustard, beetroot, courgettes, runner beans, tomatoes, cucumber, and strawberries outside, with more tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines in the greenhouse.  I have leeks that need planting and a blackcurrent bush with no fruit or flowers.  I didn't realise how much I was growing 'til I made that list!  I've picked a few strawberries, although they're in too much shade really, but I have had a lot of fresh salad.  Can't wait for the rest of the bounty!