This and That.

During my recent great clear-out I came across this old copy of the Radio Times which has survived about 8 house moves and the longer I keep it, the longer I feel I should keep it.   It seems fitting to post it this week.   I can't believe I've had it for 60 years.  How times have changed and what a lot has happened during that time.

I have been catching up on lots of gardening in this lovely weather and couldn't help noticing how attractive the flowers on the broad beans are.   The bees have been enjoying them too.

Last year we came upon a nursery which specialised in heuchera plants and I began a small collection.  I love the huge range of colours that their leaves has.   The one above is a gorgeous lime green and the one below is far more caramel than I have captured in this photo.

The third one below is such a dark burgundy red that it is almost black and when the sun shines on the leaves they take on a bronzed appearance.   The flowers are almost insignificant but who cares when the leaves are so interesting.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the first rose of summer.   There are dozens more buds to open and it has settled in well and seems to be flourishing since we planted it only about 18 months ago.

 Acquilegias are another favourite of mine though most of ours are the more mundane 'granny bonnet' ones.   They look so dainty but will tolerate our awful soil which thirty years of 'improvement' hasn't managed to change to any great extent.

The wisteria is just coming into full bloom and if the weather stays gentle we will enjoy it for a while before the flowers drop and make a terrible mess everywhere.   I love the ochrey colour of the leaves as they open - a perfect contrast to the soft mauve flowers.   It is well established now and stretches right across the front of the house, meeting up with the winter jasmine over the garage door.  

There are still plenty of weeds to pull up, but after a very busy weekend I am having a day off.  I know they will wait for me!