My Garden in August 2026 Part 2

The garden didn't do very well while we were away. The neighbour was looking after our cat and then she was also away for a week, funnily enough we all ended up in Crete, just an hour apart and her cousin took over looking after both of our cats.

We're very grateful for them looking after the cat and they used to look after our dog along with another friend, who we don't see anymore, but our neighbours are moving soon and we're already wondering what to do with a cat that will be 19 next year when we plan a month long trip to Australia. I'm thinking we'll drop her at the neighbours new place, she spends most of her time there anyway.

Well back to the garden, there's no hose pipe ban with Severn Trent, but we've not been using it and have been conservative with the water and it's time consuming filling up watering cans from the taps, we didn't feel we could ask our neighbours to water the garden as well, but they kindly watered the raised beds which kept them in tomatoes and peppers while we were away.

We didn't get round to planting up the hedge in the front garden or painting the trees out from the pots sue to the dry weather and the hard ground and will be doing so this autumn, hopefully everything will come back with some TLC and some water.

The pear tree.

Apple Tree.

Twisted willow.

Stephanie's Rose.

Memorial Rose.

There was some rain in the few days before we came home and it rained over night on Saturday.

The pots seem to be doing much better half under the cover, more protection from the sun.

The hanging basket has survived being in the back on the soil.

The grape vine is struggling.

The pots in the front garden haven't done well at all without the rain.

But the plants in the borders have thrived, including the fig tree under the kitchen window. 

 

My garden in July 2026

There's been a lot going on in the garden this month, despite there being no rain. I've been amazed at how well things have been growing, there have been a few loses along away, mainly the lawn, but that really doesn't bother me.

I'm starting with the neighbours roses, all this on one stem, no scent, but glorious to look at. 

This rose is highly fragranced and it's in our back garden, it's called Stephanie and was a gift from a friend. The irony is that Stephanie was anything but.

Having the pots grouped together has cut down on watering and kept this area cooler.

Our granddaughter can't decide if this is her and her brother, her mum and da or me and granddad.

I didn't notice the gladioli had bloomed as it was hiding.

Finally the fir tree was removed, the soil will be moved to the front and we can start the new path soon.

The front lawn is an absolute disaster, I've done very little with anything in the front, just allowed it to grow. The ground is very dry and extremely hard.

There has been a constant stream of fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes, raspberries, cucumbers, courgettes and rhubarb.

There has also been a lot of mold and leaf damage due to under watering, the basil has thrived but the parsley has yellowed.

We got the sun umbrella assembled at last.

It gives great protecti9on in the mornings, but the fence gives great afternoon shade, so in the afternoon it jsut puts the washing line in the shade.

I didn't realise how big the bouganvilliea had become and repotted it. In our garden in Dubai, it thrived in the dry weather, I'd love to have it grow year round here.

This spider was brave or frightened as it didn't move.

The grape vine is doing really well and there are loads of grapes, I hope they're sweet.

And we're full circle now back to the neighbour, who has had ivy growing so much that just before covid when we had tenants, it caused our fence to collapse, so we've been keeping on top of it since we've been back in the house. I managed to persuade her to let us cut I back hard this week and try and irradiate it completely. We've left our fence panel propped up so I can keep attacking the roots with weed killer.

My English August Garden.

Are you still having heat wave?

We're over in Australia where it is winter, but it's like a typical English summer. 

We've left our garden unattented with no requests to water or anything as I feel it will be a pointless exercise.

Our Bougainvillaea hedge (to be) thrives in dry and warm/hot conditions and everything else will come back eventually, but I'm not holding out too much luck for the lawn, at least I won't have to mow it on our return.

How's your garden growing?

Herbs

Don't expect the lawn to survive much longer

Tomatoes, chillis, peppers and chard

Expect these sunflowers will be in full bloom soon

Peas and beans

 Rhubarb 

Back in Dubai for winter with #HDYGG?

After 5 weeks in South Africa, and there is more to come on that over the next few weeks, I was surprised to see how well the garden was doing without me. While there is a drought in South Africa and the temperatures hotter than Dubai, it was raining here last week. Only a few drops, but along with the cooler weather and the gardener visiting everyday, you can see how much the grass has grown and how the bougainvillaea has returned to it's original white cooler now the ground temps have cooled.

The golf estate where we used to live in South Africa

Sowing grass seed

Two months later

The bougainvillaea  started to turn pink as the ground temperature heated up

Returned to white now summer is over

Everything is covered in a layer of dust. I will be repotting the cups and tea posts with succulents and moving the existing plants back into the sand pit.

I had intended on really throwing myself into developing the garden over the winter, but I start work on Sunday for the first time in 5 years and I really don't think I'm going to have the time or energy for the big plans and ideas I had in mind. I will attempt to grow some tomatoes and herbs and plant the remaining seeds, but I think it will be more of chuck it all in together and quite literally see what comes up.

In the meantime now the weather has cooled I'm enjoying the evenings outside with the doors open to let some of the cool air into the house.

I am going to have a go at getting some grass seed to grow in this patch, it will cost AED2000/£350 to have turf laid but much less to grow my own grass from seed.

The next few weeks posts for #HDYGG? are from South Africa as I have so many photos to show you, hopefully by the time I've finished with those there will be further development in the garden here, I will have settled down into the new job and the Miracle Gardens will have reopened so I can show case the delights of real gardening in Dubai.

Does anyone know what this is called? It's a new flower that has come out since I've been away.