June rain

We seem to be quite lucky not to have major floods so I'm not complaining about the gentle rain that's interrupted my planned dahlia-planting. In fact it's perfect growing weather and the roses are loving it.

For the first time I can recall, roses that usually hang their heads down and standing upright. Is this due to all the rain? Whatever, R Prince Charles and R Pat Austen are covered in blooms and the delicate old fashioned white rose (whose name I've forgotten) is flourishing too following total neglect from me last year (another object-lesson?). Dispatched 5 lily beetles this morning and chucked out a good deal of large slugs and snails with the tulips. I'm sure the lily beetles were making a squeaking noise - not sure if this is possible.... They have not yet discovered two pots of very healthy-looking l.Formosanum and l.Regale near the kitchen. The latter, bulbs from Sarah Raven, are stunning plants a good five feet in height and growing strong and straight.