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Given the dreadful year we've had (relentless blistering temperatures, next to no rain from June until just last week and the loss of a lot of mature trees and plants) it was a good job I had few plans 
In the end the bare root plants did arrive and most were still alive. However from early August we were banned from using water on anything but fruit and veg so they all died anyway!
This year my plans are to convert a lot of the garden to a drought garden, focusing on the things that have survived without watering - grasses, bamboos, red hot pokers - and abandon the things that haven't, which is sadly anything in pots, along with dahlias, hardy gernaiums, clematis and even the hibiscus have struggled.
In the veg garden we're still eating tomaties, peppers and aubergines although the end is in sight. Things like leeks have not coped, of the 260 planted I have about 30 left! I am thinking about building a structure for shading to give stuff like lettuces, radishes and turnips a chance. That's a plan.
Having been incredibly depressed by the garden this year - what had been a source of comfort during Covid lockdowns became a source of despair and fear (wild fires ripping through the trees) this summer, and why I stopped visiting you lovely people - I'm determined to find a way to make my heavy clay work without rain and with high temperatures.
We are also in the process of fully fencing the garden to try and keep the deer and wild boar out as they've done a lot of damage this year, especially the deer. Possibly my fault for ensuring there was always water down for wildlife resulted in the wildlife coming into the garden to drink. Hmmm. But I'll be putting more over to wildlife anyway, just not the big ones
(27-04-2022, 11:10 PM)PyreneesPlot Wrote: As it appears I had no plans or hopes for this year I have absolutely nailed it!
I have the last border to plant up to complete the circle of ornamental beds and borders all round the house, but very irritatingly the delivery of plants has been delivered to and signed for by persons unknown and the majority are now out of stock. I guess I'll wait until the autumn now.
In the end the bare root plants did arrive and most were still alive. However from early August we were banned from using water on anything but fruit and veg so they all died anyway!
This year my plans are to convert a lot of the garden to a drought garden, focusing on the things that have survived without watering - grasses, bamboos, red hot pokers - and abandon the things that haven't, which is sadly anything in pots, along with dahlias, hardy gernaiums, clematis and even the hibiscus have struggled.
In the veg garden we're still eating tomaties, peppers and aubergines although the end is in sight. Things like leeks have not coped, of the 260 planted I have about 30 left! I am thinking about building a structure for shading to give stuff like lettuces, radishes and turnips a chance. That's a plan.
Having been incredibly depressed by the garden this year - what had been a source of comfort during Covid lockdowns became a source of despair and fear (wild fires ripping through the trees) this summer, and why I stopped visiting you lovely people - I'm determined to find a way to make my heavy clay work without rain and with high temperatures.
We are also in the process of fully fencing the garden to try and keep the deer and wild boar out as they've done a lot of damage this year, especially the deer. Possibly my fault for ensuring there was always water down for wildlife resulted in the wildlife coming into the garden to drink. Hmmm. But I'll be putting more over to wildlife anyway, just not the big ones
Has Anyone Seen the Plot?
Hautes-Pyrénées (65), France
Hautes-Pyrénées (65), France
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