Spring is coming

A little dash of yellow appeared and within a day the daffodil was open. The calendula has been holding the garden up with a spot of colour all winter, now has some company. Looking forward to this year’s brightness already 💛

(c) K Wicks

Summer in the garden

There have been some awesome little bugs and insects this year. Most of them have moved on now and the late summer change of plants begins. I shall get some new seeds planted to start the winter grow. Hopefully autumn will have some different things going on, its one of my favourite months. Here are some of the brightest and coolest of the last month or so.

Drone fly with a little friend
Chinese forget-me-not
Poppy head
Asian lady beetle?
Sow thistle leaf
Miridae plant bug
Small white butterfly on lavender
Speckled bush-cricket
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
Caterpillars
Lavender
Hoverfly
baby Shield bug on wild strawberry
Fly
Charlock mustard

(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

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