I'm now back in the swing of things, after my two weeks holiday.

We didn't go away anywhere, just out and about, in the garden, down to the beach, just relaxing and enjoying the mixed weather.

I guess the beauty of not going away, is you don't need to find anyone to water the greenhouse and vegetables. No one is needed to look after the cat. No stressful travel plans to arrange. It's sounds so relaxing and worry free that you wonder why anyone bothers to go away.

Well we are most fortunate living in Dorset. It's such a beautiful county and living by the seaside is a definite perk. I grew up in land locked Tamworth in Staffordshire, where you couldn't get further away from the sea if you tried. Nearly 30 years of living in Poole and I still never tire of seeing the sea.

During our break we did venture across the border to Devon, to visit the RHS garden Rosemoor.

I love their garden at Wisley and at first I was a little disappointed comparing the two, until I turned a corner and saw the hot garden and wow my socks were totally blown off.

The garden was jam packed with the most delicious combinations of colours. Oranges, yellows, reds, purples and the black stems of Sambucus nigra, I was in seventh heaven.

The long border at Wisley is a sight to behold but this garden, which you view from a raised pathway, before you enter it via steps, was so wonderful, I just had to hang around in it for a while, just drinking in the colours.

In my garden, three strimmers later (two faulty ones had to be returned to B & Q) things are much more under control.

The lavender hedge, although still flopping over where I want to walk is now covered in bees. I have noticed a lot of lavenders are over but this one still has plenty of flowers.

Today I sampled my first of the year, giant 'greek' style tomato, Legend, from the greenhouse. It's so big and juicy that I only needed one in my salad. I planted 6 seedlings in the greenhouse and one of them has come up like a cherry tomato. Very strange but any home grown tomato tastes better than shop bought ones in my book. I also have some tomatoes growing in amongst my wild flowers. These have come from seeds dropped from last years crop, on their way to the compost bin, which had spoilt due to my lack of care and attention.

Not this year though. I have learnt from that mistake and I am ever vigilant of stray side shoots and stems which need tying in.

I have just sown a couple of rows of lettuce. My cut and come again has now finished and I should have done this a couple of weeks ago but with the soil being so warm, they are shooting up, so it won't be long before I am picking again.

After my success at growing garlic this year, I want to have a go at onion sets this autumn.

My boyfriend wants to re-design the vegetable garden, to maximise the space, so I think I will make use of the planters I bought at the end of spring and use those to grow my onions in.

If anyone has any tips for growing onions or has favourite varieties, then I would really appreciate your advice.

Ok I'm off to water the greenhouse now and pick my raspberries, which are growing abundantly this year.

Enjoy the evenings outside whilst you can, the dark is drawing ever closer.

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