From parasols and shorts to umbrellas and fleeces

The joy of an English summer. We've had as much rain in the last three days as in whole of last month and it's cool enough to need a fleece and jeans. Last week a bikini would have been plenty. And all driven along by a strong blustery wind which is giving the top-heavy runner beans and sunflowers a stiff challenge.

But there's always an upside and of course the rain means a thorough watering for everything outdoors. The parched looking new prairie garden is showing signs of fresh growth and the lawn is regaining some green. But the best of it is that the meconopsis might be able to outgrow the powdery mildew and recover.

A couple of orange themed photos today - the squash is 'Uchiki Kuri' and is growing around the inside of the polytunnel roof, supported on wires. My only concern is that it might shade the tomatoes and stop them ripening. The Helenium is new, bought for the prairie garden but I've put it in the autumn border instead.

Squash 'Uchiki Kuri'

Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer'.