In the Garden

This Summer three Great Mullein plants have taken over one of the raised beds at the top of the garden.  

 Two plants appeared in the same bed a couple of years ago, last year they disappeared but this year there are three of the them.  

According to the RHS website Verbascum thrapsus or Great Mullein is a tall grey or white woolly biennial and grows up to 2 metres in height.  Well it being a biennial explains why we didn't see one last year.  It is also known as Aaron's Rod but has many other names including Beggar's blanket, Common Mullein, Adams's flannel, and Woollens.  

Also in the garden both Philadelphus shrubs are flowering.  One at the top of the garden.

The other in a pot until we decide where to place it.  It's my favourite mock orange - Belle Etoile.

Two different poppies have appeared

 both self-seeded.

Below 

Blue Borage

Common Chamomile

Yellow Loosestrife has returned in a different part of the garden. When we first came here the garden was full of it but we have gradually thinned it out.

Sweet Peas

Hardy Geranium

I've been picking both Sweet peas and Pinks for the house.  The scent of both is lovely.  It's been cooler today and the garden has benefitted from overnight rain.

Including the pond.  The newts are happy as well.

In the Garden

 On the plum tree at the top of the garden the yellow plums are ripening and turning golden in colour.  There are so many fruits that the branch has bent over toward the ground.  Straining under the weight. They will be harvested soon.  They have a sweet and delicate taste, very different to the plums we used to pick from the old Victoria plum tree .

We are getting more produce now from the garden, French beans, potatoes, courgettes and onions.  From the greenhouse both red and yellow tomatoes.

There are still five fox cubs visiting the garden, often in twos or threes.  The parents have left them to cope in their new world. They look very healthy.  Curious bright eyes and soft bushy tails.

I took this photo about 9pm. last evening through the kitchen window.  The light was fast disappearing as he and his siblings made their nightly inspection of the garden.  Rolling on the grass and disappearing behind flowers and shrubs and following the paths around the raised beds.

Other visitors to the garden include the Herring Gull which our neighbours over the fence call Stephen, we call him Bobby.  Could be a female of course.  I guess he or she smells the barbeques in neighbouring gardens now the weather is warm and dry.

Since mid-May we've had a pair of birds regularly visiting the bird feeders.  It's taken ages to find out what they are, recently Paul heard bird song and checked it out with the RSPB website and they are Linnets. How unsual to have them here in such an urban area. They are red listed so quite rare.  I've put a link over 'RSPB' above.

The Chamomile I thought was lost has suddenly appeared all over in one of the raised beds.

Above - more flowers in the garden.  Dahlia, Echinacea, Water lily, Rose and Helenium.

The Garden on Sunday

The garden seemed inviting earlier this morning.  I had a good wander around to see what I could find.  It's this time of year when things change so quickly and fears that plants have been lost to cold and wet weather are unfounded as signs of life are spotted again. The sun is out now and it really does feel as if long awaited Spring may finally be around the corner.

A few views across the garden.

Some of the raised beds have been dug over.

The Wood Anemones are in flower

Wild Garlic is sprouting all over.  Foxgloves too.

The rhubarb is looking healthy

We cut a few stalks and had stewed rhubarb and custard for tea. The first of the season.

In the conservatory a cutting taken last year from the Clematis Montana has developed and is in flower

It's  been transfered to a larger pot and given some canes to climb up

It's been a good day to get out into the fresh air.

Rain and More Rain

It's rained everyday since Thursday.  It seems to have been continuous but there have been one or two dry half hours here and there when dashes out into the garden were possible to do a few small jobs that needed doing.  The lawns which haven't been mown are covered with daisies, buttercups and dandelions.  The birds have been busy at the feeders especially the Robins, Goldfinches and Bluetits. We've seen young bluetits and sparrows being fed by their parents. Blackbirds sing out their familiar, territorial songs from  early morning until dusk and both Robins and Dunnocks have been joining in. We've been visited by the Vixen and one of her cubs in daylight, also by the pale grey female badger and the dog fox spotted on the wildlife camera.  Larger bird visitors have been wood pigeons, crows, magpies and herring gulls.

 

Early yesterday afternoon during a dry patch I went out into the garden with my camera to capture a few images of the flowers before they are dashed by the wind and rain.

It's Aquilegia time, they take over most of the flower beds at this time of year.
 

The Rhododendrons are begining to flower.

Peonies are covered in buds ready to burst open.

Alchemilla Mollis

Chives in bud

Bistort by the pond

Clematis Montana

Perennial Cornflower

Camassia

Lily of the Valley

 

Solomon's Seal

Wild Garlic.

In the raised beds and greenhouse tomatoes and vegetables are growing well. 

At the moment it isn't raining but the sky looks grey and watery.  Time to nip out for a walk before the heavens open yet again.