In The Summertime, When The Weather Is Fine

Across A Section Of The Back Garden

The month of June went by in a whirl of activity. We had wall-to-wall sunshine which meant we were able to sit out in our back garden with family and friends. Some came to stay; others for lunch, Afternoon Tea or dinner; and with some we went on holiday.

Annuals in Pots

This meant that I did not have time to visit my friends in Blogland...but, I shall do so this month. Normally, our really beautiful weather last for only a few days...but, this Summer, we have had weeks of sunny weather, which has made all the difference to the garden.

Underside of an Orange tip Butterfly

We have had early visits from butterflies and insects, hoverflies and interesting hawk moths. There has never been such abundant blossom on our honeysuckles and the plants, in general, have flowered earlier too.

Angelica

Dotted around the garden are stately Angelicas which have reached phenomenal heights. I am surprised they have not needed staking. From one tiny seed comes so much joy, both in the foliage as well as the globular seed-heads. They are particularly good for children to grow, as is the Teasel, because both grow to maturity quickly.

Mixed Foliage In The Front Garden

The bench in this photo faces the front of our house and gets the sun all day, so Taz, the Barn Cat, often snoozes there. It also affords privacy, so anyone passing along the road is unseen. As it faces one of our ponds we can sit for hours watching birds and insects bathing and drinking.

Bumble Bee On Cirsium Thistles

This Cirsium has grown to an amazing height of seven feet this Summer. The bees and insects adore the sustenance they get and we love their humming chorus. As, in previous months, I have tried to capture as much of the changes in the garden as I can through the video mode of my camera.

Taz, The Barn Cat

Our pets always seem to me to be in a permanent state of bliss. Nothing much phases them. Taz has dreamed away the hot sunny days, lazing in all the sheltered spots around the garden. On the sticky days he knew where the coolest places were too.

Papaver Orientalis, Red Oriental Poppies

Our Oriental Poppies bloom for six weeks from the beginning of June...so, they are just going over now. For those who are not familiar with the garden, the main colour-scheme follows the cooler part of the spectrum with some white and yellow. But, the vibrant reds and oranges, and the cooler pinks and whites of the Oriental poppies brighten up the subtle hues of the rest of the year.

Papaver Orientalis Curlylocks

It's exciting to watch the garden come alive, day by day, with the dinner-plate sized heads, the enormous inky-black anthers and the large green seedpods of these poppies. Bees bury themselves in the anthers, too.

Papaver Orientalis Dawn Pink

This species is a new acquisition for the garden. Little spotted insects seemed to enjoy being in its head. I liked the pink markings, as opposed to the black, and the subtlety of the shade of pink. The first video is called Poppymania and the music I used for accompaniment is Pachelbel's Canon.

Papaver Orientalis Dusky Pink

You can also see some of my annual poppies on the video. The second video is called June Melody At Barleycorn and the music which accompanies it is Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor.
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Happy viewing...and I'll be visiting soon.