End Of Summer Days?

Over here in the West of Britain, the weather has become very uncertain. Although August is known as the wetter month of Summer, it seems to be living up to it's reputation here at least.

So each good day needs to be enjoyed for what it brings because September is rapidly coming and that will herald the onset of Autumn (Fall).

The later Summer plants are now at their best.

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are out fully, the heads perfect in shape and the colours pristine.

A little out of sync with the season, a dwarf Azalea flowers. Deep inside the flower I caught this wasp taking a drink of nectar.

Azalea and wasp

Soft As Down

The large Thistle that came up at the side of the veg plot has now gone to seed. It was quite an impressive size and really sharp points to it. But the colourful purple flowers make it well worth while leaving to grow on. Not only that but it is an important insect food, attracting many insects to the nectar it produces.

Now the soft downy seeds have come, the Goldfinches will be visiting it for the carbohydrate rich seeds they need to build up their fat reserves for winter.

Thistle seed heads (Cirsium vulgare)

For a good number of years I have looked for a variegated Nettle and finally found one (see Trouble with Nettles)  called Brightstone Bitch. It is a lovely yellow variegated Nettle, well worth a place in the garden.

Sods law though often has a laugh and a month or so after acquiring it I found a nettle with a tiny variegated patch on a shoot. So I carefully nurtured the shoot and have now produced my own variation of a yellow variegated Nettle.

Variegated Nettle (Urtica dioca)

It looks very much the same as Brightstone Bitch (Trouble with Nettles) but so far it seems to be a shorter form keeping it's shape even while flowering, whereas Brightstone Bitch grows quite tall. Anyhow we shall have to see how it performs over time.

Ever one not to be satisfied I would love a white variegated Nettle to come along :-)

Safer Environment

After the last post I made a report came out in the journal of Toxicology. The evidence is even stronger that pesticides are responsible for the decline in insect populations.

Bees are particularly hard hit by the pesticides. The latest neonicotinoid group are particularly long lasting in their effect.

Two in particular are imidacloprid and thiacloprid. Both can be found in pesticides available to the public in garden centres and DIY stores.

We can only discourage anyone we know from using these pesticides around their garden. Most of the time they are completely unnecessary, in actual fact I find them totally unnecessary and never have to resort to any form of pesticide within our garden. We find that over the years a natural balance has occurred. Greenfly may come on the roses at some point in Spring, but are quickly cleared away by regular visits from the Blue Tits.

A Bumble visiting Stachys 'Saharan Pink' (Stachys monieri)

Planting the right plants in our gardens can stop the decline of the insect population and act as a safe haven for wildlife.

A Gentle Hum

The epitome of Summer sounds in a garden is the gentle hum of insects visiting flowers. The buzz of tiny flies and the drone of Bees. These sounds are becoming rarer though. Insects are becoming scarcer throughout the countryside. Most of it is due to agricultural practices, the destruction of natural habitats, loss of wild flowers and use of insecticides.

Everyone can help in their own gardens by growing a few plants insects love. Unfortunately many of the bedding that is grown is not always insect friendly. But some of the old cottage garden plants are beloved by insects. They can become the backbone of many gardens creating a rich and diverse population.

Flies enjoying the Golden Rod (Solidago canadensis)

Golden Rod is easy to grow and beloved by virtually every insect in the garden. Bumblebees, Butterflies and numerous different specie of Flies. The older more natural form reaching nearly 5 feet in height.

  Golden Rod forms a lovely bright Summery clump.

Another strong growing and easy plant is Inula Hookeri. Large flowers on strong stems growing up to 4 feet, attracts Bees of all kinds and Butterflies in abundance, who flit down to sip gently from the large open flowers.

Bee visiting Inula hookeri

Butterfly on the Inula     

No garden should be without a Buddleia. It's the Butterfly magnet for gardens. Planting one ensures you will have masses of these colourful insects flitting around the garden.

Admiral Butterfly visiting the Buddleia (Buddleia davidii)

Now is the time to look for the insect attractors at Garden Centres, they will be on display in full flower. Some of the other plants may have to be sourced from old gardens, or more specialist nurseries. The taller Golden Rod for one has fallen out of favour for the shorter forms that can be found. The short forms do attract insects but not in the quantities of the taller Solidago. If you see a garden with a clump ask them in Winter for a small piece for the garden, better still offer a swap with something else.

Build up a collection of insect attractors and bring an even greater richness into the garden.

Toad In The?

Thrusting my hands into a nearly finished bag of Organic Multipurpose compost, I came across a lump, which is not uncommon.

Rolling it around in my fingers, it was strangely reluctant to fall apart. Then I glanced down to find the reason.

It was none the worse for wear.

So I found it a nice niche in some roots very close to where the bag of compost was situated and made sure it got under cover.

Our Toads are the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) They all seem to be either this dark earthy colour or a deep dark brick red. Very often we get them coming into the outhouse underneath the door. Thankfully we always seem to see them before accidentally treading on them. Always welcome around as they love slug snacks and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, strange really.

Summer Scents

Summer scents come in many varieties within the garden. Not only deliciously scented and good to look at, but also attractive to wildlife offering an abundance of pollen and nectar.

An old cottage garden favourite is the Phlox (Phlox paniculata). There is nothing like a Phlox to epitomise the scent of a Summer perennial border.

Phlox paniculata

A plant with a slightly strange scent is the Houttuynia. The leaves have an orangy slightly metallic scent to them when lightly crushed. Some don't like the scent but to most people it is just unusual.

Strangely enough the leaves are perfectly edible, best when picked younger in Spring or early Summer, they can be eaten raw in salads or lightly steamed. Eaten raw they have an orangey tang to them that lingers in the mouth for some time. Houttuynia is easy to grow if given the right conditions. Although it is really a pond side plant enjoying moist to wet conditions, any good soil will sustain it. In fact it can spread with abandon although not to be a pest.

This is Houttuynia cordata flora plena, plain leaved but with double flowers. Not quite so easy to find as Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' which has striking variegated leaves. Still edible so don't let the colours put you off trying it.

For sheer scent power the Jasmines are hard to beat. On still Summer air the scent drifts across the garden filling the air with perfume, a must have in any garden.

Jasmine Clotted Cream

Jasmine clotted cream has deliciously creamy flowers instead of the pure white of Jasmine officinalis. Both have the same scent power. Every garden should have one twining somewhere.