We now have a lovely dry spell for a while, not very hot though, but at least it is sunny and sunshine brings out the bees and butterflies which is wonderful, they look so colourful flitting around the garden. The other day my Book Club were meeting in my garden and we were buzzed by a Silver Washed Fritillary, causing great excitement. I also saw a Jersey Tiger Moth but by the time I had dashed inside to get the camera, it had flown away – shame. Now onto plants…..
My offerings for today are another mixed bag, starting with…
no 1 Kniphofia
Kniphophia Bees Lemon I think, has now joined the agapanthus in the driveway border, they make nice contrasting shapes together.
No 2 Crocosmia.
This red crocosmia appeared in the bog garden many years ago, I don’t know where it came from or how it got there. Is it a seedling from Lucifer which isn’t very far away? I have been saying that I must move it and I really must do so as I’m sure it doesn’t want its roots in permanently wet soil. It is only small in height but I can think of quite a few places where it will be happier.
No 3 Hay making time.
It’s that time of year again, hay making time. The roads are full of tractors with trailers full of hay or silage, we have to allow at least another 15 minutes for every journey. My tiny meadow however would hardly make one bale of hay!
The grass will only take about a month to grow and look green again, so soon it will be back to lawn once more – until next year.
No 4 Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium are now popping up everywhere in the woodland, each day there are more to see with hundreds of buds waiting to open.
At the moment I have far more white ones than pink, this will probably even up as time passes, but the white ones show up very clearly in the shade.
No 5. Rosa glauca
A sure sign that summer is nearly over are all the rose hips in the garden. These are on Rosa glauca in the back garden, there are so many the bush is weighed down with them.
No 6 Rudbeckia fulgida Little Goldstar
Rudbeckia fulgida Little Goldstar is a dainty variety of Rudbeckia, much smaller than R. Goldsturm and the bees love it just as much.
There we have my six for this week. Please pop over to Jon The Propagator to see more from around the world. I will be staying safely at home this Bank Holiday weekend, Devon and Cornwall are absolutely heaving with all the visitors having a staycation and our Covid numbers are now the highest in the country! I hope you all have a good weekend.
Nice of the Silver Washed Fritillary to float through your garden to delight you and your book club members. I didn’t realize you return your meadow to grass each year. Best of both worlds. Your Cyclamen are lovely. I’ve always loved the white ones.
I don’t use any chemicals on the lawn Susie because of all the birds that feed on it. Cutting weekly means that it is green for 9 months of the year, but then letting part of it grow for a few months in the summer allows all the plants that have seeded there to flower and it is interesting to see what appears. I wish I had had my camera handy when the Fritillary floated by, but my visitors hadn’t seen one before, so they were quite impressed.
How lovely to have cyclamen just popping up everywhere.
The ants spread the seed around for me Jane, they like the sugery coating then drop the seed when they have licked it all off, so they come up in the most unexpected places!
I am glad the weather improved Pauline. So nice your book club could meet outside and so nice of the Silver Washed Fritillary to pay you a visit. It is that time of year when all that’s happening in the garden points to the close of summer.
The nice weather is set to stay for another week Denise.Yes, things are changing in the garden, the sun is lower in the sky and autumnal plants are starting to flower, but there should still be colour in the garden for a while yet and flowers for the bees and butterflies to enjoy.
The cyclamen always take me surprise when they start appearing again – a timely reminder that summer is definitely on the way out. What exciting butterfly sightings you have made!
Cyclamen always make me think of autumn Cathy, but they come too soon! Not many butterflies this week, it has been too cold and windy for them!
What a lovely selection, so varied. I loved the rose hips, I really must make something with mine one year. Lovely to hear of all the butterflies and special moths entertaining your guests. xxx
Thanks Dina, once the rosehips form, I know summer is on its way out! It is nice being buzzed by butterflies and I know my guests appreciated it.x
Butterflies must be having a ball in your garden
Yes Tim, I think they are at the moment, there is planty for them to enjoy! In the sunshine today they were out in force with clouds of them on the Eupatorium.