Cosmos, grown from seed.
I do enjoy cosmos, how it suits it’s name. In Greek, it means beautiful and ornamental, or “love flower” most apt.
I rather like how these begonias and marigolds compliment each other. The marigolds just keep on going. I was collecting seed, but now I’m just composting the seed heads.
This yellow begonia is especially vibrant.
It’s been a good year for monarda, although many are suffering from mildew, mainly in the courtyard for some reason, maybe it has something to do with air circulation there.
I grew this black-eyed-susan from seed, really late, along with the sweet peas and morning glory. Finally, they are all beginning to flower. I’m hoping they last throughout the autumn.
Hibiscus.
I have five hibiscus shrubs, yet three of them barely flower. I have no idea why this is given all the shrubs are in the same area.
Hibiscus is considered to be a very feminine flower and so is usually given or worn by women. In North America, especially, hibiscus represents the perfect wife or woman. In Victorian times, giving a hibiscus flower meant that the giver was acknowledging the receiver’s beauty.
Hibiscus.
The pollinators have just loved this lavender and verbena bed, I must say I was surprised to see the bees choosing the verbena over the lavender though.
This year I have cut several lavender heads for scented sachets, you just can’t beat a little lavender under your pillow…..soooo soothing!
Now that we’ve had a little rain, nothing to write home about though, the lawn is beginning to green up again. It was embarrassing when brown, as all the lush green weeds stood out like beacons. It’s crazy isn’t it? The plants and lawn wither while the weeds thrive. Maybe I should just grow them!
Pyracantha
Autumn seems to be coming early. Berries of all kinds are now ripe. So many plants have run to seed or gone over with all the heat we’ve had. What a strange year!
Rowan berries
The rowan has to be my favourite tree. There is so much mythology surrounding it. They were considered sacred by the Celtic Druids and Scots, who used the wood to make amulets for protection against sorcery and the evil eye.
Walking sticks, boats and cart-wheels were often made of rowan too, again, for protection on journeys, and they were often planted in cemeteries to protect against evil spirits and planted near gates and doors to protect against misfortune.
I am pleased with these bleeding hearts which I’ve grown from seed, I just love how they drape over the brickwork. Sadly, most of the annuals in the small planters have flowered and died.
I have enjoyed the new back garden this year, although now it’s all about brushing eternal detruis from the paving!
And Finally…
Helena, the blind hog has moved to pastures new. She adjusted beautifully in my garden and quickly became nocturnal. I loved watching her come out each night. She would put a paw out and feel for obstacles, amazing to watch actually, hardly any hesitation! Her pace when walking was pretty impressive. Not only did she adjust, she began to dig her way to freedom so it was definitely time for her to go.
Now she is living in a walled garden with the lovely Sheena, who has provided her with a hedgehog house and a buffet each evening. The good news is that she has settled in beautifully and has remained nocturnal!
Result!!!
I wonder how long that hutch will stay empty?
Beautiful and mystifying! My how your garden grows🌹🌺🌸
Thanks Holly. Welcome to the blog!xxx
Looks like your garden is full of colours and lives now. How wonderful! I do enjoy cosmos too. But I’ve only grown the orange and yellow ones. Begonias and hibiscus may be beautiful but I’m just not really that keen on them. And though we have a garden specially dedicated to house all the numerous varieties of Hibiscus in Kuala Lumpur, I never know more other than that it is our national flower.
Black eye susan is quite pretty. Love its simple look and name!
What an interesting and intelligent use of the lavendar! I may consider growing some one day when I have more time in the garden.
Glad to hear the good news about Helena.
Oh….you live and learn on this blog, I had no idea hibiscus was your national flower! It’s a good thing we’re all individuals and have are own preferences. As I’ve got older, I become very fond of roses, I never liked them when I was younger. I would grow lavender, and rosemary, you have the perfect climate for it. Thanks Jade.xxx
Yay for Helena – I’m so glad that she has a new loving family to take care of her. My money is on the hutch being filled again very soon! Love the folklore surrounding the rowan tree – I have one that my girls bought me for Mother’s Day a few years ago; nice to know that I’m being protected! Well done on growing all those flowers from seed; note to self – must try harder next year! xx
Thanks Veggiemummy, certainly good news re Helena! I have always loved rowan trees, such light, airy delicate creatures! I’m great at growing a shed load of seeds, keeping them watered is my downfall.xxx
Empty hutch? Nop. I don’t think it will stay that way much longer 🙂
Amazing lovely flowers, Dina. Actually, I have to admit that couple years ago, when traveling through England from South to Scotland, I was really impressed to see how colorful and almost “Mediterranean” the flowers and bushes are up there in the northern part of Europe.
I guess somehow the weather’s conditions have its finger in it… even if you have severe cold winters.
