Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) loves wet conditions, so the rainy summer we are having is ideal for them. A few montbretia (Crocosmia) bulbs are interspersed with the purple loosestrife, and when both are flowering they produce and eye-catching contrast of colours.
These viburnum berries are growing apace and are already turning red, reminding us that summer won't be lasting for ever.
The leaves are often attacked by a variety of different larvae and beetles, but this year they seem to have produced variegated leaves ... a sinister viral infection?
Hydrangeas are pink in alkaline soil, which is what we have. They don't like full sun, and no matter how much water I pour on ours, a hot summer's day will inevitably see some damage done to the flowers.
Buddleias, with their honey-like scent, are, of course, renowned for attracting butterflies. There were very few butterflies around this year, but the bees took full advantage of this specimen, which grew self-sown in our back garden. They are truly ubiquitous, and can even be found growing along the Norwich to London railway line, especially as you approach London.
