We are certainly having unusual weather this year in the UK. In January it was relatively mild, and many plants were flowering early (Spring in January?). Then winter set in and kept on going and the garden seemed to be hibernating (Snowtwig). Long overdue, leaves and flowers started to appear, then suddenly plants went into overdrive and now everything looks lushly green. The rose bush was covered in an abundance of flowers, but sadly I didn’t take a photo.
As I walk to the garden gate, in the early morning and evening, there is a heavenly scent. It is the flowers of the summer jasmine. If only I could upload it! It reminds me of my favourite perfume (Chanel No. 5), the two years I lived on the Cote d’Azur and a good friend, who about 20 years ago gave me the cuttings from which this large bush grew. Lots of memories! It’s not a spectacular flower, but worth growing for that scent alone.
Another plant that has just come into flower, has a good but very different scent. It’s quite heavy! In the UK buddleia (Buddleja davidii) is also known as the butterfly bush. Sadly, the only butterflies seen so far this year are solar powered fairy lights! The weather earlier this year was not kind to butterflies.
Fuchsia flowers always remind me of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker; I loved the illustrations as a child. It’s so easy to imagine that a fuchsia flower is a dress for a fairy.
Our pink geraniums are now covered in flowers. The flowers are quite small for a geranium, but very pretty.
Houseleeks (Sempervivum) are enjoying the current heatwave. I used to have quite a few different varieties, but, despite their Latin name, quite a few gave up after several wet summers. The remaining ones are growing beautifully, especially these ones which thrive in one of those house bricks with three holes.
Lastly, there is someone else who is enjoying the good weather. He’s endured rain, sleet, hail and snow – he even had ‘snow hair’ at one point.
Shed Pig enjoys the garden in the summer, but really he’d love to live indoors the rest of the time!
Here in Australia, for Christmas 1954 I received “Flower Fairies of the Summer” from an English aunt. I loved it and have loved the books ever since. My favourites were the Traveller’s Joy, Poppy and Wild Rose Fairies.
I’ve got some early copies of these books, somewhere!
Pleased to say the sunshine is bringing out the butterflies – at least five Brimstones on the Buddleia this afternoon!