Six on Saturday - 15 August 2026

The garden could just be abandoned and hence no SOS. However I think I would be gardening to the end, and so Six items have been scrapped together in solidarity with Jim who leds this gang of gardeners.  By the way there has not been a jot of rain this week, again, and the temperatures have been several degrees higher,both day and night, than the forecasts, which shows just how the built environment: houses, roads and drives and bare baked earth hold the heat. 

I mentioned last week that I was off to the Taunton Flower Festival for the first time.  Even though the first and last parts of my journey was on my bike, it didn't mean that I wouldn't be buying plants.  If you like succulents, you can imagine my delight at finding a display full of the most gorgeous succulents: Piccolo Plants from Branscombe.  Tips and advice were sought, and I came home of course with some plants.  

1. My Crassula falcata miniatum has never flowered and I asked for advice about this.  We are in correspondence about this, and one of the pictures I sent was this one which shows the new plant bought of Crassula perfoliata:Common Name - Crassula Falcata, Airplane Plant, Propellor Plant, and mine behind it, with its much smaller side leaves.

Piccolo have several forms of this succulent in their nursery, and maybe there will be an answer from Tom.  I was in great hope of my new plant producing the bright flower if not this year, then next. I had potted up the new plant into a terracotta pot, and placed it on the table further down the garden.  In the picture above, the plants are not shown to their best as the table is more or less the same colour!  From the study I heard some great mischief between some boisterous young magpies in the garden, so I looked out of the window and couldn't believe my eyes.  One of them was 'tasting' my newly repotted Crassula.  Quelle domage damage!  It will in time regrow and then I shall cut off the undamaged tip and repot.

Magpie damage

I had another two plants from Piccolo plants which I shall talk about another week.  If the weather doesn't buck up soon, there will hardly be a garden to write six things about, except for dried up shrivelled things.

2. It is not often that Mr S helps in the garden, as I like to spend my time there. However I am not tall so when the top of the bay tree needs to be clipped, I can call on Mr S's services. He is using the Darlac Garden Snapper which I use regularly to reach those high up roses when dead heading or indeed pruning across the borders. 

3. Restio Baloskion Tetraphyllum 'Devon Glade' was amongst several of the Restios at a stall at last Saturday's visit to the Taunton Flower Festival. It was its beautiful feathery green foliage that appealed to me, and definitely not a plant that had been on my list. The stems are called culms, and I was advised to remove about a third every spring. For the moment it is staying in its pot.   Mr S reminded me that the garden is starting to look like a nursery again!  When my friend Eileen mentioned that she had more or less left her garden to flounder and that she would pick up gardening again in the autumn or later, she said she was a project gardener and that got me thinking about myself.  I don't think I am a project gardener at all: I enjoy the maintenance, and the plants themselves more than anything, and propagation, the garden evolves.....

4.  Thursday late afternoon saw a partial eclipse, and we were out in the garden and used the conical strainer which had smaller holes and a sheet of paper to get the projection of numerous eclipses.  This hot weather has seen us thankful that we have a garden with two seating areas.  Except for a couple of days this week when it was just too hot to even contemplate opening the back door, we have had all meals out in shade having to defer lunch to a later time simply to have the shade of the house to sit in.

5. I was tidying along the path by the shady border, and one thing led to another.  Did I say some time ago that I ought not to grow mint in the ground? I didn't heed my own advice, and with the dry ground it was fairly easy to remove almost all the roots!  I have now planted some up in a large pot, as I do like to use it from time to time.  The rest of the Chocolate Mint went into the garden green recycling bin.

6. I usually come across Millwood Plants during the spring time at The Bishop's Palace, and it was interesting to see what they had on offer at the Taunton Festival, this time of the year.  I came away with two plants:  Hakonechloa macra 'Naomi' which offers a unusual change in colour in the autumn  and a Sedum 'La Vie en Rose' which is a lower growing white edged leaf Hylotelephium  plant for the front of the border. The plants are not yet planted out but in semi shade near to the house where they are easier to water.

The various stalls offered to keep plants for me as I bought them, but I explained that I wanted to carry them as that way I could guage when I had bought enough, or rather what I could cope with on my bicycle.  That raised an eyebrow or two! At least it limits my buying!

 

Six on Saturday - 8 August 2026

We had a few days 'up north' on a coaching holiday, visiting places here and there with a few gardens as well.  Some people bring back souvenirs, or as Mr S overheard someone say of the gift shops: 'food or landfill'. I can't resist plants at least if they don't survive it would be 'compost' rather than landfill, except for the pots which I reuse or recycle. One of the fabulous gardens we visited was that of Arley Hall.  I came back with a couple of plants. 

1. From Arley Hall nursery this Helenium 'Short and Sassy' was such a souvenir.  I felt that as it did not need staking, and would give me some late summer into autumn colour, it would be just right for the garden.  It is still in its pot but already being enjoyed by visiting bees. 

Helenium 'Short and Sassy'

At RHS Bridgewater which we visited earlier in the week, they had a trial of Heleniums, and my favourite there was Helenium Waltraut, but that needed staking even though it wasn't that tall.

