Purple

A selection of purples from my photos.

Bowles’s Mauve
Cheddar Gorge caves
Gloucestershire sunrise
African Daisy
Coral
Iris
Sunrise
Potato Flower
Bluetit Feather
Honey bee on lavendar

(c) K Wicks

Pink poppy

There was just one pink poppy plant this year, ill try and remember to keep the seeds separate and get some more on the go next year. The last pic is one from last year, obviously it dropped some seeds as it’s in exactly the same place. I must remember that July is poppy month in the garden.

(c) K Wicks

Charlock mustard

There has been lots of bug activity since the weather warmed, less on the honey bee front. Now a few of the tubes in the bee Hotel are blocked up there doesn’t seem to be as many visitors. I’m new to watching Bees so this might be their normal seasonal routine (although there have been a number of them the last few days on the lavendar).

For bumble bees and hoverflies, there have been tons. Seems that the charlock mustard is a big favourite. Many different types of hovefly and buff tailed bumblebees amongst others. Daily activity on this, so much so I can’t bring myself to scale it back until it stops flowering, it’s not a small plant. Then I guess it will go to seed and I may just pick them and see what I can do with them.

Buff-tailed bumblebee
Drone fly
Sweat Bee?
Eupeodes hoverfly
Charlock Mustard

(c) K Wicks

In the garden – June #1

Its been a busy month, for work and for nature. With all the sun and now a good bit of rain, its bulked everything up. New flowers are starting to open, with the yellows looking to be making way for the reds, pinks and purples.

The fuchsia has come back again, funny really, I tried 3 times to grow a fuchsia, bought already flowering and everything. They always died. This one was just a stick that had been left when we moved in, not even planted, just on the ground. I didn’t know what it was but could still see green under the bark so put it in dirt. Within a few weeks, it had leaves…

The potatoes have started flowering too, they have such pretty flowers. Potatoes are just great, the Bush crickets and snails are eating the leaves as quickly as they can but can’t keep up! Its providing great shade and bushiness for the bed too. I often see the sparrows having a little hop around in there looking for food.

I have white and red carnations this year, I don’t remember planting two colours so its good to see what appears to be new. A lovely dash of colour.

Another pink strawberry flower was poking through, its overshadowed by other strawberries, the loganberries and the fuchsia, so I’m impressed its made it at all.

The nasturtiums have just started to come out as well, its been a bit quiet for butterflies this year so far, but usually these bring the large and small white butterflies in.

The hydrangea is trying, its bee moved this year and surrounded by poppies which have now been and gone so ill clear some room and maybe it will do a bit better.

Its all pink and purple poppies this year, I thought I had planted some red ones but seems not. Either way, its a superb splash of colour and the bumble Bees love them.

(c) K Wicks

Willowherb

I decided to let everything just grow this year and be very minimal with weeding. Nature needs all the help it can get. It’s also making me more interested in what everything is and I’m learning about each plant as it grows and flowers. Willowherb seems to cater for many insects and has super pretty little pink/purple flowers. Also the leafcutter bees have favoured this plant for cutting small holes in the leaves – making me think that’s the reason I haven’t seen a leafcutter bee before, because I kept getting rid of their favourite plant!

(c) K Wicks