Herbs and Wildflowers

Envy you the pink - never seen it.

Once heard that according to the laws of aerodynamics bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly.

As you've mentioned 'delicate' common blue bells Mike, i have always been puzzled (and delighted) with mine. I've never planted ANY but there are swathes of them in the shaded areas of my garden. There is also 'white bells' within them too (superb!) I can only think that because this area is...

Good point Sheal. I'd assumed this was a slight mis-posting, since they didn't say much about it having to be one of them.Most evergreen herbs are vaguely Mediterranean, so they don't respond too well to soggy British clay. Lavender and rosemary would generally fit the bill though, as long as...

We have Firecracker. As Palustris says, it spreads like mad. People seem to want it so we keep ours in hand by digging lots out each year, potting it up and selling it for charity. We always give a warning about being invasive but nobody takes any notice.

This popped up the other day, hoping to see lots of these now!I had to go in to do some weeding so it's not that wild after all. The bind weed is just choking so many flowers

Mint grows in the banks of the streams going through my local park in very boggy ground. That is where I got the idea, my ground is mostly too dry for it, and if grown in the ground it is only available early spring.

I will try to add to this shortly. Living on a small offshore island that is a wild flower meadow. The orchids here died back a while ago but we have fields of bog cotton. I mention wild flowers on my own weblog and sometimes add images. islandanchorhold.blogspot.com. The bog cotton fascinates...

Four orchids seen at Badbury Rings, two I have never seen before. Pyramidal orchid.Common Spotted Orchid.Common Twayblade, not exactly a stunning plant and easily missed.Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

Given up on the Lavender and moved towards edible herbs. Borage coming alone lovely, Hyssop doing well and creeping thyme has shown interest. Finally my son has taken delivery of his fuchsia cuttings that I done for him, after his dog set about eating all the ones they had over at his place.

Many thanks. It was on our short list but couldn't find photo with "knobbly" stem like this. However now found Reseda Lutea, Wild Reseda, which has stem like ours. Thanks again

Forgot to mention the insects.They are probably aphids, and personally I wouldn't bother about insects on wild plants because they'll be food for other wild stuff like ladybirds. But if they were close to my veg such as broad or runner beans, I'd give them a spray of soapy water.

Rich in wild flowers over here. ( Small Atlantic island). Violets, at least 2 kinds of buttercup, clover, speedwell ( my favourite) , daisies, vetch, trefoil, bog cotton, dandelion, plantains. nettles of course. Many more emerging. The back patch has been left go wild before I came.

Second picture definitely looks like herb robert

I've got fairly neutral soil with the occasionaly lump of chalk in it, but manage to get away with growing a couple of camellias and a small rhodo.I think its probably the chippings that are causing most of the problem, I'm assuming it was smaller than that when planted, so probably grew well...

Similar to Upsydaisy. I find that annuals and half hardy annuals are best when sown direct into the garden, they don't like being disturbed.I have my own theory on this. Annuals IMO have this kind of inbuilt mechanism. Their pupose is to grow fast, flower and set seed and die. Whereas...

Hi,Doubt it, think removing the mulch so the seed comes into good contact with the soil is the right way.They usually suggest spreading the seed and then gently raking in and firming down and a very gentle watering if needed.Think with most wild flowers they like poor soil so to out...

Hi,Thanks Eden1. Yes I've also read this and once the plants are cut down they can lay on the ground a couple of weeks; the meadow is at the top of the mountain out of sight of the bungalow.The way the rain has been pounding down I think the plants will be horizontal now without waiting for...

Two more in flower today..

Interesting. I planted half a dozen in the rockery three years ago and four of them survived, popping up every spring: one of them has a double head and looks very exotic next to the cowslips and primrose. One also pops up through a cloud of rockcress further up the garden in an old breezeblock...