It seems a little odd to be reporting on drought conditions in November, but there is still a hosepipe ban in areas served by Thames Water.

Like many people, I’ve started browsing seed catalogues and making plans for next year. If summers continue as they have, then the planting in the front garden will need a rethink. I thought I had already selected for full sun and free-draining, but some things have done better than others.

Deceased – Nepeta Blue Dragon gave up a few weeks after this photo was taken

Also fried to a crisp were the cosmos and zinnias – they were just to the right of the nepeta.

Missing presumed dead – Gladiolus Byzantinus. I started the bulbs in pots and planted out in May, they grew then turned brown and disappeared. Just the wooden labels remain…

Failed to thrive – two large clumps of echinacea really suffered from lack of water. Same with Salvia Amistad, even numerous watering cans didn’t fully revive it. The shrub rose, Charles Austin planted in 2025 struggled with leaves prematurely yellowing. The eryngium flowers prematurely aged and turned brown. Most disappointing was geranium Roxanne. This is her second year struggling in that west facing spot, so I’ll relocate her to the north border extension.

Blooming survivors – all other salvias, pervoskia, euphorbia wulfenii, bearded iris, guara, achillia millefolium, scabious

I mulch the front garden beds every winter/spring. I noticed two things about the soil – it was still bone dry despite a few heavy downpours and the mulch and soil was still very much separate. Clearly the worms are on strike. I went over the beds with a fork to lift and incorporate and then added another layer of mulch, which again I worked to incorporate. Amistad revived to full glory following the next shower and has remained happy since.

I’m a no-dig convert but I have to wonder if it’s the best approach with sandy clay soil and hot, dry weather. In addition to the light digging, I’m propagating cuttings of Salvia Caradonna, sown scabious seeds and potted up some self sown gauras.

Here’s the inspiration from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. If they do well there, surely they will thrive in Sunbury…