Black Knight Meets A Comma

The first Butterfly of the year that I have managed to photograph landed today on the Black Knight Buddleja.Its common name is the Butterfly Bush.I think it is a Comma butterfly.

I saw it fly around before it alighted on the honey scented flowers.This plant has driven the Bee's mad.They get chilled out drinking the nectar.It is always surrounded by flying insects.

I watered the pots tonight, and gave the Tomato plants some liquid feed.These Tomato's have grown really well this year, so im hoping for a bumper crop.

I went to Hampsons today and bought some poetic plaque signs for the garden,three bags of compost for potting up plants,and a little stone Buddha for the outside table.

The Great Yorkshire Show starts tomorrow at the Yorkshire Show Grounds in Harrogate.I will be there on Thursday with Cat.I love the farm animals and the horses you can see around the grounds.It is the biggest agricultural show in England and a fabulous day out.

I hope that I will take more Butterfly photos.They are lovely insects to tempt into our wildlife friendly garden.

Summer Thoughts

The Chamomile and Butterfly Bush in flower on Saturday. I got the autumn catalogue from Bakker and spent a few hours perusing it.The summers not over yet and all the seed and plant catalogues are being sent out tempting you to buy even more plants, flowers, and bulbs for next year.
I'm trying to imagine winter when the garden will be clearer and there may be room for my homeless plants. Some grasses and red flowering Camellia need planting in the off season.
I have been thinking about what worked and what did not work as well.The majority of edible plants will be grown up at the allotment next year, so i can concentrate on flowers.
The two exceptions will be Chilli plants and Tomatos which need lavish attention, so they fruit fully.
I have enjoyed the homegrown vegetables and potatoes that the garden and allotment have produced.
I think I want the plants to stay within the borders, to keep the patio free for water features and bird table.
This year I had so many plants that a lot have been grown in pots and containers on either side of the borders. It looks lush and green but its difficult to enjoy all the flowers when you are fighting through masses of green to see them.
As plants go over and look ropey then you can think what the garden has done well.The garden has supplied eight months of photos for the blog.A wide variety too I think.
I love Roses and might grow more varieties next year.I might substitute some with new Rose bushes bought bare root in the winter.
Next year I want a bed for cut flowers at the allotment as well as expanding what I'm growing up there. I have Seven beds at the moment, with six more of Mr Saddiqs. A fourteenth bed will be dug in the winter, along with the erecting of the shed.
I have enjoyed the gardening and vegetable growing. I hope my enthusiasm shows in the regular posts and photos. Im working a long day today so no gardening today.

Tatton Park Tomorrow

One day to go before I go to Tatton Park RHS flower show. Im looking forward to it, despite the constant rain thats fallen over the past few days.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/tatton/2007/index.asp

There has been more flooding down south and my Hometown Train station was under water yesterday (Cheltenham).

I braved the weather outside this morning to snap the Buddeleja. Its one of my plants of 2007, as in I keep seeing it everywhere. Car parks, the edges of building sites, railway lines, peoples weedy gardens, and wasteland seem full of the purple flowers. I have two varieties growing in the flat.

My gravel pulled volunteer is looking a bit ropey.I will see if it revives or whether the shock of moving it has damaged the roots.

The council display one is doing not too bad.The rooting hormone dipped stems had the lower leaves removed and have been anchored in compost.They appear to be growing with no signs of transpiration induced Shock!

The butterfly bush shown is growing in the carpark, between a twenty foot high stone wall and the side of the Brewery.Its roots must be in some dirt above the concrete.It has been battered by the rain and has tipped over.I rescued a big flower head to sit on my windowsill whilst I decide what it smells like.

The purple/lilac flowers have beautiful orange centres, with the nectar stashed at the end of the tube i guess. Butterflies have long probiscus so thats how they get at the nectar. They can probably smell it and it drives them mad.

My flower head has been rain splattered probably lessening the scent.I will see when its dried off a bit.

The Camera is coming to Tatton Park with me for the final day (Sunday 22nd July), and will be around my neck for the whole day.I watched the TV coverage (first TV i have watched in a few months) and it looked gorgeous. With show gardens, bedding displays, Floral Marquee, plant Creche, and queues of people everywhere.

I will post afterwards from the last big RHS flower show of the year. My first time ever going to one although I watched Chelsea flower show before.

Need to do some research about the Gardens I want to see, if they have survived the rain that has fallen.

Hope you are all having good weekends, and that your gardens are growing :)

Fifth Nightshift photo: Butterfly Bush

The Long Purple, scented flower of a Buddleja growing across the Long causeway on the way home this morning. This wood shrub stretches over a seven foot fence, and drapes if flowers downward onto the Alley.
For an invasive plant it is pretty flowered.I have seen it in public displays, in building sites, and derelict Carparks.
The indoor greenhouse has two growing versions of the Butterfly bush.I hope to have a garden soon to plant them for attracting Butterflies and Bee's.
They can be cut back hard in the Spring, when they will regrow vigerously, and flower on the new Growth. My two cuttings seem to have rooted easily and are growing now :)
Hope your Friday the 13th is Lucky, and not too many black cats cross your path.