I will be absent during June

Just finished flowering in our garden at the end of May - Cercis siliquastrum 

My computer problems continue - I realise that it would be preferable to buy a new one, but when this one works I like it. A new hard drive has been installed, everything has been updated, but now my eldest son considers that more memory is required. When the parts have been delivered, my granddaughter's boyfriend has kindly said that he will install it for us. I have decided to take a break from this blog for the next three or four weeks, and wait to see how things transpire. Writing posts and uploading photos is very slow and tedious here at the moment, which takes the pleasure away from blogging. I shall still try to visit your blogs from time to time as that does not appear to be a problem.

Fritillaria meleagris

I always look forward to the arrival of the delightful Snakeshead fritillaries in our garden where they can now be seen in great abundance. Knowing how rarely they are seen in the wild these days makes me feel particularly protective of this precious lily. Checking on them today revealled four naughty red lily beetles who had already sought them out, but they were promptly vanquished. In a matter of days four could become many and then they would all start descending on my newly emerging summer lilies. I had thought that the cold winter might have killed the beetle's lavae, but I was mistaken.

The pretty Erythroniums have also arrived on the scene in yellow, white, and pink, they too are members of the lily family - this one is called pagoda, but luckily they are not preyed on by the lily beetle

Judging by the blossom I am anticipating making delicious plum jam, plum pies, and plum crumble during the fruiting season.

Around the garden on this last day of February in 2018

 During the last few days many parts of this country have received snow carried over by a reverse Jet Stream from Russia, but not as much as predicted by the weathermen.  However, it appears to have totally ignored us - this is the sunny aspect from our front porch today along with lovely blue skies, but in the shadows there is a bitter chill in the air.

The Walled Garden

 We've had some very hot weather since our return,

and it has been lovely to have time to relax

and enjoy the garden

The flowers in this area have an ethereal quality - we leave them to their own devices to seed and scattered around.

 There could be a happy ending to our Boxus balls that got blight - strangely, and rather unusually, they have started to regrow again, as can be seen above.

However, the Box still look rather shaby, but we are filled with hope.

Easter Garden

Euphorbia cyparissias

  Erythronium 'pagoda'

Dicentra spectabilis - now reclassified as Lamprocapnos spectabilis - bleeding hearts

Erythronium revolutum 'White Beauty'

❖Enjoy the weekend break❖ 

On the Cusp of September

There is a softness, and a mellow feeling in the air as the Morning Glories now reach their peak

showing luminescent colours in the early morning sunlight

Berries ripen

Artichokes have lovely seed heads

 and my porch pots give a gaudy welcome

I was sad that Verbena Bonariensis turned brown in the heat whilst we were absent but luckily they have regenerated themselves again

Shadows lengthen as the sun sinks lower in the sky

These are for birds - our jars and freezer are full

In the garden there is a sense of fruition - job done - time to think about winding down

and on this cusp of September I celebrate yet another birthday❖

Iris Pseudacorus Variegata

These vibrant yellow irises have been decorating the edges of our small garden pond during June. I am leaving their cheery sunshine faces with you until my return♡