Romance and murder.......

The meadow cranesbill is one of my favourite plants.......it attracts bumbles.......

and will be different shades of blue/lilac depending on whether it is in semi-shade or sunlight......

It gives a romantic feel to the garden when planted beneath roses....

and Dahlia Christine.

It also looks beautiful beneath Lillium asiatic lollipop.
There is always a place in my garden...

and my heart for the meadow cranesbill.

Splattered with raindrops, Dahlia Arabian Knight, is already giving a good show. This is a plant that the rabbits had eaten.....I should not have worried, it has come back beautifully......

This rose was a cheap supermarket buy and is covered in buds.

I have dotted the red garden lillies all around the borders. I do not usually plant bright colours, I am enjoying the changes......

I am not a lover of this particular peony....it was planted by the previous owner. I have seen white and pale pink on other blogs, which I have on my wish list......remember that Mr P......

A pair of magpies are nesting in the garden......they stay with us all year.......I don't mind them, but two is enough.

The mullein moth caterpillar munches on it's host plant.....I am happy to see it.

I am keeping an eye on the crab spider. It caught a fly yesterday, which was great. It can have as many flies as it wants.

Last night, supper was a hoverfly. I was not so keen on it taking this insect. Hoverflies are the gardeners friend.

When I saw breakfast this morning, my heart nearly stopped beating. A humble bumble.......so sad. I had to walk away from this......

I have always believed that you let nature take its own course. I am trying to hold onto that thought at the moment. I shall be watching this spider carefully...she is without doubt a hunter, and a very good one at that. I may have to relocate her at some point......

Enjoy your garden but beware it's a jungle out there.......

Sunday safari

Libellula depressa
I see her in the garden most days........

This is her favourite perch........

A male has joined her......he likes to use her perch.......

They feed above the flower borders. It is lovely to watch them.

Adult dragonflies usually live for around a month, after a nymphal stage lasting for around two years. I must enjoy them while they are here........

Eeeek.....something's killing my bees.

Oh dear....I don't like the look of this......

Some creature is hunting amongst the Valerian blooms....I have an idea what it might be....and it is going to be very hard to find.....

She scurried away......this is the only photograph I managed to get of her.....superb camouflage........Thomisdae, the crab spider. Please enlarge to view her........if you dare!!! Bees beware.......

On a lighter note two doves are regular visitors to the garden. They are very much a pair and are always together.......so sweet......
I thought I would make this very much a white post and show you a dahlia bloom that has just opened....and there are lots more to come. I have planted many this year of varying colours, and look forward to showing you.....

Have a great weekend....hope you will drop by for Safari Sunday.......

Walk with me a while......

Every morning and evening, I walk the garden.........I love the quiet it offers me. Last autumn I increased the size of the beds either side of the water feature. I have now filled them with plants from the greenhouse. I look forward to seeing them bloom.......lot of colour, lots of scent.........

The summer house now blends in beautifully....the wood is slowly beginning to age. The plants are beginning to hug the structure.........

I have planted lots of lillies this spring.........I am smitten with them.......

My father always grew lupins, I never understood why....that is until last year......I adore their perfume. It is not to everyone's taste but for me, on a warm evening, it grabs me....makes me stop and just take a deep breath.......

And this phlox, which just appeared in the border, delights me in the same way.

Sometimes as I walk I get lost in the moment.....totally and utterly absorbed by all that surrounds me.....

lost in time.........

Come walk with me a while.....let me take you to the copse......

I love secret gardens.......

Come with me, through the gate.......let me explain how I feel about this part of the garden.......

I rarely work here. I keep the pathway clear.......the rest is Mother Nature's work.....I help her out sometimes if a tree looks unstable, or a creature is in distress......

This is nature's meadow.....full of thugs....nettles, thistles, buttercups........not everyone's choice but I love it. Why, I hear you ask.......because in a couple of weeks this meadow will sing. Oak crickets will arrive and bring many other bugs along. Butterflies will lay eggs on the nettles and thistles, pretty butterflies. The blues will come, and moths.....hedgehogs will hunt for slugs and insects....it will be alive. Heaven on earth......I will spend many lunchtimes sitting with my cup of tea and sandwich and enjoy each and every moment.........

And if you look up this is what you will see....willows....for this small copse borders my neighbours wildlife pond........and the life that thrives there visits my secret garden. As I sit with you and enjoy the moment, my mind drifts back to Sunday......we had a garden party........

Little man was six......and did we have a fun time....hide and seek........treasure hunts.......

Our son arrived, so it was time for football and swing ball.......Riley adores his Uncle........

Poppi decided it was a much better idea to eat sweets.....especially as Mummy was not looking.......Parma Violet Nanna?

I played several games of swing ball and lost every one.....but I havn't laughed so much for a long time, laughter is the best medicine, is it not?

I often wonder what will happen to this garden when I am no longer here. We never truly own anything do we? It is just ours to enjoy for a short space of time and do you know I intend to do just that..........

Sunday safari

A lovely warm day brought out the bugs. Soldier beetles were climbing grasses in the meadow........

A jewel wasp joined him.......they do not sting.......note the large eyes.......

Painted ladies are flying in from south-west Europe and North Africa.

They are coming in great numbers. Dozens flew across the garden today....
Some were seeking nectar and stayed a while. It is a long time since I have seen so many........it was a wonderful sight, to see so many butterflies in such a short space of time. I hope that some will stay .........

Dull wet and cold.......

Walking the garden today it felt more like early autumn, than late spring.

Another litter of rabbits have entered the garden and there has been much damage.

They have eaten many patio roses.......dahlias (they are supposed not to like them, they obviously havn't been told by their parents!). Nella is spending her day chasing them out of the garden. As soon as she comes into the house....they come back into the garden ......

Despite the rabbit damage there is still plenty of pretty blooms.......

I love this ornamental nettle.......the flowers are unusual and very pretty......

I love this phlox that just appeared in the garden......if you know it's name please let me know......

Two dahlias have not been touched by the rabbits....this one is 'surprise Lucy'...

and this one 'surprise Becky'......both delightful little blooms......

Allium Cristophii is just beginning to open....this is an all time favourite of mine.....

This beautiful clematis is 'Mrs Cholmondeley'......a cheap buy last year, it did not do particularly well.......this year it is wonderful, with blooms as large as saucers........

and finally oriental poppies......a bright bold bloom......dotted around the garden........and on a miserable day like to day they really do cheer the heart......