Aphid creche

I have no idea what is going on here.  None of the other fallen rose petals around had aphids on them, and by next morning they were all gone, albeit with a few nibbles to the centre of the petal.  Aphid creche, or the insect equivalent of when polar bears get cast away on broken ice floes?

Going...going...

Goodbye peonies, you were beautiful while you lasted, all ten days or so of it.

Early June garden

Lilac, bloomed and now going over in a matter of weeks...  shrub rose that I tended to last September now flourishing... Mountain bluet/knapweed/perennial cornflower invader from next door still producing buds... the promise of Delphiniums from out of nowhere in the shared bed... Aquilegia salvaged and replanted along the edge of the pathway beds now at its best... the pink Hibiscus bush leafing up nicely... electric blue glowing in the early morning light... foxglove buds yip!

I'm just popping to the shops

Oh, I might pop into Wilkinsons while I'm there, just to get some pot plant food (and some sunflower seeds, and some useful plant supports, only £1!).  And I'll pick up some strawberries for dinner, from the grocers in town, that also imports perennials, at a bargain price, 2 for £3.  Well, the poppies were a little bit more, but they'll grow through the campanulas so nicely...

Is it just me?

Cut bluebells from the garden.  I "should" have thrown them out a week ago, but I think they look as stunning when setting seed as they did in full flower.

Rescue

Everyone in the street has this beauty (or weed, depending on your tastes) popping up in their garden at the moment.  My neighbours have stacks of it, taking over their front borders, and yet frustratingly none of it has self-seeded in my garden.  However, seek and ye shall find as they say and, whilst pootling in one of the stony beds in the back garden, I found this lone battler growing right up through the centre of a very dense bush, flowering away unseen in the middle of its crown. 

I managed to extricate it without too much damage to root or flower and have transplanted it to the front garden, against the boundary wall and behind some purplish geraniums.  "Do your thing" I whispered to it as I watered it in, crossing all my fingers and toes.  Another welcome (free) addition to add Summer colour to the front garden.

Having a lovely time in...

Furzey gardens! An impromptu trip to the RHS Chelsea Gold winners' garden whilst we stay with family.  Enjoying some respite from the heat in this lovely shady patch.  More photos to follow.