And from the front garden.......................

I think this is the first time this wild rose has ever flowered..........the pink phlox with variegated leaves is very pretty, so is the veronica, also flowering well this year, and the rock rose...........

Chive flowers; gladiolus byzantinus; Oriental poppies: delphinium

The Rescue Rose

Yellow rose today and yesterday........................just with a little bit of sun and water.........

They're back!................

...........or rather, probably, they've never been away. We heaved a huge amount of vegetation out of the pond which had formed itself into a sort of floating island, and discovered that at least four big frogs plus some tadpoles were still in residence............have constructed a Kitski-proof barrier (we hope) cos the frogs are still a bit dim when it comes to self-preservation and they will keep getting out of the pond which is not a good idea.............

The Time of Year

There is a conversation that takes place round about now, it goes like this:
Me: The (name of flower) is very late this year
Carrie: You said that last year
OK so I thought the day lilies should at least be putting up some flower spikes by now but I could be wrong.............the Oriental poppies are *definitely* late, so there...........and the honeysuckle at the front too. Tomatoes are now in their gro-bags in the greenhouse, all the lily-of-the-valley variety seeds from last year came up, I thought they were probably too old but obviously not, so they're in too, and the chilli peppers, cucumbers in the other one............gave the Rescue Rose and clematis a crew-cut to let in more light...........potatoes into the Chinese pot and climbing beans into the barrel..........we are going to have tons of raspberries again, and the wee apples trees already have lots of tiny fruits............

Helga in bloom!

One perfect rose.....................

Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.
(Dorothy Parker)

........actually I'd much rather have this beautiful rose, the limo wouldn't fit in our driveway...........

Pride and Joy

Don't think this variegated pond iris has ever flowered before. God knows why it's decided to flower now but it's obviously a good year for irises, since - even more exciting - down behind the paeonies, Helga is about to flower. Looks like she's going to be purple. We have no idea where Helga came from, she may be a rescue from Hopetoun, in which case if she behaves like the Rescue Rose she'll just get bigger and bigger and take over............
Because of the funny weather things have been very late, so the first oriental poppy has only just come out and the rest have yet to appear. Organic rose also only just out. The lilac has been gorgeous and lasted for ages.............so lovely to go out in the garden and be greeted by great wafts of perfume. Basils very slow in the greenhouse but at last beginning to appear...........wallflowers have also lasted for ages and only starting to fade now. Delphinium about to flower............morning glories a bit slow too since, same as last year, as soon as we put them outside it got cold. Windowsill herbs are happy..........tomato plants still small but have benefited from yesterday's rain. *All* the chili pepper seeds came up so we have loads of plants, some may have to go to the church summer fair................ Veg are in, and we're eating PSB and leaf beet.........the salads are slow but on the way..........