An Intermission within the Intermission

Abutilon vitifolium

Excitement!  I have a flowering Abutilon!  This is the plant that had to be ‘sourced’ alternatively because the one I originally found could not be shipped easily [from Ireland] because of the impact of Brexit.  I specifically wanted one called “Abutilon vitifolium” as it has a blue / purple hue, and wider flower, compared to others.  The abutilon family appears to be made up of a very wide variety of flowering shapes, sizes and colours. Apparently, the species name means ‘vine-leaved’ and the vitifolium’s “large saucer-shaped light mauve flowers are borne profusely in summer, offset by large greyish-green felted leaves”. **

The rest of the garden is looking a tad sorry for itself.  In the UK we are all experiencing extremely hot – and unaccustomed – weather, and our garden plants are probably going into shock.  Well, that could be said of most of as humans too!  As you can see from the photographs the grass is reduced to a dusty scorched bowl, and the flower beds are wilting and curling up on themselves.  I am judiciously watering the tomato plants both inside the greenhouse and outside (35 of them!?*) as well as those vegetables that definitely need a good soak top-up to survive, but I am very mindful of not wasting what is in the water butts and conduct these tasks early in the morning or late evening so that wasteful evaporation is kept to a minimum.   Vegetables receiving care also include cucumbers (two varieties), sweetcorn, peppers (possibly two varieties but not sure if I am also cultivating a wild and exotic grass/weed) and runner beans,  

It is noticeable that over recent days it has been very quiet during the daytime but as the sun dips lower the wildlife emerges from the hedgerows and trees, and our local squirrel, pigeons, blackbirds and robin, plus numerous chiffchaffs, wrens and sparrows become very chit-chatty and entertaining.   Enjoying the cooler temperature at dusk also means we have seen some bats swooping through the trees.  Over this week, the almost-full moon has been low on the horizon – a hanging heavily yellow orb, it is almost as if one could walk over the hill and step onto it!

Again, it makes me appreciate that we are very fortunate to live where we do – it is a beautiful part of the world.
 
**Funnily enough, the August edition of [the posh] magazine Gardens Illustrated has a lead article entitled “Abutilon – add a touch of the exotic”. Get me – ahead of the game!!