Best summer reads 2015 - win £500 of books!

My favourite thing about summer, after the hard work of planting veg in May and early June, is to sit in a sheltered spot with a book in hand and watch the garden grow. Summer is far too hot to work in the garden, apart from a bit of hoeing, so this is the time to watch nature at it's best. Flowers blooming, birds singing, nature's pantry growing apples and berries as butterflies, bees and an array of insects come fluttering and flying by. Bliss.

Love lazing in the garden, reading a good page-turner, while slurping Pimm's!

playing splishy splashy with my 8 month old granddaughter in the paddling pool.....heaven

I love sitting in the garden on a sunny day with a cup of coffee, a good book and watching the birds feeding from the various feeders in my garden. Also enjoy watching my two cats lying in the shade enjoying the warm weather.

My best summer memory is lying down in tall grass and listening to Skylarks. I still love to lie in the sun, it does my bones good. But nowadays, sadly, I rarely hear Skylarks.

I love coming home from work when it's still light and I can sit in the garden with a drink or potter around there until at least 9pm instead of just hibernating.

Lazy in the garden on a deckchair

I love the long summer evenings meaning I can spend time in the garden or go for a walk in the evenings

A sunbed by a beach, sunshine, a cool drink, and a book

I love the long, light evenings. I'm not good in the scorching heat but if it's warm and dry then nothing beats sitting in the garden in the evening with a good book and a glass of wine.

Now retired I love spending as much time as possible in our garden. We have two ponds and a wild flower section so I am never short of wildlife to observe. I enjoy eating outside too but nothing beats relaxing and getting lost in a good book. I just wish there were more hours in the day to indulge in my passion for books

Watching my little garden bloom, and my Grandchildren picking my homegrown strawberries.

Gardens full of Summer flowers - particularly peonies and sweet peas.

Having 6 weeks off work and not setting the alarm for 6.30 every morning.

Sitting outside, somewhere peaceful, in the sun with a good book and a cool drink ah bliss!

Sun, sea and a good book!.

The garden - watching the flowers bloom & the children play.

I love being in the garden with my twin grandchildren who are now two and a half years old. They just get so much pleasure helping me with watering the plants and potting seeds and seedlings.

I LOVE sitting in the garden with a good book and a nice glass of wine. The kiddies all playing. Gardening and seeing the flowers bloom.

I love light nights and BBQS

going on my yearly holiday to florida!!

Getting up early and going into the garden and listening to the birds singing and smelling the flowers - lillies in particular. I just feel much more free and relaxed in summer.

Light nights summer clothes nice drying days for my washing and chill out time

In addition to BBQs, bare feet and al fresco breakfasts, there is nothing more satisfying than swatting a gnat who has been whining around your room for several hours before it is finally spotted! Sleep deprivation has drastic effects on people particularly when it is insect induced!

Picnics, bbq's, family get togethers, the seaside, fairs, galas but most of all the lovely warm sunshine