The weather over the Easter weekend wasn’t as bad as was forecast except Saturday rained almost all day with torrential rain in the afternoon that had hail in it! As I mentioned on Monday, this time the hail didn’t pass me by. I also said that the tomatoes didn’t seem to have been affected, wrong they are covered with white spots, even the stems where the ice hit them, I’m hoping they will recover but this is an example that a gardener’s life is never an incident free one!
The usual view
The slope is a sea of poppies, Eschscholzia californica and European poppies, so not so different from last week. The poppies weren’t too damaged by the hail as they close when there is no sun, but some were shredded, they just don’t stand out because there are so many.
Looking up from the gate
Euphorbia is attracting lots of insects
Euphorbia with I think a hoverfly looking like a wasp
Iris germanica ‘Jane Philips’ is just beginning to bloom; luckily she wasn’t open on Saturday.
What’s the weather like where you are? Do your plants regularly suffer damage from extreme weather conditions? Snow, ice, heavy rain, drought, all can cause us gardeners problems. Have a good week.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Your poppies just go on and on. Wonderful photos!
Thank you Annette.
Hi, we can have all seasons in one day ,that’s the British weather for you. I have quite a sheltered suburban garden so not too problematic. I do love your photos especially all the orange shades, it all looks so lush.
It’s lush now, just wait until August, it will look very different then.
I grow Jane Phillips but find she is more prone to thrips than any of my other Irises. We had a lot of rain on Sunday afternoon, but no hail, that must be quite alarming with your Tomatoes.
Jane Phillips had wooly aphids last year but this year she’s fine but Rustic jewel has some, although I saw a wasp feasting on them today which is a good sign.
Your poppies set up such an energy, though everything contributes its share. I like the use of the silvery plant in the top photo.
That’s always there but sometimes I hold the camera a little higher. It’s a cineraria maritima I think.
Absolutely lovely! So sorry to hear that the hail got some of your tomatoes.
They seem to be alive. Only time will tell if they have been weakened
Your poppies just get better and better. I’m so glad they didn’t suffer much damage with your latest hail, hope your tomatoes recover.
Thanks Pauline, I hope so too! But there isn’t anything to do about the weather, hail happens in almost any month here!
A very mixed weekend, weather-wise, here! Rain, wind and sun. Thankfully, none of your hail problems (touch wood!). Monday was beautiful and a good day to get out into the garden. Most enjoyable! The slope is still looking good!
Glad you were able to enjoy some good gardening weather.
Those poppies are beautiful, especially with the odd red one here and there. The main problem for my garden is long dry periods – a south-facing slope on chalky stony soil has its advantages, but its disadvantages too!
Hope the tomatoes recover.
My slope couldn’t be hotter and there is very little soil. I never irrigate the slope so if things grow on mine I’m sure they’d grow on yours too.
Indeed. Your slope/blog has helped me a lot in rethinking a few things for my garden, so here’s a big THANK YOU Christina!
My pleasure, but I feel we all help each other.
Having watched the poppies develop over the past few weeks I am really loving them now. They make such an impact and over a long period of time. Do you sow them in autumn?
Most of this years are self seeders from the last two years; the original sowing was in autumn but it you live somewhere very wet ot with heavy soil I’d recommend sowing in spring.
The last poppy picture is great with the bold color and just the green and orange. I can’t believe how lush things look now compared to when it all dries out, there’s color everywhere!
Is that the photinia hedge blooming? I kind of like it, and usually I’m not a fan of them.
Yes, that’s the Photinia; I probably wouldn’t have chosen it but it was here already; it performs really well so I have grown to like it.
The Californian poppies really give your a garden a summer feel. I growing some white ones again this year as they seem to work better in our more northern light. Sorry to hear about the hail. It’s surprising how much damage it can do. A few years ago I planted out some delphiniums then had to dash indoors after a freak hail storm. I came out half an hour later to find said delphiniums completely ruined. I do wonder why we garden sometimes. 😉
A gardener has to accept these things but it can seem hard; as you’ve said in the past, I don’t make my living from what I grow, but for the farmers it is very hard.
sorry to hear about your tomatoes Christina,
the slope looks wonderful, the poppies still look lovely, it all looks so lush and summery, Frances
Today the temperatures were also summery, actually really hot but more rain is forecast for the weekend.
The weather can make a mockery of our plans and dreams as gardeners. I love the way the poppies light up your slope, and the contrast with silvery foliage and pale blue flowers works really well.
The bright light here needs strong colours like the poppies; silver foliage also always lloks good in the sun.
What glorious rivers of orange poppies, and they combine so well with the blues.
Orange and blue are always an exciting combination.
It has occurred to me today that the poppies make even more of an impact because you have the space for a river of them – they wouldn’t look half as stunning in a tiny clump.
Everything looks better in large quantities, that’s why when we see sweeps of bluebells in the wild they look so amazing for example.
I love, love, love the poppies. I have learned to be careful when planting things now due to our extremes which is why I went to native plants…they hold up best with the weather craziness.
So many plants have been introduced over such a long period here in Europe that it can be difficult to even work out which are natives, but I do agree that it is the way to go with a sustainable garden.