We've had almost three weeks of beautiful summer weather.

Here is my personal version of the poem God Says Yes To Me by Kaylin Haught. (Little is known about this American poet - I tried to get her consent and can only hope she takes this in the spirit of admiration I intended.)


I asked god if it was okay to be a bit of a bluestocking
and she said yes
I asked if it was okay to love silence and empty space
and she said it sure is
I asked her if I could really really like clothes
and sometimes wear nail polish
and she said sweetheart
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do exactly
what you want to
Thank you god I said
And is it even okay if I swear at my computer just occasionally and can't keep up with my emails
Darling girl she said
Who knows where she got that from Maggie
What I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes


What would your version say?

..and other growing things. The weather is still amazing here. (Still no rain!)

I bought a packer of cut basil as the supermarket had run out of pots of growing basil, not sure if it would last. And indeed it drooped balefully in a glass of water for a day or two, then perked up and as you can see every shoot developed some good roots.

I've potted them up as it is a particularly delicious type. They are drooping again in the heat today, but it's worth a try!

(My herb garden is a disaster and about to be ripped out for a fresh start. And I won't be putting mint in the ground again. I should have known better.

I'm also sowing my favourite annual poppy papaver rhoeas Mother of Pearl - thrillingly subtle colours. See here. Available from Chiltern Seeds

Many of the things looking good just now in the garden will be over by Open Day - two weeks tomorrow but I was delighted to see the first flower on geranium psilostemnon which really makes a show in the centre bed of the garden..