There is little to rival the sheer exuberance of the garden at this time of year. Even in my little patch things are flourishing and vital.
Blue and pink Hyssop are covered in blooms.
Echinacea is looking beautiful. If you look at this close up you can see that each head is actually made up of many tiny individual flowers, called florets. Amazing no?
I planted the cornflowers late so they are only just blooming now.
I adore borage flowers, they are so ethereal yet the plant’s medicine is so strengthening. Along with the normal blue flowers I’ve had a few rogue pink ones this year.
Self heal and heartsease, both favourites of mine and excellent skin healing herbs, are adorning the spaces between larger plants.
Monarda, geranium ‘rozanne’ and Calendula all add some blazes of colour.
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And best of all we are harvesting something delicious for our table everyday. Romanesque cauliflowers captivate me completely, their fractal forms seem almost unreal. Peas are about my favourite garden snack, along with strawberries of course, and salads fresh from the garden are a million, million miles from those bought in the shop.
The Roses and Motherwort have also been stunning but they will have posts all of their own in the next week or so. I hope you are enjoying your gardens, patios, window boxes and local parks this summer, wherever in the world you may be.
Gorgeous! Thanks for taking us on a tour. 🙂 Everything is so incredibly vibrant! wow. 🙂
Carey
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Thanks Carey. I do love it and this year has been a great lesson for me in how much you can do with a small space. Next year I’ll attempt to pack in even more!
Have a great weekend xxx
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Hi Lucinda,
I love the image of the coneflower. I only wish I could grow them……they do not like my heavy soil. I have tried several times and given up.
Self heal is one of my favourite wild flowers. I tend to let it do it’s own thing and I must confess it has taken over a little. Still love it though 🙂
Home grown produce is just the best. I have attempted to grow a little more this year. At the moment the rabbits have left this area alone (fingers crossed, legs as well).
Lovely to see your pretty garden
BTW sorry I have not been around but lost my internet connection for 16 days. It has been a nightmare but think I am finally back with you.
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Hi Cheryl,
Glad you are back with us. Sometimes it’s quite nice to have a break of a few days away from the computer though isn’t it.
You’ll have to harvest some of your self heal to keep it in check!! It makes lovely creams and salves and can be tinctured too.
I’m glad you haven’t been struggling too much with the rabbits so far (I will keep my fingers crossed too!) There are always lots of rabbits out on the lane in front of my house, it amazes me that they don’t come in and create havoc. Maybe the cats are keeping them at bay…
Take care x
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Lovely photos. The ones of borage and self heal are like running into old friends. The borage here is just beginning to show promise of blooming. The mountains give us a short growing time anyway, and this year the snow stayed late so everything is behind. The nasturtiums my son planted have leaves about the size of a dime right now and the nigella is just breaking ground. I have a feeling there will be a rush now as the plants try to make up for lost time. Oddly, the yew trees are lush with new growth; much more so than normal.
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Hi Lisa,
My nigella is just about over so it’s good to hear you have yours yet to enjoy, such a beautiful flower.
i wonder why the Yew is benefiting so much. I always think that the mountains belong to trees though, everything else comes second.
Thanks for stopping by and take care,
Lucinda
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Oh Lucinda!
What magic!
Following your hard work with the jack-hammer I’m really impressed of this lovely garden!
The pictures are beautiful and very inviting 🙂
I don’t know if you use the outer leaves of cauliflower, broccoli and other cabbages for stir fry, but I learned that the plant produces a bigger harvest if you pick them regularly (but you have to leave the upper leaves as a sun-protection and for breathing)
Cheryl, have you ever tried to grow coneflowers in a big pot?
I did this for years on a balcony on the top of a multistorey building 🙂
Greetings from New Zealand
Brigitte
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Hi Brigitte!
So lovely to see you here again. Your garden must be almost preparing for spring now.
I’ve never used the outer leaves of the brassicas for stir fries, I would like to try it but I doubt I’ll get a look in as we have just got some chickens that adore them!
I grew echinacea in a pot in my last garden too and it seemed happy enough.
Love to you from across the world,
Lucinda xx
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Herbs really take off, delicious and vibrant. Linda
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Hi Lucinda,
Tku re self heal, I shall do that. Tku for helping me find the way.
I shall save you some seeds from Mulberry Rose. They are so beautiful. The bloom deepens as time passes…..stunning.
You mentioned my photography. I just use the macro or AV setting on my camera. I always take the images from various angles to see how the light affects the photograph. I am a little in love with my camera, and I truly believe, that makes a difference 🙂
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Tku Brigitte for the suggestion re coneflowers. Something I will most definately try. How exciting.
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Oh what a beautiful feast for the eyes! As Brigitte said (hi Brigitte!), your work with jack-hammer really has payed off 🙂 Such an amazing creation you have made. I too love to snack on the peas (like candy they are so sweet) and the romanesco cauliflower is mesmerizing! I love each and every photo here, especially the coneflower and borage (I’ve never seen a pink one before!). Love to you and your magical garden 🙂
D
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Thanks lovely lady!
I do love my little patch, it makes me so happy to come home after work and greet all the plants and see what’s changed during the day.
Peas are just the best aren’t they. So easy so grow and so yummy!
I’d never seen pink borage before either, funnily enough they grow on the same plants as the blues ones, just one or two random pink flowers amongst lots of blue!
Take care,
Lucinda x
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what a beautiful haven you have created of your gardens, Lucinda! Especially gorgeous with your kitty patrol;o) How pretty the unusual pink borage are! Yum to fresh plump peas from the garden!Lovely photos of all, and I appreciate your sharing with us xoxoxoxo
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