Self seeded poppy
First courgette
Busy border
It’s been so hot today, 29C/84FÂ that I have barely been outside, just long enough this early evening to take these three photos.
Category Archives: garden
Hydrangeas
This post is for our dear friend who lives in Flagstaff, Arizona and who loves hydrangeas. They were very small when P&J last visited but are thriving in our front garden and are looking very lovely this year. 
Hydrangea Petiolaris
Sorry I have lost the names of the others.
Bee, World Refugee Day and A Poem
The vibrant orange of the pollen collected by this bee contrasts so beautifully with the purpley blue of the flower.
It’s World Refugee Day today……….
……. and I give you here the remarkable poem by Brian Bilston who in the past has given me permission to post his poems here for you. Read it down and then read it from the bottom upwards – even more appropriate today than when it was first written.
Raindrops and A Poem
We hear that there is a heatwave in the South East of the UK but here in the South West we have had grey, mizzly skies for days and the forecast is for more. The resulting raindrops clinging to petals make for beautiful pictures. 
I would not describe myself as a dog lover though I do enjoy watching them playing on the beach and friends have had a dog that I did love. This poem by Mary Oliver, “The Sweetness of Dogs”, reminds me of lovely Kaja and how she loved her people. The whole poem is so full of the beauty of the moon, of gentleness and shared love.
Reflection, Purple and Orange
I took this photo yesterday for the words and double meaning and then was rather pleased with the reflection.
Loving this clematis climbing up the fir tree.
The lavenders are looking good and contrast so well with the orange of the Californian Poppies.
Flower Bombs, Daisies and A Rose
The flower bombs we bought in Amsterdam are developing but I don’t yet know what to expect as I don’t recognise any of the early leaves. 
The daisies are withstanding all the cold, wet and windy weather unlike the osteospernum which are looking very beaten down.
Our golden wedding rose has its first beautiful and highly scented bloom.
Poppy, Beans and Marigolds
At Community Roots today one of the poly-tunnels was full of flowers, the beans, some gorgeous poppies and dozens of marigolds – a riot of colour. 
Bee Hotel, Hebe and Geranium
We are trying to be as pollinator friendly in our garden as we can, no-mow-May, planting lots of flowers and now providing a bee hotel for solitary bees. I’ll let you know if we get any lodgers.
The Hebe is attracting various pollinating creatures . (Thanks to Jude who identified this plant for me.).
So is the pink geranium.
Happiness Calendar, Cake and Rain
Here’s this month’s Happiness Calendar. We’ve had a happy day as the lovely young men have been installing the solar panels and appreciating the cookies. I’ve had a steroid injection in my hip which hopefully will have the desired effect.
It’s Blueberry cake for the volunteers tomorrow.
Blueberry Cake
It’s been raining so hard we have a carpet of orange pettals under the California Poppies. Happily, there are many more buds.
Sage, Thyme and Kit
I’m revamping my herb garden as the plants have gotten rather woody and less than perfect for cooking with. I’ll fill the gaps with some Lobelia for the summertime.
Purple sage
Creeping thyme
Our coal-house, which hasn’t seen coal in many years and has been a store shed, is now full of the kit needed by the installers of our solar panels on Monday.
