The Slope on Thursday – Tropic of Italy

It has been said that one of the effects of climate change would be that England would become Mediterranean and Italy more tropical; if July 2014 has any relevance we could say that we have had a taste of the future this month.

Wordless Wednesday – Umbria Sunflowers

In a vase on Monday – Hands tied behind my back

Well no, not really, just trying to come up with an eye catching title, not my strong point really.  Cathy is always so clever with her titles and as I am joining her for ‘In a vase on Monday’ where she asks us to make an arrangement with material from our own gardens, I needed to make some effort think of something at least vaguely fun!

The Slope on Thursday – ..and it’s getting better….

Well it is for me.  I’m calling this ‘my English summer’ because the weather is just so like it often is in England.  We had more rain this week, actually a thunder storm which just five miles away included hail (gardeners’ enemy number one).  The local news reported a small whirl wind right here where I live but it must have passed me by a whisker.  I am a lucky girl.

Garden Blogger’s Foliage Day – July

I think today’s post has been the hardest foliage post I’ve written since starting this meme in September 2011.

Why was it hard? Because the garden is a jungle of growth this year.  July has never been so wet.  Yesterday there were showers during the day and heavy rain in the night and more is forecast for today and tomorrow!  IT NEVER RAINS IN JULY!

In a vase on Monday – Daisy, Daisy, …..

With apologies to any ready who doesn’t know this old English song!  I don’t really know it either, I’m too young!

The Slope on Thursday – Chiaro/Scuro

The weather remains changeable!  I don’t think I’ve ever written that during a summer in Italy.  Yesterday and today are hot but there is a breeze and in the evening the temperature drops so that it isn’t always possible to eat outside.  The whole garden is more lush and jungle-like than I have ever seen it.

Wordless Wednesday – Beautiful meadow

In a vase on Monday – Spoilt for choice!

Monday arrives again and it is time to join Cathy at Rambling in the garden, where she asks us to fill a vase with material from our own gardens.

I have been amazed at just how much material I have been able to grow in my new cuttings bed; today there was enough to fill the whole house with flowers but rather than confuse I will show you just one of the vases I filled today.

The Slope on Thursday – the emphasis is lilac-blue

Our very strange weather continues!  Cool for July, scudding white clouds or just an overcast sky with some sun.  We are still sleeping under a duvet – either we’ve become very soft or it really is very much cooler this year often by the end of May the duvet is off!  We haven’t had a lot of rain but even just a little IS a lot for this part of central Italy.  The garden and the gardener are very happy.  My Italian friends and anyone else I speak to aren’t so happy, they feel cheated if the sky isn’t a constant blue from June until September.