August 2026

It is a difficult time in the garden with no rain and extreme termperatures. It's so sad that all I want is the summer to be over and for the temperature to cool down rather to enjoy growing what I can in the remainder of the season. I can't grow anything else as the watering strain is taking it's toll.

to the right of Scarecrow is a flower that has self-seeded on my patio, I think  it's hawkweed oxtongue but it's very difficult to tell in this difficult environment in this difficult weather

green alkanet at the bottom on the right

catnip (Nepeta cataria) behind Olaf 

Scarecrow and Olaf trying to find some shade

A few things have been a success recently. The henbane has been great with a succession of flowers visited by bees. A henbane with a bee inside.

henbane with bee

henbane

henbane

datura

datura

shoo-fly that self-seeded in the garden

shoo-fly

selfheal

selfheal Prunella vulgaris

cosmos had been blooming and visited by bees

cosmos with bee

cosmos with bee

cosmos

Verbascum blattaria, self-seeds enthusiastically, I've had lots in bloom

verbascum blattaria

the calendula forming seeds

calendula

the purple loosestrife was in the centre of the garden last year but it self-seeded in two places on the edge of the garden, I guess where it's a bit cooler, also chicory to the left, rhubarb in the front

purple loosestrife

globe thistle to the left front, giant knapweed to the right front, teasel to the front left

purple loosestrife

Korean bellflower

korean bellflower

bee just peeking out of the bellflower

korean bellflower with bee

bee on the outside of the bellflower

korean bellflower

the alpine poppies have produced a steady succession of flowers

alpine poppy

alpine poppies

I didn't sow any sunflower seeds but I have a few self-seeding from birdseed. 

and bees visiting

sunflower with bee

The cornflowers have been fantastic this year, so many bees visiting and a succession of flowers. They're mostly finished but I have a few fresh ones blooming. 

cornflower

this liatris that came in the garden by Sainsburys bulb boxes has been great, striking flowers that have attracted bees

liatris

liatris

this white dahlia came in the bulb box as well

dahlia with bee

the evening primrose flowers have been exquisite in the evening when they bloomed

evening primrose

evening primrose

evening primrose

evening primrose

lavender buds

lavender

lavender

lavender

scabious

scabious