I first came across this variegated tree mallow, Lavatera arborea ‘Variegata’, whilst browsing a seed catalogue in 1999 and fell in love with the description (there were no pictures or website to look at). I ordered a packet, sowed the seeds and was impressed at the ease and speed at which it grew.
Cerinthe major is one of my favourite bee-friendly flowers in the garden at the moment.
I grew this Globe Artichoke from seed many years ago and it attracts lots of attention from passers-by, as well as bees and other insects.
Callicarpa bodinieri Profusion is commonly called Beauty Berry for good reason. The iridescent berries are like beads.
Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea Nana is a lovely small, neat deciduous shrub with good autumn colour. It looked gorgeous after the rain today, covered in raindrops.
Otherwise known as Japanese toad lily, which is not a very glamorous name for such an exquisite flower.
These exotic-looking plants are great for shady conditions.
This gorgeous deciduous shrub is also know as Beauty berry, and you can see why – the lilac berries have a metallic lustre to them – just like nature’s jewels! The berries should last well into winter, with the birds choosing other berries to eat first.
This lovely little geum has been in flower since Spring (see here flowering in April) and is still going strong – even the seed heads are pretty. I was particularly pleased with the planting combo against the thalictrum.
Scabiosa flowers are rich in nectar and attract a variety of insects, including moths and butterflies. It is easy to see why it is also known as the pincushion flower.
Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think;
Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink!
In the language of flowers the sweet pea means delicate or blissful pleasure.
