What a lovely summer we've had, and although the borders look rather scruffy there's still plenty of colour in the garden. Hollyhocks, sunflowers, privit and native scabious still provide nectar and at the end of the garden even the red campion boldly flowers on. Many of the wildflowers like foxgloves, garlic mustard and clary sage are already setting seed, so we've been busy collecting it. Some of this we'll share at the Eastbourne Seedy Sunday event in October.
With so much nectar on offer it's no surprise that the garden has been alive with foraging insects of all sorts, from bees and butterflies to big hawker dragonflies and the daintier damselflies on the pond. Around the privit blossom large white butterflies, gatekeepers, and the gorgeous little holly blues are in abundance plus the odd red admiral and painted lady. No peacocks yet however, and it's sad to recall childhood memories when these breath-taking creatures seemed to be much more frequent.
The pond has once again been an enduring source of excitement this year. The oxygenating weed has become dense enough to completely cover the pool so we've been able to share some of it with a friend. Damselflies still appear on sunny days as do the dramatic hawkers; zooming and zig-zagging over the whole garden. Just under the surface, we often see the small black diving beetles mentioned last spring. They seem to have increased in number and are pretty aggressive. The other day I watched as one grappled a tadpole; a gruesome sight.
Around the back of the pond native water mint begins to flower whilst the bog garden is dominated by the tall and stately purple loosestrife and hemp agrimony with it's lovely heads of strawberry and cream.
On quiet evenings as the light begins to fade, we've been rewarded for our patience by the sight of bats flying silently overhead, or the view of a hedgehog trundling at pace down the lawn. And though the garden looks a bit ragged round the edges, and the evenings are beginning to darken, there's an excitement surrounding the weeks ahead. There's the new meadow to be sown, our seedlings to plant and blackberry wine to be made in abundance!
On quiet evenings as the light begins to fade, we've been rewarded for our patience by the sight of bats flying silently overhead, or the view of a hedgehog trundling at pace down the lawn. And though the garden looks a bit ragged round the edges, and the evenings are beginning to darken, there's an excitement surrounding the weeks ahead. There's the new meadow to be sown, our seedlings to plant and blackberry wine to be made in abundance!