The End of Summer

Summer has merged into autumn without ever really seeming to have happened. 

During those few and far between days of sunshine, 

the garden blossomed and showed off its newly found beauty and potential, 

before the next deluge of torrential rain and strong winds battered it once more; 

mercilessly tearing the petals

 from the struggling roses 

persevering to do their best to show off their blooms, 

despite battling weather induced mildew and an infestation of caterpillars.

On one of those rare days of sunshine, I seized the opportunity to take the time to appreciate the newly planted garden and how it has developed over the past few months.

The air shimmered as the morning sun cast rays of ethereal silvery light across the garden.

At the side of the steps Prostrate Rosemary trails down over old chimney pots.

(Where Rosemary grows the missus is master!)

Aromatic Lavender and Nepeta edge the winding gravel path leading to the steps made of reclaimed railway sleepers,

softened by the little daisy Erigeron Karvinskianus.

Hollyhocks at the top of the steps, 

screen the lawn from view.

The black Hollyhock (Althea Nigra) makes a dramatic statement 

as it towers above the garden at over ten foot tall.

Around the pond is Mallow,

an Arum Lily, Hosta Blue Angel, Ferns, 

Lady's Mantle (an alchemists favourite), Anemones and Solomon Seal.

On the surface of the pond a white Waterlily bloomed for a short time.

In the white corner beside the pond are Roses, Lychnis, Nepeta, 

Hollyhocks and a Peony all in different shades of white. 

Verbena Bonariensis sways gently in the breeze,

attracting bees and fluttering butterflies 

and providing splashes of purple amongst the Fennel 

and Teasels beside the dovecote.

Various Lavenders feature throughout the garden,

along with Creeping Thyme, Artemisia, Sage

and Mallow.

Willow wigwams

support Roses,

 whilst growing around them are

 Purple Sage and Achillea, otherwise known as Yarrow

 (Where the Yarrow grows, there is one who knows.....)

Looking down to the house from the upper level, 

Echinacea (Coneflowers) 

provide late flowering summer colour.

The flowers of a giant Scabious (Cephelaria Gigantea), 

appear to float around the dovecote.

Beside the fence outside the French doors, a collection of pots beneath a Passion Flower

 contain a Hydrangea, Fern and Achillea Moonshine.

Opposite the other set of French doors the old stone trough and pots attracted a new edition to the garden....... 

I fell in love with my new garden friend and whiled away the time watching the newly christened Freddy as he contemplated life on the edge of the trough.

Evie was not amused that my attention was diverted from her, and

although she lay soporifically basking innocently in the sun, a few feet from the trough, I wonder now whether she was in actual fact musing over a sinister plan for Freddy's future.

I am distressed to say....

that worryingly Freddy is now currently missing and the trough is awfully empty without him!

xxx