Let's face it, I am NEVER going to be a fan of summer. It's too hot, buzzy things get in the room at night, and I hate that summer clothes tend to show off arms and legs and things. However, there are certain elements that I appreciate and love about this time of year. A glass of cold Pimm's, a dish of fresh strawberries, seeing chaps playing cricket in their whites (though I don't care for cricket), Wimbledon being rained off, Ladies Day at Ascot. I'm not interested in horseracing, but I do like to have a good look at the hats each year.
This is one of my favourite things though. A trug filled with goodies from the garden.
There is nothing nicer than being able to pop outside and pick fresh roses for the house (roses that actually smell as a rose should). My favourite rose bush is in the front garden. You can hardly see it from the house. But when I come home from doing the school run, and walk up the driveway to the house, I'm greeted by this sight. So beautiful.
I like the refined image of self, cutting roses and placing in a trug in a Lady of the House style. Shame that image is totally ruined when I manage to snag my fingers on the rotten thorns, and swear like a trooper. I also picked some sweet peas, redcurrants and a lettuce.
The redcurrants have been removed from the stalks, washed, laid out flat, and are currently freezing. Once frozen I can bag them up and label. I'm delighted that for the second year running, a wild Bee orchid has chosen our garden to grow in.
But what I really love about a British summer is that it doesn't matter how hot is is today, tomorrow you may just well need one of these!
And for me that just about sums it up, when the Heavens suddenly decide we've had enough sun and the rainclouds burst on our heads! That's summer!