FLOWER FRIDAY

A friend came round for coffee first thing this morning so Mr. HCB decided he would make himself scarce, so went round to the back of our fence and chopped down some of the council hedge, which was encroaching over the fence into our garden.  We still need to get part of our fence sorted out before the winter, so this was a job that had to be done prior to the fence being repaired.

When she left I had a wander around the garden and took shots of many of the flowers that are still blooming, despite the dry weather.  The rain we’ve had hasn’t even penetrated half an inch into the garden, and Mr. HCB says it is due to be very hot again next week, so I guess it was just as well I took the photographs today, although it was rather dull and overcast.

I wonder if you can spot the two anomalies in this collage?  One is the second one in at the top - a little insect on one of our plus.  According to one of my Insect apps is an Asian Lady Beetle, although it doesn’t seem to be the right colour for that - perhaps someone knows.

The second anomaly is the third one down on the left - which is not a flower in the flower garden, but is actually one of the flowers on one of the courgette plants.  Sadly, the first lot were dug up by something, either next door’s cat or a fox, so they are rather late this year.  Actually there is a third anomaly - a seedhead on one of our Nigella plants, but they are so pretty, I thought I would include that.

I forgot to say that the dahlia in the very middle of my collage is the only one that Mr. HCB bought - the rest are ones he has grown from seed, but this spectacular looking one is called Bora Bora and is very beautiful.  

Mr. HCB is still picking cucumbers and French and Runner beans, so we are grateful for those.  I did peek into the greenhouse on my way round the garden, but only saw one tomato that was turning red, so we must be patient and wait - however, if the weather does continue to be warm and sunny, perhaps we will be rewarded soon.  Most of them are a good size so if they don’t turn red, then I might have to make a lot of Green Tomato Chutney!

Hope you are having a good day and that your weekend will be pleasant.  The sun has now come out, so I may go and do some deadheading in the garden this afternoon.  M xx 

P.S.  I'm a bit upset - I was doing what I always do with my orchids, leaving them in water for a couple of hours and then not watering them for a week or more - when I tried to attach one of the stems to a stick and it broke off in my hand!  Ah well, will just have to enjoy it on my kitchen window in a vase - see extra!