2. The second plant, which I completely fell for, is this Viola: it was love at first sight!

Viola Heartthrob

This morning when I moved it to the shady wall, I could see a lovely shimmer of light reflected off the surface of the leaves. 

3. Another favourite of bees is the Alstromeria 'Indian Summer'.

4. In my search for new compost I visited the closest nursery, which is a small one, and looked over some of their small pots of plants: I had been thinking of growing Stachys 'Silver Carpet' for some time as the Wool Carder Bee would use the hairs to line its nest.  I might be even lucky to see and hear the Shrill Carder Bee, which I understand is around in Somerset.

Stachys 'Silver Carpet' 

The reason I made a spurt to plant out new plants, is that today I am to visit The Taunton Flower Show.  It is the first time for me, and as I shall be walking up to town on my own to catch the coach, not too much can be bought!

5. All around the area where I planted the Stachys are other plants which are a real draw for the bees such as this delightful pink Origanum 'Bristol Cross'. 

Origanum Bristol Cross with bee

6. Many insects visit the Eryngium Silver Ghost which self seed themselves and I was delighted that the Jersey Tiger Moth managed to shoulder the bees out of its way.

Jersey Tiger Moth on Eryngium 'Silver Ghost'

As usual I am joining with other blogging gardeners over at Jim's to share six things from our garden.  For several weeks now I have been starting the post with parched moanings: it is still bone dry, and apart from having a few slight spots over an hour or so, the the thunder, lightning or rain predicted simply by passed us.  There were some lovely clouds and a short break of constant blue skies and piercing sun. Even a little light covering of cirrus clouds and a few contrails help to temper the effects of the sun. 

A small Somerset Garden - Six on Saturday - 25 July 2026

Each Saturday we have a little get together over at Jim's and share (perhaps) six things about our gardens.  At the start of the week I was despondent in the face of the heat and drought which continues here in Somerset. However, looking round the garden, since I have found six things, why should I be?  Are we going to give in?  We need perhaps to change the way we garden, or the plants we have, for is it not about being outside, tending to our gardens, even if we have to do so in the cooler parts of the day, and if necessary keeping the thoughts of the next seasons' potential in mind?

Six things from the garden this week: 

1. Currently one of my favourtie Origanums in flower is the delightful little Origanum 'Buckland'. Since last year when I last mentioned this Origanum it has made good progress in the gravel garden. 

Origanum Buckland

This was one of the plants I was concerned about when we had all that rain earlier in the year.  And now the 'drought' has a  hold, I am delighted to find that certainly in this well drained area, it is one of the plants that has proved itself.  Currently I can't find any available on lists, so I am going to try to propagate it just so that I can make sure of its continuity in the garden.

It has soft velvety textured leaves and from the bracts the small tubular flowers attract numerous small bees and very small wasps even in this hot dry spell.

 

Origanum  'Buckland' close up

2. When my friend Maggie moved into her new home, there was a tall white phlox which drew the admiration of several of her gardening friends.  When she was remodelling the planting, several of us were lucky to get a portion.  This year it grew taller than last year, but it too has proved itself quite resilient to the dry weather.  It hasn't wilted yet and is quite erect, so another keeper and indeed it will be split to offer a couple of plants for next year.  The Hummingbird Hawkmoth has been visiting each morning pausing and uncurling its long tongue to sup from individual little flowers.

3. Over a month since I last showed Origanum 'Emma Stanley', her bracts continue to elongate and form a colourful point in the gravel garden. 

Origanum 'Emma Stanley'

Back in 2021 I wrote an article about the Origanums in the garden for the Somerset Federation of Gardening Clubs, but that did not include Origanum 'Buckland'.  Since then I lost Origanum 'Kent Beauty' and a couple of ones not mentioned in that article.  Since Origanums have been such a success this year, I shall be on the look out for more to add to the collection.

4. Last week I showed the poor dried out Astilbe and in the course of a few days I was feeling that the empty spot had to be filled, so the Pelargonium 'Salmon Angel' was released from its pot for a stay of a few months. 

 

Pelargonium 'Salmon Angel' in the pot

Again these flowers, and what a great number, are attractive the insects. Originally bought from the lovely Derry Watkins of Special Plants, it is easy to take cuttings, or I should say the cuttings take easily, so many will be taken to overwinter, as I think I shall have to consider moving over to these more dry and hot weather tolerant plants, for spot planting.

5. I had to visit Asda in Taunton a few weeks back, to collect my new glasses, and they happened to have a few multipack plants.  I succumbed and clumps of the blue Ageratums and some mixed phlox.  Some went into the garden and some in pots.  A little bit of colour for sure.  I used to consider Ageratums something old people grew, what a prejudice about plants!!  Maybe that is very true, now I am .... I am enjoying them. Another prejudice I have had is about 'ultra processed plants', but in moderation I am allowing myself a little treat!

Mixed planting

6.  Over to the otherside of the garden the Bay tree is heading for the skies again, with the Clematis viticella 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' climbing though its foliage.

