The last few days have beenchilly.Now theenormousash and sycamore trees that bordered the side of my house have gone it takes only a little sunshine to warm the conservatory. Sometimes, it can become unbearably hotin there, but this week it has been perfect.

About two o'clock this afternoon dark clouds blew over Haverfordwest.Heavy raingushed down the gutters and drummed on the roof of the conservatory so loudly I could not sit in there. It was more than an hour before it ceased and periwinkle blue patches of sky appeared.

I couldn't resist going out into the garden and pulling a few weeds. It's much easier to get them out when the soil is moist. I also dug a hole for a little box tree bush that I've grown from a cutting.

Hydrangeas like plenty of water and the soil in my garden seems to suit them. I've different varieties, including mop heads (the servant class) andlace-caps (the more refined types). Paniculata grandiflora are conical and mine are cream but there are now sugary pink varieties to be had, so, yes, I've got to have them.

Last summer I planted 'Black Steel' hydrangeas. The black stems are long and elegant with beautiful deep blue flowers floating on top.

There's nothing more stylish than a big glass bowl of hydrangeas.Occasionally a flower head will flop immediately I cut it and I'm not quite sure why this happens.

I'vecream and pink foxgloves, too, that seed wherever they like in the garden and 'Grannies' Bonnets' (purple aquilegia) growing beneath the eucalyptus.The bordersare full of lime green euphorbia and 'My Lady's Mantle', (Alchemelia Mollis), is good forlightingup a shady cornerorbillowing over a dry stone wall.

I don't like disturbing the soil on the banks if I can help it. This allows the ferns to sprout to four feet tallor more, providinggood ground cover.

Rosa rugosa, the pink rose which producesbig hips in autumn, likes dappled sunshine and is virtually pest free. (Roses that get diseases are definitelynot for me).Watch your fingers, though, it has myriads of fine, sharpthorns.

After the frosts and snows of last wintermany of the more tenderplants, including some of the hydrangeas and palms died, and I have replaced them.

Before I'd finished in the garden this afternoon it went dark again. I gathered up my tools and just as I got under cover,spiky balls of hail shot off the rooftops. Ah, flaming June.