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And our worst fears confirmed: dry soil, a legacy of the exceptionally hot spring, has brought an . The RHS reports stressed-out birches and moisture-loving acers at Wisley already turning yellow and red and September apples and pears ripening now. Meanwhile umbrella and welly sales have doubled. Summer? What summer?

Elsewhere on the web...
There's good news for the wonderful Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, this week voted Britain's Best Garden by readers of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Countryfile magazine. It's quite a 21st birthday present for the garden, fresh from its starring role in last week's 'Secrets of the Lost Gardens' on ´óÏó´«Ã½2.

Carol Klein collects seed

But bad news for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Gardeners' World presenter Carol Klein, her renowned Devon nursery after over 20 years. Carol says she's going to concentrate on her own garden for now, and there's a suggestion the TV cameras may be following the whole saga: watch this space.

Apologies to those whose working day will be entirely derailed by the following, but you've got to have a go Met Office's addictive new . It's helping them make their forecasts better, so that's my excuse: I managed to lose Brad the ice-cream seller over 80 quid on my first attempt. No wonder it's always raining when I've planned a gardening day.

Finally – a feast for the eyes as Pensthorpe Nature Reserve opens its doors again following the revamp of Piet Oudolf's borders (by the master himself). 'A new spirit and a new face', indeed.

More wildflower meadows now; the Field of Dreams at Brian and Denise Perrick's place, in South Petherton, Somerset, is a 'living Monet' – a flower meadow carved out of wasteland. It's open to the public until the end of August, and entrance is a donation to charity.

And at in Hertfordshire there's over 20 acres of them: an action-packed family fun day for Bank Holiday Monday keeps the kids distracted with treasure hunts, storytelling, face painting and a Very Hungry Caterpillar colouring competition while you sneak off on one of several guided walks around meadows and gardens.

Other good family holiday outings this Monday: get up close and personal with plants in the at the National Botanic Garden of Wales (microscopes are involved), or decorate plant pots within the elegant Georgian walled garden at William Wordsworth's childhood home in Cumbria. And for the little ones, there's a Gruffalo's Picnic going on at Crathes Castle and Garden near Aberdeen, complete with a Gruffalo Hunt in the woodland garden. Monster fun for everyone.

Sally Nex is a garden writer and blogger and part of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Gardening team.

Read Sally Nex's Gardening Blog posts.