It’s beginning to feel a bit like Autumn….

August 31, 2024August 31, 2024 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Scottish_garden_plum_and_pear_trees_ August_2024 — A promising harvest awaits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. It certainly feels like the season is beginning to change here in central Scotland. The daylight hours are shortening and there is a distinct nip in the early morning and late evening air.

Ripening_pears_plums_and_apples_late_August_2024 — Ripening orchard fruit. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Really happy to see so much fruit on the pear, apple and plum trees this year. It must have been all the rain we have had. Not long to wait until the picking starts 🙂 I have already harvested a few potatoes, and a few greenhouse tomatoes and French beans. Such a treat, and there is plenty more to come.

Late_Summer_garden_produce — Garden and greenhouse treasures. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Around the garden, there are still some signs of Summer like the orange lupin flowering for the third time, and such a large bloom. Usually the second and third flowers are small, but this one is a real beauty.

Late_Summer_orange_garden_flowers — Late Summer flowering Crocosmia and a late blooming Lupin. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_garden_Lacecap_Hydrangea — Lovely Lacecap Hydrangea. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

And the bees are still very busy, especially around the Echinops and Golden Rod.

Scottish_garden_bees_in_the_sunshine — Busy bees in the sunshine. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

But you know the season is changing when the first Autumn crocus emerges in a darker corner of the garden, and the late flowering heathers are in full flower.

Late_August_2024_Autumn_crocus — Delicate lilac crocus blooms. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_Autumn_heather_August_2024 — Scottish Autumn heathers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

A few nights ago, as the daylight was fading, a new visitor came up the driveway and started tucking into the fallen sunflower seeds from the bird feeder. He/she stood on their hindlegs to reach a few seeds caught on the stone wall. You’ll see it is quite a chunky fellow, and is obviously finding enough food to keep its strength up:) The other image is of a magnificent Peacock butterfly absorbing the warmth from the sandstone wall outside my office the other day. What a beauty.

Garden_hedgehog_and_sunbathing_Red_Admiral_butterfly — Night and day time visitors. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

My final images this month are of the Rowan tree in the back garden which has been quite bereft of berries for several years. This year it is laden, and so much so that they are beginning to fall to the ground before the birds have started to eat them!

Scottish_garden_Rowan_tree_Laden_with_berries — Ripe Rowan berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for another month. See you in September! Thanks and best wishes until then.

All the colours of June

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Purple_and_orange_garden_Lupins_June_2024 — Scottish garden Lupins on a sunny day in early June. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. I hope you are well and enjoying better weather than we are at the moment. Fortunately I took my photos of the garden earlier in the week before the weather turned unseasonably chilly and wet. Aside for the glorious colours outside right now, it has been hard to believe that it is actually June!

June_2024_Scottish_orange_Lupin — Peachy-orange Lupin. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Lupins started flowering earlier this year and subsequently many of the flowers are now going over, especially after getting a pounding by the heavy showers. Behind the Lupins, the yellow daylilies grow. For the short time they are in flower, the contrast with the blues of the lupins and geraniums is glorious, and their scent is very perfumed.

June_2024_yellow_daylilies — Bold and bright, yellow daylilies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The garden was full of Aquilegia in May this year which is unusual, 2-3 weeks before they usually flower. Most were over quite quickly, but these ones are lingering on in a shadier part of the garden. The one growing on top of the wall is very hardy and seems to enjoy being “king of the castle”. I have tried to sow the seeds elsewhere but it never seems to take anywhere else.

Violet_aquilegia_growing_on_top_of_an_old_wall

Deep_blue_aquilegia_and_lilac_Meadow_Rue — Violet Aquilegia growing on the top of an old wall; a deep blue Aquilegia and delicate lilac-coloured Meadow Rue. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

At last the peonies are coming out. Just a few single blooms at the moment with their delicious sweet and perfumed scent wafting around the flowerbeds.

White_and_deep_pink_peonies_June_2024 — Fragrant June Peonies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I lost quite a few of the lilac globe Alliums this year. Only a couple came up and they got blown over quite quickly. These 3 varieties seem to be a bit more hardy and are coping well with the elements.

