So far, this summer has been one of peaks and troughs. 

The highest peak has to have been the launch of this new website. Working with Skigo to create it has been a gratifyingly smooth, easy and professional process. Plus I have enjoyed taking hundreds of intricate plant photographs.

The next peak coming up is of course The Lupus Garden at the Shrewsbury Flower Show. We’re nearly there and the sleepless nights are par for the course.

Now to the troughs - downy mildew on some of my show plants and lilies that won’t be flowering on time. On the home front, potato black-leg and rust on the garlic - hopefully it’s been caught in time and hasn’t spread to the onions which are looking huge and healthy.

And of course there’s the weather - on some days it’s been wetter than wet and on others so hot that it’s been almost impossible to work outside. Such is a gardener’s lot. Is this the typical English summer of old? One thing for sure though, it’s wonderful growing weather and every garden I work in is full of colour, scent and freshness and is an absolute joy.