My garden experienced every type of weather today - spectacular sunshine at 9am, gale force winds at midday, monsoon showers this afternoon and then, at 6pm, a rainbow cast its magical shape over Lewes Castle.

Not what you expect on this special day, known as the Glorious Twelfth since it marks the opening of the UK red grouse season - the busiest day in the shooting season, with large amounts of these poor birds being shot.

Lewes castle has no trouble weathering our unpredictable climate. Not quite the same can be said in the garden. My veg patch is being devastated by snails, many ripening apples are falling in the strong winds and my melon plant is extremely unhappy about temperatures diving to 16c .

Yet, the most glorious scene for me - apart from the rainbow - was the snow white hibiscus flowers with their blood red centres basking, very briefly, in a tiny slot of sunshine. These impressive flowers emerged over the past week on a very old and withered tree. I thought this tree might be dead when I moved here in January. I had no idea there would be such delights to enjoy.

The joys of english gardening never cease to amaze me!

How is your garden coping with this weird August weather?