Fluorescent Bouquet

I’ve been taking advantage of the profuse blooms from the Crocosmia for the past month and placing them in vases with various flowers from the garden.

Orange is not a favourite colour of mine, but as these were inherited with the property I have left them… so far… They offer much needed ground cover and colour until I’m in a position to get rid of them should I choose to.

This vase is the Crocosmia mixed with various shades of Scabious.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as knowing they’re from your own space, rather than bought.

Sweet Peas also often feature in this vase, if only for their scent filling the room.

I'm having a long weekend break to Edinburgh... Any suggestions on where I simply must go? It's festival season still so there will be plenty around. I am no stranger to Edinburgh, I have particular problems with evening entertainment and really need something interesting to do. I'm not a pub goer, neither of us drink heavily so don't want to sit around in a pub/club/bar all evening.

Copper Summer Days

The Small Copper returned… It's also Friday!

She's determined to get all the nectar she can…

*really* determined!

Big, scary changes are unfolding for me...

I know I longed for September.

Sometimes, be careful what you wish for.

It might just happen!

It all seemed like such a good idea almost a year and a half ago, now I cannot help but wonder if I've made a huge mistake.

Today I left work for the last time and enter the world of the unknown. I start my MSc in September and hope to gain enough work exprience to ensure I have a job when I finish.

I've no idea why I'm grieving like I've lost a dear friend or family member. I cannot put into words my emotions, they don't make sense.

Dancing with Butteflies

A self indulgent post really, these two were nicely dancing around on the sea holly, almost in unison as they drank the nectar.

As we come to the end of the season the cooler temperatures cause the Butterflies to be slower, and catching the photos is easier… either that or they've become accustomed to me?

Weekend Bounty

Firstly I’d like to thank Laura, Kyna, Cheryl and Frances for giving the sun back! It worked a treat, only I’ve spent the weekend constantly sticky and hot. I’m not so sure which I’d prefer.

Such a fickle thing aren’t I?

My bounty from the weekend garden centre spree are:

3x Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’
2x Scaled Male fern
2x Lavender Hidcote
2x Veronica ‘Twilight’
2x trays Violas
1x Atilbe ‘Showstar’
1x tray of Rudbeckia ‘Toto Gold’
1x Lupin ‘Gallery White’
1x large hanging basket
1x Stick of Unicorn Rock for Pete (tee hee)

Oh and did I mention that I only actually picked up 3 things I planned to get at the garden centre? I knew it was the wrong time of year for them, so I am not too surprised.

Between the gardening jobs a lot of time was spent chasing the Butterflies. It was wonderful to see so many along the hedge, the most I counted within a couple of metres was 7. 4 Gatekeepers, 2 Whites and 1 Meadowbrown. I was in awe, but sadly did not catch the Meadowbrown or Whites, so you’ll have to be happy with the Gatekeepers!

Gatekeeper

There were 2 Commas on the Buddleja too.

Some sort of fly…

A Dunnock is quick to pick up the Insects/Spiders we disturbed when cutting the hedge. You can just make it out almost in the centre of the photo… Sorry I had the wrong lens on!

Gatekeepers enjoying the Sea Holly again

Bees don’t often get this close to each other!

Rudbeckia ‘Toto Gold’

I spotted this sneaky moth, very well hidden indeed! It’s a Silver-Y and you can easily spot its name sake…

Is it just me, or is it common for Nicotiana to get so huge? See the bright green plant in the centre of the photo???! I certainly have never seen them so large.

And of course, no summer would be complete without warm, golden evenings watching the grass sway…

We're almost getting there!

It's incredible how in just a few days so much can chage…

The new border seems to be maturing nicely, and I think once the millions of Poppies are out (I don't remember putting so many Poppy seeds in the mix I spread!!!) then hopefully it will look far more impressive, even if they are only a temporary fix until the plants mature over the next few years.

Astrantia are opening and adding a nice little splash of pink to the new border and I seem to have too many Gladiolus!

Here we can see the poppy (and other) seedlings. I sprinkled the seeds around so can't quite understand how I managed to get such massive clumps.

Monkshood and Aster are growing tall, no life on the verbena bonariensis :(

Seedling clumps…

Not to worry… mistakes can always be rectified…

Weigela has suddenly begun to flower, I'm sure there were no signs of buds when I looked a couple of days ago!

More Marjorie

And more Rubens

More Allium

My first rose - Roseraie de L'hay.

Aubreita is still flowering

Geranium Ballerina has opened her delicate flowers

Black Lilyturf shows new growth, I am pleased they survived the winter

Lupin is nearly in flower, love love.

And for the finale…

American Wisteria bud! Thrilled it's survived the winter and cannot wait for the flowers to open.

I need to get my potted seedlings and plants out this bank holiday weekend, they will grow far faster in the ground where they can spread their feet. We have: Nicotiana, Cosmos, Sweet Rocket, Cupid's dart, Hollyhock and Angelica to plant…

Yesterday I even got brave and tried a little Sedum propagation, we'll see how successful I was in a few weeks!

(yes, yes I realise sedum are probably the easiest plants in the world to propagate…please don't burst my bubble lol)