June 2020

This has been a very difficult time with hot dry weather. It finally really rained this week but how long the effects of that last, not sure. The slugs are back wreaking havoc. The only positive thing about the drought was fewer slugs and snails.

The poppies have been amazing for the bees. "The" plant of this spring. in the background, sea holly, echiums vulgare and Blue Bedder which the bees are visiting but as long as there's a poppy in bloom (sadly they don't last long) that takes the bees' attention.

the melancholy thistle is blooming and has had a few visits from bees but I guess I just don't have that many bees, sadly

viper's-bugloss (Echium vulgare) with bee, knautia macedonica and nepeta in the background

the salvia sclarea var turkestanica is blooming but so far I have not seen a bee visiting, sadly

the nemophila is blooming, first flower of the Penny Black

Penny Black on the left, Five Spot on the right, the two are wildly different in their seed germination, each pot was one packet of seeds

my first veronica flower of the season

viola

centaurea dealbata

echium vulgare on the left and echium Blue Bedder on the right, Lauren's Grape poppy

hollyhocks (teasel to the right, artichoke behind) sadly crawling with hollyhock weevil

I loved seeding bees on the monkshood this week

a bee has climbed right inside a flower, bottom left