After months of drought now everything is wet! The Nerine bowdenii has shot up with rain, totally unconcerned with the dry summer as it lay dormant underground. But the petals are sodden.
The little cyclamen have pushed through undeterred by the dry summer. Certainly autumn flowering bulbs and tubers are good drought resistant plants for the garden.
The bees go out for nectar and pollen when the rain stops but this poor bumble bee was quite soaked from the wet petals.
The Tulip tree or Liriodendron did not get watered during the summer but the autumn rains have been sufficient to allow it to put on its usual autumn show.
Since we have had rain the Chosia ternata “Sundance” has started flowering. I find the Choisias do very well in the garden and as well as the C. ternata (basic?) I have a Choisia ternata “Aztec pearl”. which I prefer as I like the finer leaves. Yesterday, I saw a Choisia ternata “White Dazler” in a nursery. It was covered in white, very perfumed flowers that the bees seemed to be appreciating as much as I was appreciating the perfume. I paused from purchasing as I do not have a place ready for it at the moment, and it was 35 euros. Has anyone experience with this variety?
My Osmanthus heterophyllus “Goshiki” has also come through the summer to provide us with loads of perfumed flowers but it does live in a shady spot and did not have to withstand any scorching.
Today was sunny and in the low twenties Centigrade and it was so good to get into the garden after all the rain, even though the work to be done is a bit daunting.
The good thing about sunny days in the garden is that you are never alone.
Today a grasshopper joined us for morning coffee.
Then we were amused while we had lunch on the patio by the antics of another green insect. This time better camouflaged, in amongst my potted Salvia uliginosa.
This is the Praying mantis doing her special photo pose, with me taking her from her best side. They seem such clumsy creatures that do not seem to know quite what to do with such long legs.
Kourosh is a fan of Praying mantis and the insect did not object to being handled gently. Some people keep them as pets. I’m glad Kourosh seems to be satisfied with keeping his bees.
a french garden 