Watering When There's No Rain

I have a long, narrow garden and the top bit is where I keep the compost, the garden shed and this year a whole lot of large pots to hold water. Last year it rained for the whole month and this year it is dry. The pots  don't last forever, of course, but they really are a help.  The other thing I have done is introduce a number of watering poles so when I do water it goes straight to the plants that need it. They are very good and save a lot of watering. 

Watering poles can save lots of water

Things are happening so fast in the garden. Primroses love the clay and are all over the place and the leucojum which looks like a large snowdrop but comes out a bit later, is doing well. 

                                                                                   

                                                                Leucojum and primroses                    

The snakeshead fritillary  is flowering away under a shrub. And there's another one in the border. I am hoping they will gradually increase, but at least they've lasted a year. 

       

                                                                  My two fritillaries 

There is an interesting book to read by Kathy Willis Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Oxford. It is called Good Nature and gathers together many studies proving that there is a link between the amount of green space in our lives and our better health, mood and longevity. Recent scientific findings for example show that smelling cedar will enhance cancer-fighting cells in our immune system, even having a pot plant by your desk can make a difference to your health and if you are a gardener you are really lucky.