mid-July 2021

my sheepsbit has been the most amazing plant this year, lots of flowers beloved by bees - and it's still going strong

the sheepsbit started as the rosette (from seeds I sowed but in another pot, somehow it ended up in this pot) sharing this pot with a centaurea dealbata back in 2020

close-up of that rosette

in March 2021, the centaurea dealbata is growing and the sheepsbit rosette is still there

close-up of that rosette

bee on sunflower

helenium

Japanese anemone coming into bloom

One of my doggy friends this morning

wider view

bee on veronica

bee on lavender

marsh mallow

I've been working long hours at my pc to finish the Plant Survey of the area by the railway line from Maiden Lane to Camley St but had to pop out to collect a parcel and found two new urban wild plants ("weeds" - if you like) - so glad I was interrupted. Marsh yellow cress round the corner which I've only seen at one other nearby location and cudweed (possibly Jersey cudweed) which I've never seen before.

Jersey cudweed

detail of buds

buddleja in bloom with my sign "pardon the weeds, they're feeding the bees" (still offering these to anyone who would like one, let me know julie@gardenwithoutdoors.org.uk)

one of the few bees I'm seeing in my garden on nepeta

and one on my sea holly

catnip flower close-up

self-heal started to bloom a few days ago

creeping yellowcress in bloom

hogweed in bloom towards the back of my garden, the "wildflower" area