Boats and Bounty

We have been away on our canal boat for the last two weeks and had lovely sunny weather. On our return all the seedlings in the greenhouse have grown like topsy. I have 40 seed trays to plant out. At home the weather was also hot and dry so the ground is now concrete. I am having to water it first before I can get a spade into it. This weekend is a big planting session. I also need to restructure some of my flower beds so I am on a gardening marathon.

There are many pretty cottages alongside the canal that were former canal workers homes.

 A waterside residence 

Traditional boat painting. Roses and Castles.

It is not known why they are painted in this fashion

We travelled along the Oxford Canal which twists and turns and there are many bridges.

The bridges are only just wide enough to take a boat and sometimes they are on a sharp bend

A canal signpost.

How many miles

Some locks are very deep. At these the paddles are very heavy to lift.

Sutton lock is 12 foot deep

 The forgetmenots are looking beautiful in the Artful Garden.

A carpet of blue

I love pink campions.

Vivid pink

The hellebore is in full flower.

The flowers have a hint of green

Fruit is forming on the blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes. The decorative red currant bush looks and smells lovely.

A unique perfume

We have made a tent to warm up the ground for the sweetcorn. As it happens with the hot weather we did not need too.

We are planting out the sweetcorn over the next few days