By the way, we got the lovely surprise! Hearted thanks but I would really like to help out the Freshfields animal rescue, please please don’t be offended if I send them per PayPal on FB some money… I do that from my heart!
Hugs and kisses :-)claudine and family
Haha….I can’t see that hutch staying empty long either! Oh….thanks for the donation, you shouldn’t have though! I guess if this summer is anything to go by we’ll all have to grow more Mediterranean plants. Thanks Claudine. Love and hugs to you all.xxx
Oh. You’ve got me swooning at the beauties in your garden. I have to search pretty diligently to frame a shot that doesn’t show the ravages of our hot hot summer. So your oasis is just glorious. Love the start of that hibiscus — they have that brief moment where they look demure, just before they burst into showy blooms.
What a lovely pairing of the begonias and marigolds. I can never keep marigolds going — you have the magic if they reseed for you! And those ethereal cosmos.
Well done Helena! Wonderful news, Dina.
Thanks Anne, after our summer I wouldn’t describe our gardens as oasis’s!!! The lawn has only just greened up and two thirds of my plants have shriveled some may never return!!! The hibiscus is certainly showing off now, well, the ones that actually bloom! Marigolds grow like weeds here and love to self seed, pretty tough little plants even in a drought, they seen happy to bounce back after a watering. xxx
Love the colorful berries of the Pyracantha and the Rowan/Mountain Ash. They must be very popular with the birds.
Thanks Jason, those berries don’t tend to last long, the birds flock to them!xxx
I think your flowers and berries look great. I do agree with you that Autumn seems to be coming a little early this year, I blame the heat of the summer!
Helena’s story is a nice happy one … pleased to know that she is in a walled garden.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, Autumn is winging it’s way in, the leaves will be falling soon at this rate! Yes, great news about Helena, what a hog! xxx
Jolly flowers and berries. Good pictures. Lovely variations.
Last year there were early amazing Rowan Berry clusters; here we say it is the portent of a hard winter – and so it was, long and hard. This year, again there are very early Rowan Berry clusters. I am not sure if it registers the same portents as last year…I hope not. Time will tell. On the other hand, plants will flower early as a last gasp to save their species when there is a long dry period, such as we have experienced this summer.
Delighted hedgehog has done so well. You deserve a round of applause! xxx
Ah yes! I’ve heard the same about vibrant early berries, ohhhhhh, I do hope we don’t get another ghastly winter!!! It’s lovely to think of Helena trotting around a large walled garden. Thanks Menhir.xxx
It’s a pleasure looking at the flowers, though I have to say that sometimes the weeds give me pleasure equal to the sight of the cultured vegetation. It’s a bit hard for me to accept that summer is soon to finish. I feel that this year I didn’t really get to appreciate it. But we never know… a few good days, and maybe I’ll carry a different impression from this year’s summer. May you enjoy the flowers in your beautiful garden. xxx
I’m with you on the weeds, wildflowers are just weeds by any other name. I’m not fond of the really invasive ones like mare’s tail and ground elder though, they simply take over. I wish I could have sent you a little of our sunshine, seems we’ve had the hottest summer in recorded history. Thanks Shimon.xxx
I came to a full stop when I saw that yellow begonia. I didn’t know begonias could do that! I’m going to have to have a look around, and see if I can find one. The other flower that caught my eye was the white hibiscus with the deep maroon center. We have a stunning native — Hibiscus laevis, or rose mallow — that looks as though it might have be a relative. Despite its name, it’s pure white, with that same deeply colored center, and quite large. It’ll show up in a post sooner rather than later.
It’s wonderful that Helena not only has a new home, but is showing herself to be a wonderfully adaptive creature. Every time I see a one-legged bird, or a lizard missing a tail, or a butterfly whose wings are barely there, I marvel at their ability to keep on keeping on, as we say. We should do as well!
We could stand a little autumn here, although the days are obviously getting shorter. We have another few days of searing heat, and then — September, where at least the somewhat longer nights will allow things to cool a bit. The change in light is beginning to bring on autumn flowers, which seem attuned to hours of daylight more than temperature for their blooms.
I’ll look forward to seeing your rose mallow pop up, I had a look, gorgeous! Helena did surprise me, she adapted far more quickly than I expected, she was more than ready for freedom. Animals do seem to get on with it don’t they, they just seem to live in the moment. I do hope you get cooler temperatures soon, how do you all cope with the heat of summer? Thanks Linda.xxx
I just love the way you celebrate the beauty of nature and the joy of caring for sick animals. Keep on doing it, Dina – and the photos are fabulous!
Thanks Gill, nature and animals, what’s not to love.xxx
Beautiful end to the hedgehog story. I love a happy ending.
Verbena is much love by bees and butterflies. Mine have seeded all around the garden and the insects flock to them. Lavender is always second choice.