3_varieties_of_Allium_Siculum_Moly_and_Nigrum — Allium Siculum (bell-shaped), Allium Moly (yellow) and Allium Nigrum (white). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

This pale pink Lupin was one of the first to flower this year, brought on by the sunshine of last month and better weather at the beginning of the month, it is a little bit more sheltered than the others. The pink Bistorta grows very well in the garden and the bees love it. The foxgloves and pink cranesbill geraniums are also favourites of our little flying friends.

June_2024_pale_pink_lupins_and_pink_bistorta

Close-up_on_pink_foxglove_and_cranesbill_geranium — All the pinks. Top: Pink Lupins and Bistorta. Bottom: close-up on pink foxglove and cranesbill geranium. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s my garden round up for this month. I’m back in the kitchen for my next post. I hope to see you in a couple of weeks when hopefully the summer will have returned 🙂

Scottish_garden_in_June — The most colourful time of the year. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

A look back at June in the garden

June 29, 2023July 14, 2023 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

End_of_June_Scottish_garden_flower-bed — Everything in the garden is blooming. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. It’s been a very different June this year here in central Scotland. Having had a very warm May with little significant rain, the first 3 weeks of June followed along the same lines. Subsequently, many of the flowers that are usually around for at least a couple of weeks have bloomed early and only lasted a few days in the heat and drought. The weather has broken now, but it has left me wondering what the garden will look like in July and August with so many favourites having bloomed early.

Lilac_Allium_June_2023 — Early June Allium. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back at the beginning of the month, the Alliums were blooming proudly and looked striking with their tall long stems and intricate star-shaped flower heads. Usually, June is all about Lupins and foxgloves. This year they began flowering in May, and sadly by the middle of the month, they had faded and dried, and the few second flowers also came and went. The foxgloves still have a few flowers at the top of their very long stems, and the bees are still managing to collect pollen from the bell-shaped blooms that remain.

Pink_and_white_lupins_under_a_blue_sky — Purple, orange, pink and white lupins earlier in the month. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Early_June_foxglove_and_Persicaria_bistorta_with_bees — Flowers and bees in early June. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I think the biggest mark of difference in the garden this summer, are the geraniums and day lilies. Both usually provide colour into July, but all the geranium petals have fallen, and only a very few day lilies are left to flower.

Midsummer_geraniums_and_day_lilies — Midsummer blue and gold. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

So here we are at the end of the month. There are still a few peonies in bloom providing rich colour and delicious fragrance, and the old rose bush (which hasn’t failed yet) is looking and smelling wonderful at the moment.

Mid_June_deep_pink_Peonies — Mid June Peonies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

End_of_June_old_rose_bush_in_full_bloom — Bloomin’ marvellous. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’ve started harvesting produce from the greenhouse. The baby cucumbers I’m growing were about 3cm long at the beginning of June, and this week, I picked the first couple of fully formed fruit. In the shady parts of the garden, the wild strawberries have done well again this year.

First_baby_cucumber_ripe_and_ready — First pickings. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

End_of_June_wild_strawberry_harvest_2023 — June 2023 wild strawberry harvest. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

At ground level, these two Dianthus varieties are my favourite plants in the garden at the moment. If I keep removing the spent heads, I am hoping that new buds will keep forming and that there will be flowers for a couple more weeks yet.

End_of_June_Dianthus_flowers — Lilac and pink Dianthus. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m closing my post with a flower that’s just opened up this week. The first of many (I hope) Japanese Anemones in the garden. This one’s about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. And that’s me, until next time, have a great few days and thanks for stopping by 🙂

Early white Japanese Anemone. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Autumn vibes

September 24, 2022September 24, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Japanese_maple_leaves_against_a_blue_sky — Blue sky and autumn leaves. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. It’s been a lovely weekend so far here in central Scotland. Lots of sunshine and blue sky which really shows off these Japanese maple leaves, slowly on the turn from green to gold, and finally to red before they fall. The temperature has dropped a few degrees, and the forecast is for a much cooler week ahead, so I think the new season has well and truly arrived.

