Saturday 30th July 2022 – Six on Saturday

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Back after a little break… the garden is running away with me a bit, as it tends to do at this time of year, but this weekend I’ve rediscovered my garden mojo and am getting back into the swing of things.

Relax: nothing is under control.
Melon. An actual melon. I grew that. If it gets ripe enough to eat, I’ll be astonished. If it has a sibling join it, I’ll be utterly amazed and I’ll buy a lottery ticket.
Of course, when the zinnias open in their psychedelic sweet shop colours, all their fussiness is forgiven.
The garden is abuzz with insect life at the moment. I don’t know this species of butterfly but I can assure you all it was much easier to photograph than the flight of the bumble bees that are currently rampaging around the lavender.
Here’s that lavender. There are at least 15 bumbles in here, honestly. The lavender is blocking the path. I shall have to set up a diversion with a sign saying “Bees feasting: please use alternative route”.
It’s not always the things that shout loudest that have the most impact. I’m enjoying the subtle contrasts of shade and form here between the spent alliums, the glaucous lysimachia, the developing heads of sedum and the spires of rosemary. Perennial sweet pea thuggishly muscling in on the act to the right: what a dependable and welcome thug, though.

Head over to The Propagator’s page to see what everyone else is up to with their Sixes on Saturday: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2022/07/30/six-on-saturday-30-07-2022/. Wishing all the SoSers and indeed all readers and gardeners around the world a fabulous weekend (and, for anyone in the same position as me, fingers crossed it stays dry all weekend then rains heavily during the week!)

Published by Notes from the Under-Gardener

Keen amateur gardener, tending a large home garden growing flowers, fruit and veg, ably supported by husband and dog.

13 thoughts on “Saturday 30th July 2022 – Six on Saturday”

  1. When it gets to this time of the year I find myself cutting back and chopping down so much stuff that I keep saying I must make my garden less high maintenance, but it is hard to resist all those plants and all the pollinators that enjoy them too . BTW the butterfly is a Speckled Wood.

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    1. I do exactly the same! I huff and puff and mutter about planting more shrubs… but I know I won’t. Thanks re: butterfly identification! There have been several varieties visiting this year that I haven’t seen before – and none of the usual red admirals or small tortoiseshells. My favourites are the peacocks, but I very rarely see them these days, sadly.

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      1. I haven’t seen a peacock for years, and a couple of the red admirals I have seen have been in very poor condition with tattered wings.

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  3. That top picture is fabulous. It looks like you just tossed a handful of seed and nature did the rest. I know how hard that look is to achieve. I’ve finally got an Eryngium, probably the same one, that doesn’t have a death wish; just need to spread it about more.

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