Saturday Safari

The flutters are still with us… Albeit in much lower numbers… I haven’t seen a Gatekeeper for a few days now so am afraid they’ve left us… I have seen a Red Admiral hanging around the Buddlejas though, taking advantage of the very last blooms. I just hope now, that the Asters in my and next door’s garden begin blooming soon; they often attract Commas, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells.

Today I saw a Small Tortoiseshell, it’s looking very tatty indeed and I fear it’s not long for this world.

Sedum is slowly getting its colour…

And an update on the caterpillar

Sadly I didn’t get to see it turning; last time I checked it was exactly the same as before, just hanging in situ and then today it’s finally in its chrysalis. I can’t see any more in the nettles, but I don’t want to disturb them too much in case I damage one, but I’m hopeful there are another couple at least.


I’ve handed in my dissertation now; and was all set for some celebrating and a bit of a break relaxing for the next week or so… But then I began to panic about getting a job so I’ve started writing my CV and cover letters. I didn’t even manage 24 hours just relaxing! Haha. Typical of me.
I don’t actually know what to do with myself any more… All this spare time… I was sat very bored yesterday trying to work out what to do, eventually I remembered I have a pile of books that I had to put off reading. I also find myself regularly walking into the kitchen to sit at the table to do my work… Then realise I don’t need to be in there anymore! Disoriented, oh yes.

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Sunday Safari

I’m just having a bit of a break from writing this morning; yesterday my brain was going into overdrive and had me still writing my dissertation at 11pm. To be honest though, it’s for the best because the sooner I get it finished the longer I have to tweak and also the less likely it is that something will go wrong regarding getting it printed and bound.

Once I’m finished I aim to give myself a nice holiday, I’d like a 2 week one… But know that after a few days I’ll begin to panic over getting a job so will actually probably only have a few days. What I’d really like is a special holiday somewhere, but I’d need Pete to have time off! Grrrr.

Anyway; onto the garden

White Saliva is blooming, I bought these fairly recently, but like with most other plants they’ve been sat waiting until the soil is soft enough and I have the time to plant them. It’s been so long, that I’ve had to pot them on into a large pot because they were clearly becoming pot-bound.

Sea Holly provides wonderful, late colour.

And the insects like it:

They also like the Cosmos

Cupid’s Dart is still blooming, although with relatively few blooms now. I ought to have sown some more seeds for next year.

One of the Salvia; is not doing so well, I think some sort of caterpillar is eating it.

The Dahlias add colour to pots on the decking

Oh yes, more blooms to come from ‘Harlow Carr’

Perennial wallflower is amazing and has been blooming for such a long time.

Verbena Bonariensis towers above the border; white butterflies seem to be attracted to it the most.

Anemone is hiding away… Or rather, it’s being swamped out by the Asters and Gladioli… I will have to move it.

The Asters which are taking over… Do provide plenty of food for insects though.

I planted this Sedum after some rain, the soil was easier to dig but still quite dry… The roots of the Asters are already growing, preparing to send out yet more plants next year. I will have to chop them and move them otherwise the entire border will soon be monopolised.

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Safari Sunday

Time for a quick catch-up… it’s so easy to get behind on photos at this time of year and yet I know in a few short months I’ll be struggling to find anything at all!

This weekend we’ve finally had some rain; even if it did ruin my plans to go to Chatsworth… Oh well, it’ll have to wait until September/October now once the kids have gone back to school and it’ll be quieter. It’s been very dry here, with only a day of rain here and there it just hasn’t been sustaining the plants/grass and my lawn is now yellow and crunching when I walk on it.

Here’s some grass in the city centre (photo taken with my phone):

A tree with most of its leaves dead

Now obviously it’s going to be warmer in a city centre (urban heat islands, traffic and all that) so we’re not suffering quite so much, but my lawn is yellow and crunchy:

I’m so far behind on photos that I haven’t managed to post about Clumber Park, Old Moor or the trip across the peak district… One day, maybe.

I find the juvenile Sparrows to be a little too bolshy… or stupid, I’m unsure which. They don’t seem to check for danger before coming to the feeders; but I am sure as they get older they will get far more cautious.

Our butterfly numbers have also recently increased quite dramatically; with the arrival of the much-missed Gatekeepers, although I still don’t have as many as in previous years…

However, I have had a number of Small Tortoiseshells – which normally I have very few of. (I stalked some on Friday, photos to come at a later date)

This Comma wouldn’t pose nicely for me.

Ladybird eating aphids

See the bug in the top right? I think it might possibly be a lacewing larvae? What do you think? I didn’t notice it until I uploaded photos.

Gatekeeper, I think

The poppies are finally blooming… But they’re tiny! Grrr and I thought that this year I’d finally cracked the Buddleja border and it was actually going to be full of blooms and looking gorgeous… Now I wish I’d kept it well watered.

I can’t believe the Aquilegia are still blooming… I’m not even dead-heading them… The blooms are very small though but even the leaves and dried seed-heads are adding their own splash of colour

Nicotiana and rose in the background

The Cupid’s Dart (Catananche) has FINALLY bloomed… It feels like I’ve been waiting for ever for it, and very pretty it is too.

Gypsophila is very cute and delicate

Knautia is blooming away happily, although I haven’t seen many insects on it yet?

Shasta Daisies are growing alongside ragwort and actually look quite pretty

I’m unsure what this is, its leaves look chrysanthemumish/feverfewish?? It’s from a mixed seed collection, which didn’t state the seed contents!

Feverfew and Veronica continues to impress me :)

One of the Blackcurrant Fizz poppies, this one is probably the only ‘normal-sized’ one. Grrrr

Anyone know what this is? Also from an unknown seed mix, is it morning glory? Only it blooms all day! It looks like a larger blooming flax flower.

Dahlia ‘Happy Days’

Heuchera adds a little interest to the Buddleja border…

Looking at the poppies and other blooms from down on the decking, you can see just how much shade the Buddleja casts.

A new Geranium for me… ‘Thurstonianum’

Double Petunias in the hanging basket…

New Echinacea ‘Lucky Star’ is next to ‘Harlow Carr’ and I think will make a nice combination

Tess of the D’Ubervilles is looking better this year, it took quite a beating when the new fence posts were put in, but it’s bounced back nicely.

Monkshood has masses of blooms, I have to stand on the tier to take these photos otherwise I look like a dwarf next to them!

Sweet Peas need cutting for vases… They started off with lovely long stems but gradually the stems have become shorter and shorter, is this due to lack of water?

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.