I’ve been wrapped in thoughts of autumn harvests while working on the September issue of Country Living magazine, so lest summer should pass me by, I’ve dug out my June copy to get me back on track.

It’s full of useful tips... I’m going to follow Stephanie's advice and pop a couple of squashes in between my bean rows. This should create a more humid environment that may prevent mildew. And, like this little pansy, my eagle eye is always on the lookout for self sown seedlings that I can move to gaps in the borders.

Copyright Country Living Magazine 2012

Something for the weekend

Heat the water and sugar in large pan, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then transfer to a non-metallic bowl. Cool and stir in the citric acid.

Shake any bugs out of the flower heads, (more for the bugs benefit than yours, as you'll be straining the syrup later) before adding the blooms to the sugar syrup, along with the sliced lemons.

Cover and leave in a cool place to steep for 2-3 days. Stir two or three times daily. Done!

Strain through a muslin (or clean kitchen cloth) into sterilised bottles, and store in a cool dark place, or fill plastic bottles (leaving room for expansion) and pop in the freezer for a year long supply.

Aldeburgh Festival

With the Aldeburgh Music Festival in full swing there's still time to catch a medley of my musos rocking out in the 

Snape Maltings Gallery....http://www.snapemaltings.co.uk/event/mary-woodins-musical-selection-in-the-gallery/

More pictures from my palette

The iris fields where I'm prone to roam looked stunning a couple of weeks ago... before the weather turned unfavourably autumnal!

Red White and Blue

With four fabulous days of Jubilee celebrations at an end, I’m pleased to say my garden put on a fair splash of red, white and blue in support. While not ideal for hanging around on a boat, in a fancy hat, the rain showers combined with bonus bank holidays, did at least yield perfect weeding conditions.

Oblivious to the royal hubbub, Gabriella, my very old and favourite but quite tottery of late chicken, tucked her head under her wing for the final time this weekend. Now, the well known dish ‘Coronation Chicken’ (cold chicken in a mildly curried sauce) was invented for Her Majesty’s celebrations on 2nd June 1953. It did cross my mind (very fleetingly), it might be fitting to serve up Gabby for the Jubilee.... but she’d be a tough old bird, and after all, she was my friend, so we went for ‘Cremation chicken’ on the bonfire, with all the weeds.