I love cosmos to, especially white, but they are all beautiful.
It has been a strange year to say the least. It has been a wonderful year for berries and fruits.
I also have grapes. That does not happen very often in this garden.
Another lovely post. xxx
Thanks Cheryl, I was delighted at Helena’s outcome too, she certainly seems pretty determined to get on with life. Goodness, you have grapes? Lucky you! The berries have been fantastic this year, the rowan have never been so vivid.xxx
Lovely post and pictures. I like cosmos too. I agree about autumn coming early as I’ve had hips on the dog-rose for weeks. I’m glad to see that Helena is doing so well and has gone to a wonderful new home. xx
Thanks Flighty, yes, I’ve had rose hips for weeks too on my dog roses. Usually a sign of a harsh winter, I do hope not! Helena sure was determined to have her freedom.xxx
We could do with more blue skies and blooms. There’s the odd one or two. Spring is about to be sprung here. Great post and fantastic images.
Thanks Peter, I hope you have some warmer weather soon.xxx
Thank you for this lovely late summer diary….once again the season goes out with great splendour. How lovely to know that Helena is in a happy safe place. I hope you enjoy the final bank holiday weekend and are ready for the autumn. I have to admit at this point in August I am always ready for September.
Sending hummingbird hugs to you and all the fury creatures. Janet xxxxx
After all the heat of the summer I for one can’t wait for Autumn, I can’t recall a summer like it! I know what you mean about being ready for September, it’s always such a mellow, colourful month. Thanks Janet, huge hugs to you.xxx
Oh, Dina! These photos are absolutely wonderful! Your gardens look gorgeous! Heavens, those begonias!
We have many of the same plants, but the bunnies took so many of mine out this year, and devastated the veggie garden (though zucchini, squash, and tomatoes survived 🙂 ). Will have to look into LOTS of fencing next year.
Hooray for cosmos! I love it, too. So faithful and abundant and cheerful. My Monarda are mildew resistant and work pretty well. One is Purple Rooster and the other is Raspberry something-or-other. 🙂
Gad, yes, the weather this year! HOT, drought-ish, then very floody, here. Gardening in the time of climate change. 🙂
So happy to hear sweet baby Helena is thriving! You are a rescue STAR!
Sending love,
Kitty
Oh….those bunnies!!! Good to know some of your veggies survived, most of mine shriveled in the heat, I’m still hoping for a late autumn come back. I’ve been watching your weather, it sure is weird how much rain you are getting, yes, we’ll all have to change the way we garden. I was reading today that we’ve had the warmest summer ever recorded. Not sure I enjoyed it much, I’ve never had to worry about taking dogs out on hot days before, I couldn’t even let them gallop in the garden. I think you’ll find that you are a rescue star!!!! Love and hugs to you all. xxx
Still raining! Flooding upriver from us, and the much larger Rock River is flooding in town, but we’re high and dry…although the gardens are flopped and soggy. Nothing for it but to be glad we’re not in a drought, I guess. I HATE high heat and humidity. Looking forward to autumn, though I think it’s best to take the planet day by day at this point in time. 🙂 No expectations and looking for the joy.
OMG!!! Sooooooooooooo glad you are high and dry!!! Bring on Autumn! The weather is damn strange!!! Yes, it is a case of taking it a day at a time these days. xxxxx
We have the same white hibiscus on our allotment. It was originally planted in the garden but for some reason didn’t like it there. It seems to love the soil on the allotment,
Maybe I need to improve our soil. Thanks Sue.xxx
Your blossoms & berries are looking lovely..I was interested to know the pollinators liked the verbena more than the lavender.. we do have a lot of lavender.. maybe time for a switch. Helena’s story is a happy one… glad to read she is in a walled garden.
Thanks Gerrie, I was surprised to see verbena more popular than lavender! xxx
You have had some great successes in your garden this year and so much to enjoy. What a special thrill it is when you grow plants from seed. Good news about Helena finding a new home.
Thanks Chloris, oh, you just can’t beat seeing seeds come up! Quite miraculous, something you never tire of!xxx
I doubt you’ll have an empty hutch for long. Wonderful news about Helena, it’s amazing how animals adapt to disability when there’s someone to help them along the way. You’ve got some lovely flowers in your garden, mine seem to have suffered this year in the heat. They weren’t cared for whilst we were away and never really recovered.
Yes, I’m sure another hog will be along soon! It is fantastic to know that Helena has her freedom again, and that she is coping with her blindness, they just seem to get on with it don’t they? Shame about your flowers….Thanks Jo.xxx
Love the apt post heading……Blue skies and blooms! Super. Cheerful and uplifting post…..Continue to enjoy the splendid summer….Hugs. 🎉👏🎶💕
Thanks Bushka, Autumn is upon us now.xxx