Pink_Scottish_heather_Autumn_2022 — Scottish autumn-flowering heather. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The garden is still looking quite flowery which is good news for the bees. It’s been a great year for all the heathers, with the autumn varieties looking particularly pretty and laden with tiny blooms.

White_Hydrangea_fading_in_late_September — Fading white Hydrangea.. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The well-established white Hydrangea shrub has been heavy with flowers this year. A victim of its own success, its thin stems and branches have bowed with the weight of all the flower-heads. Whilst most have a pinkish or brown tinge, there are still one or two perfectly white blooms visible with their pin-head-sized tiny blue centres.

Blue_and_pale_pink_Campanulas_September_2022 — Late flowering Campanulas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Campanulas have been out in flower for a while. I keep trimming away the spent flower-heads and new ones have been forming lower down the stems which is why they are still flowering so late in the year. The same goes for the deep-pink Verbascum which is now flowering for the third time this year.

Flowering_in_late_September_deep_pink_Verbascum — Deep pink Verbascum. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

When I was out in the garden today, I was happy to see so many bees and flying insects enjoying the flowers and sunshine as much as I was. All the lavender bushes in the garden have a few late sprigs of flowers which these insects particularly love.

Autumn_flowering_lavender — Autumn lavender flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s not all blue, purple and pink in the garden, the Rose of Sharon has produced a few more golden yellow flowers which have a waxy-look to the petals in the sunshine.

Rose_of_Sharon_flowers_late_September_2022 — Second flowers on Rose of Sharon (Hypericum). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

My final image is of my favourite Lupin which has broken my back garden record this year, with its third flowering of the year. It’s not fully open yet but it’s not far off. All the other Lupin bushes have died down completely yet this one has stayed lush and healthy. Alongside is one of my Borage flowers; these have only just decided to put in an appearance this week. Better late than never though 🙂

Late_September_lupin_flower_and_flowering_borage — Third flowering Lupin and the first Borage flowers of the season. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I hope you have enjoyed my images this week. I will be back in the kitchen for my next post. Until then, take care and thanks, as always, for stopping by.

Midsummer rainbow garden

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 3 Comments

Midsummer_in_a_Scottish_garden — Midsummer garden. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello everyone. I hope you well and that the sun has been shining wherever you are. It’s been a mixed bag here. Some sunshine, some rain, but warmer temperatures on the whole.

I have a very simple post this week. Several plants in the garden are about 2 weeks behind this year, and this has enabled me to put together a post I have wanted to do for a while but have not, until now, had the selection of colours to make it work.

Below is a compilation of flowering plants from my garden photographed this week from Midsummer’s Day on Monday through to this morning. All the colours of the rainbow plus a couple more. I hope you enjoy them.

Deep_red_Aquilegia_plume_thistle_and_Skimmia_Japonica_berries — The reds: Aquilegia; Plume thistle, and Skimmia Japonica berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Peachy-red_Azalea_orange-yellow_lupin_and_Pilosella — The oranges: Azalea, Lupin and Pilosella (fox and cubs). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Yellow_flowering_Sedum_Lysimachia_and_Day_Lilies. — The yellows: Sedum, Lysimachia and Day Lilies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Green_Euphorbia_flowers_lemon_thyme_and_fresh_sage_plants — The greens: Euphorbia, lemon Thyme, and sage. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Geranium_Magnificum_nlue_Campanula_and_Centaurea_Montana — The blues: Geranium Magnificum, Campanula and Centaurea Montana. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Purple_lupin_trailing_Campanula_and_deep_violet_violas — The violets: Lupin, trailing Campanula and Violas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Gertrude_Jekyll_rose_deep_pink_Foxglove_and_white_and_pink_lupin — The pinks: Gertrude Jekyll rose, Foxglove and Lupin. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

White_hebe_flowers_white_Veronica_and_white_foxglove — The whites: Hebe, Veronica and Foxglove. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m heading back to the kitchen for my next post. I will see again in a few days. Until then, take care and keep safe 🙂

September reflections

September 24, 2020September 24, 2020 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Acer_leaves_turning_colour_in_September_2020 — Acer leaves in the Autumn sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. I hope you are keeping well. It’s been a busy month for me which has meant that I haven’t had much spare time to put a post together. Now as the season feels like it is shifting, I thought I would take a look back on what’s been happening out of doors this past month.

