We've not seen rain here in my part of Kent for a few weeks, all the thunderstorms which fell and flooded areas elsewhere, passing overhead and giving us nothing.
Throughout the winter I've collected water for such an event but even I am beginning to find my supply in dwindling. With only half a container left I am praying for a break and at least some showers to find us.
Retreating to my greenhouse where the temperatures exceed 95°C the cactii are flourishing and flowering.
The beauty with its flattened white flowers has only recently opened its buds giving me a wonderful show of delicacy whilst the diminutive pink flowers have been opening for the past month now.
The garden itself it surviving surprisingly well considering the length and depths of the cracks in the sun parched earth. Early Spring management and allowing the soil to be totally carpeted with green has kept everything looking healthy.
Each part of the garden is performing out of its socks and the insect life is abundant. Not many butterflies yet but I have seen five or six of the varieties I usually get in this garden plus some small blues which haven't ventured here before.
The weather is hot, the plants are doing their best, the insects have nectar and pollen whilst the spiders have the insects. Birds come and gather the greenfly and the spiders to feed their fledglings whilst larger birds hunt for those they can extract from the ground.
All in all my ecological experiment is working well. Still could do with some rain though.
