Just checking

Honeysuckle, unobtrusive but so scented

I like to keep a monthly record of what's flowering,  partly to make sure there's something for insects all year round, partly to check on what has survived and what hasn't.  I keep a large black sketchbook with a  double page for each month. I record, on the right hand page, flowers out, wildlife seen, vegetable progress and on the left hand page, jobs to do, plants to get and so on. 

                             

Now that the spring bulbs have gone and some of the flowering shrubs and early summer flowers are over too, I've been making a list of what's out now and what's about to come out to carry the garden into late summer and autumn. For example, the honeysuckle goes on and on, deliciously scented and herbs such as oregano do the same.  

Oregano particularly seems to attract honey bees

There is the oleander in a pot, now with single white flowers, but it's grafted with double pink flowers too which will follow on later - spectacular.  The philadelphus is over but the white hydrangea takes its place nicely. Many of the geraniums have had their day, but ever-reliable 'Rosanne' will carry on flowering for ages. I trim it from time to time to prevent it from straggling over the other plants and encourage it to keep flowering. The bushy, almost black  Salvia 'Nachtvlinder' I treat in the same way and it will go on flowering right into autumn. 

Geranium 'Rosanne'  - first come first served

                 

I have lots of autumn anemones (Anemone x hybrida) both pink and white. I was going to get rid of the pink ones, but really, in  a large group, they are splendid. Perhaps I should plant some metallic blue  sea hollies among them.                                                                                                                                                                                              Anemone x hybrida                                                      

I have three different varieties of sedum, all flowering at slightly different times. But whatever stage they are at, they are always full of interest  - still in bud, fully out, dying or dead. 

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' next to  oregano

Sedum - perhaps 'Black Jack'? I'm not sure

The cardoon has survived  continuous snail attack and has four flowers just beginning to put out their purple petals. They are among the most popular flowers for insects. 

Cardoon against the sky

                                                 

So there's plenty of interest for the eye and for the insects for a few months yet - Oh - and I forgot some of my favourites, the Marguerites ( now cumbersomely called argyranthemums) - bright circles of light in a shady place.