Under_a_hedgerow_Autumn_crocus_growing_in_a_collapsed_clump — A cascade of Autumn crocus. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

The garden is showing signs of Autumn now with leaves changing colour and a crop of pale lilac crocus appearing in a shady border. Earlier in the month I went to visit my family in Sussex. The weather was very warm and we spent most of our time together out of doors. On one walk, I was delighted to find some blackberries untouched in a hedgerow and was able to carry my precious cargo of black jewels all the way back home to Scotland to make into a compote with apples from my tree. Delicious.

Wild_blackberries_growing_in_a_Sussex_hedgerow — Wild hedgerow blackberries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Old_apple_tree_laden_with_cooking_apples — My apple tree laden with fruit. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Box_of_freshly_picked_Lord_Derby_cooking_apples — First pickings. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

As you can see, it’s another good year for apples. I’ve only picked a few so far, but I think with the weather turning cooler this weekend and a predicted frost,, I will be picking the remainder in the next few days. I’ve also harvested a lot of potatoes, and put many more in storage. I’m feeling pleased with myself, after years of giving up on carrot growing, I’ve had a fair crop this year. The variety was called “Rainbow” and I had high hopes of a multi-coloured batch, but in the end, they were mostly yellow. No matter, they tasted fresh and spicy, just as homegrown carrots should do.

Homegrown_Scottish_carrots_September_2020 — Freshly dug carrots. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Wooden_box_of_freshly_dug_Nicola_potatoes — Box of tatties. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m over-run with tomatoes too. Dehydration for the small ones, and tomato sauce for the larger ones. I haven’t started my annual chutney making ritual, but once the apples are picked, the preserving with begin.

Homegrown_Rosella_Piccolo_baby_plum_and_Marmands_tomatoes — First major haul of tomatoes. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back in the garden, my lovely scented rose bush is back in flower, and the orange lupin is flowering for the third time – I didn’t know this was possible! Another splash of orange in the garden comes from the carnations I planted a few years ago. Back in the spring, I moved them to a different spot, in a raised bed by a sunny wall, and they are thriving.

Pink_scented_rose_and_orange-pink_lupin — Second-time-around rose, and lupin in third flowering. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Growing_against_a_sunny_wall_orange_carnations — September carnations. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m pretty sure that I mentioned the Japanese anemones in my last garden post back in August. They have gone from strength to strength, and I think this year is the first time they have grown en masse to create such an impactful display under the apple tree.

White_Japanese_Anemones_September_2020 — Japanese Anemones under apple tree. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for another month. I wish you well over the coming days, and look forward to sharing a recipe with you next time around. Until then, my best wishes to you.

August brights

August 22, 2020August 22, 2020 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Orange_Crocosmia_in_front_of_a row_of_flowering_runner_beans — Crocosmia with flowering runner beans. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. I hope you have had a good few days. As I sat down to sort out my images this week’s post, it was rather gloomy outside. The weather this month really hasn’t been very summery at all, and to be honest, it is beginning to feel autumnal with the evenings drawing in more rapidly that I care to think about. However, there are some pockets of vibrant colour in the garden at the moment to help brighten the days.

Pink_and_white_Japanese_anemones — 2020 Japanese Anemones. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The delicate-looking Japanese anemones are beginning to flower all over the garden at the moment. I know that they will last well into next month, probably longer, and will stand up to whatever weather comes their way. They are so much hardier than they look.

Orange_and_pink_lupins_August_2020 — Second time around Lupins. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The lupins have all flowered for a second time this year and with much bigger blooms than usual. Often the second flowers are half the size of the original June flower-heads at best, but this year they have put in a magnificent effort just 2 months later.

Golden_Rod_(Solidago)_and_Echinops — Golden Rod (Solidago) and Echinops, August 2020. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

There are still plenty of bees and flying insects being busy around the garden, and in particular the 2 plants above are favourites with them all.

Blooming_blue_pink_mauve_and_white_Hydrangeas — Blue, pink, mauve and white Hydrangeas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I have been living here in central Scotland for over 15 years now, and I am still surprised by the plants that grow around me. This year, for the first time, I noticed that the tiny blue ball-like centres of the aged white Hydrangea open out to form their own blue 4-petaled flowers with stamens.

Deep_pink_tiger_lily — Tiger lily. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

This beauty hides behind the aforementioned white Hydrangea in the front garden. Far too flamboyant to be in the shadows, but that’s where it thrives, so I’ll not interfere.

Until next time, I’ll leave you with another plant in second flower, my Gertrude Jekyll rose. Heavenly scented as well as sheer perfection to look at. I hope you have a good few days. I will be back in the kitchen again for my next post.

Gertrude_Jekyll_rose_in_full_bloom — Gertrude Jekyll in second flower. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Early June in a Scottish garden

June 7, 2020June 7, 2020 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 6 Comments

Scottish_country_flower_garden_in_early_June_2020 — The colours of early June. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. I hope you have had a good few days. It has been lovely weather here. Plenty of blue sky days, and also, I’m pleased to say, some rain at long last. The water butt is full up again and the garden refreshed. We’re still under lockdown here in Scotland although restrictions have been lifted a little. There is plenty to keep me occupied outside.

Lupins_in_early_June — A June favourite. lovely Lupins. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

No June garden round-up of mine would be complete without Lupin pictures. They have been open for a couple of weeks now. The heat and strong sunshine has forced the purple ones over already, but the orange and pinks one are holding up well.

3_bearded_Iris_in_early_June_in_a_flower_border — A trio of Iris. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I have been trying to resurrect Iris corms for a couple of years unsuccessfully, but this year I have achieved 3 out of 6. The blue ones are both Iris Pallida – one for some reason has grown much paler than the other – they smell sweet and sugary, like bubblegum. The pink one is called Wine and Roses and is slightly spicier in aroma. I will be lifting and dividing them all with care in the Autumn and hoping that I might have at last found the the right locations for them in the garden.

Alliums_and_Armeria_(Thrift) — Alliums and Armeria. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s a good year for the Alliums too. The few bulbs I planted about 3 years ago have steadily multiplied and are now growing in small groups. To be honest, how these 6 managed to grow side by side to the exact same height I will never know; if I had tried to achieve this formation myself, I’m pretty sure it would never have happened like this! The Armeria (Thrift) is looking very healthy too. The bees love it; it is a very cheery sight in a narrow flower border beside a path. Talking of bees, here’s another favourite flower of our little winged friends……

A_persicaria_flower_head_with_bee — Persicaria and bee. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

There are lots of scents in the garden at the moment. The Day Lilies have just come out and make weeding a real pleasure when you happen to be working in a spot near to where they grow. The Gorse bush at the top of the garden is also very fragrant (spicy vanilla) but more inaccessible to work near so I leave this one for the insects.

Yellow_Day_Lilies_overhanging_a_gravel_path — Day Lilies. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Gorse_bush_laden_with_flowers — Vanilla-scented Gorse. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Along side the Gorse bush, in a shady corner, dark blue and bright blue Aquilegia (Columbine) grow. There are lots of pink and white varieties growing all over the place but the blue ones like to stay in this part of the garden for some reason. They do make a lovely contrast to the bright yellow Gorse flowers.

Deep_blue_and_bright_blue_Aquilegia — Blue Aquilegia. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for another week or so. I was hoping to have included Peony images this time but they are still in quite tight bud. I’m sure a few more days of sunshine and they will be blooming by the end of the week. Until next time, take care and enjoy the sunshine 🙂

Lovely Lupins

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 3 Comments

Flower_bed_full_of_different_coloured_lupins — Lupin-laden flower bed. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

The garden is full of colour at the moment, thanks largely to the abundance of Lupin bushes. We’ve had the right mix of rainy days and dry days to bring them to full flower, and they look magnificent. Tall and sturdy, the structured flower stems are made up of many delicate individual flower heads with a distinctly peppery aroma, Lupins are a delight to behold. The violet-blue Lupin bush above has a quirkiness to it, each year one solitary pink stem grows in amongst all the blue ones 🙂

Pink_violet_and_orange_lupin_flower_stems_close_up — Up close on Lupins. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s not just me who’s enjoying the Lupins, the bees are all over them at the moment – just look at those pollen sacs!

Lupin_flower_stems_with_bees_collecting_pollen — Lupin-lovin bees. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Lupins are the ultimate low-maintenance plant, and such great value. They will self-seed each year if you allow the seed heads to dry on the plant. I usually collect a few seed pods each year and pot up a few extra plants just in case I have a space in a border for a new plant – the pink one below is one of last year’s newbies. If you cut back the stems once the flowers have faded, you will get a second flourish of smaller flower stems later on in the season.

A_pink_and_a_white_lupin_bush — Pink and white Lupin varieties. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The orange Lupin was planted last year, and I was intrigued to see whether it would grow back the same colour this year. I have found that Lupins often change colour in acidic soil just like Hydrangeas, and often revert back to the original violet-blue variety. The colour of this one is slightly more peachy this year, but still a lovely contrast to the other colours in the garden.

Violet_(blue)_lupins_and_a_new_orange_variety — The blue and the orange. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back in the kitchen again soon. Until my next post, have a good few days and enjoy the sunshine when you have some 🙂

Pink_orange_and_violet_lupins_in_a_large_garden_border — Lupin-tastic. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Blue June

June 7, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 6 Comments

Back_garden_gate_with_blue_and_white_Aquilegia — Blue and white Columbine (*Aquilegia*). Image: Kathryn Hawkins

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It’s been quite a week in the garden. Long, warm days, plenty of sunshine, no rain, and everything is flourishing. As the spring colours fade and the bluebells diminish, the garden has come alive with all things blue.

Columbine (Aquilegia) grow very well in the garden and seed themselves each year. They are a great value flower, and fill in lots of the spaces in the borders and beds with their delicate broad-clover-like leaves and dainty ballerina-like flowers. They are also flower for a long time.

Purple_Cranesbill — Hardy Geranium or Cranesbill. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Also long flowering are the geraniums which grow over the walls and trim the pathways round the garden. They love all the sunshine we’ve been having. The lupins are also doing well, and with no wind to blow them over (so far!) they are growing tall and straight and look truly magnificent.

Cluster_of_purple_lupins — Blue-mauve Lupins. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Honey_bee_on_a_Meadow_Cornflower — Busy bee collecting pollen from a Meadow Cornflower (*Centaurea*). Image: Kathryn Hawkins

There are plenty of bees around in the garden which is a good sign. They seem to like lots of the flowers in the garden, but the Meadow Cornflowers are a particular favourite and the many clumps around the garden are alive with activity from lots of buzzing wee winged creatures.

Last spring I planted a couple of Himalayan poppies (Mecanopsis). I love these delicate, unusual coloured flowers but have been unsuccessful in getting them to flower. I was delighted to see that one has produced a long flower stem with lots of buds. The other is very much alive, so fingers crossed, it will flower next year. These poppies prefer a shady situation, my 2 are growing deep in a flower bed which doesn’t get direct sunlight. The flower is such a stunning shade of blue, you can see it right across the garden.

Himalayan_blue_poppy — Delicate and delightful, Mecanopsis. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

One final image, my gorgeous blue iris has opened up this week. It stands alone in a corner of a flower bed in the front of the house, and is greatly admired. I just can’t resist inhaling the bubble-gum aroma every time I walk past. Have a good week and enjoy the sunshine 🙂