Earlier in the week, I had been wondering whether I ought to select more purely foliage plants to weather the summer, but this week, just looking at the large number of varied butterflies, moths, bees etc coming to the flowers, what I shall be thinking of is actually making sure there is the greatest number of dry and heat tolerant plants that have numerous flowers.  I might not necessary go out of my way to buy them, but make sure to select the right plants already in the garden, increase them and place them to where some of the other annuals have surprisingly given in such as the nasturtiums.  That is not to say I shall try again with the nasturtiums as I just love their bright cheerful colours, and they are so easy from seed, easily saved each year.
 

In the garden mid July 2026 - Six on Saturday

 Another week of sun, heat and no rain and with the temperatures remain high even overnight, the garden is certainly showing signs of stress.  However we are still gardeners and trying to enjoy the open space which is our privilege to garden.  To read a little more on gardens and other gardeners head over to 'Jim's Garden Ruminations' where we congregate each week to share these weekly 'garden cuttings'.

1. Some of the roses are having a second flush, with the sun and heat they are not lasting, but it is lovely still to enjoy them.  Munstead wood is trying very hard:

Rose Munstead Wood second flush

Early one morning just as the sun was rising I went out to deadhead the Munstead Wood rose before it shed its many petals, and what did I see but this green insect.  The light here is different to the picture above as it was not long after 5 a.m. when I went out. I didn't get a good enough look to see whether it is a cricket or a grasshopper. I posted this on the Entomology group on Facebook and it has been suggested that it is Leptophyes punctatissima (f) Speckled Bush Cricket.

Whilst deadheading I was collecting the petals which I shall dry and add to a bowl for the house.

2. It is even worth taking pictures as within days the plants start to flounder. The combination of Helianthemum Golden Queen this time with the Lemon Thyme behind it has been one of my favourite deck chair views. 

This coming week I shall be snipping back all the spent flower stems on the Helianthemum, which tend to fall parallel to the ground with the newer growth on top.  This Helianthemum is just marvellous. I try to leave the flowers on for all long as possible as we have so many different bees, moths, butterflies etc in dire need of a little respite too.

3. Also in the gravel garden is this delicate little yellow Allium flavum. I originally planted a little pot in 2021, but this gradually dwindled, and these two flowers are from a little group of self sown ones. As this little allium with its blue grey leaves are perfect in this spot, I shall be sure to allow the seedheads to mature fully, then prepare a little area not far away to receive the seed, then just cover with a thin layer of finer stones, and let nature take its course.

Allium flavum

4. I've not watered the front garden at all, and it is looking decidedly 'Mediterranean' but not as bad as my friend's garden in Spain, where even her garden cacti are in very poor shape.  Amazingly this Kniphofia name 'unknown' is doing remarkably well.  We have heavy clay here and it seems to be doing well despite that, and when I plant I do try to incorporate a little grit.  The mother clump is yet to flower, but I have just read that they need dividing every three years or so, so when this has finished and we have some rain, making the soil workable, I shall be dividing the older clump and probably this one too, relocating a few around the garden. I'll cut a flower or two with some leaves, put them in a jar, and place that around the garden to see what they will go next to well, then put in a cane to remind me where to plant the divisions.

Kniphofia

5. I mentioned Pelargonium 'New Century White' only a month ago, mainly to show its cuttings.  This is the original plug plant from last year.  Repotted and trimmed it has at least fifteen flower spikes open!

Pelargonium 'New Century White'

6. Whilst we are with white flowers, I continue to be intrigued by the different flower forms coming up on the Cosmos.

White Cosmos

Sometimes not growing a pure strain of seed brings more interest and variety for a small garden. another good plus for Cosmos is that the slugs and snails leave them alone.

For my six I have tried to keep positive but the picture below of Astilbe Chinensis Pumila taken from my post in 2014

shows that the conditions in my new garden and with the hotter drier summers, it is a plant that will not thrive, having been reduced to this dry mass not flowering each summer for the last three years. An example of wrong plant, wrong place, wrong climate! 

Six on Saturday - 11 July 2026

It's been a very hot week again.  Morning or late evening after dinner are the only times it is bearable to get outside, and many plants are just about hanging in, and I am afraid I have had to resort to using the garden hose to rescue certain plants from certain death, and to clean out the bird baths, once saved water has been used up. There are many Six on Saturday posts to enjoy over on Jim's blog.  

Six 'ruminations' from my garden: with many thanks to Jim for this in many ways, and all the other contributors and people who post comments, who keep up my enthusiasm even during this hot weather for things plants and gardening.

1.

Tagetes Cinnabar 

For seeds for Tagetes Cinnabar I have to thank Cathy. I had a good few strong plants from these , but due to the marauding slugs and snails I have just two plants left, but they are orange and vibrant, a sure pleasure to have. I was surprised that slugs and snails like them as they are so pungent. They are tall beautiful green plants topped with beautifully shaped and coloured petals around the central boss.

Tagetes Cinnabar

2. Some of the annuals I sowed this year are bearing up well.  I think the Cosmos was free with a magazine and may have included cupcake.  Some of the cosmos I grew on in 10cm pots, but some when they were just a few cms high, were planted in groups of  three or so seedlings direct in the garden to take their chance, the surplus which would have otherwise been thrown away.  These have done better in my opinion, and the slugs haven't touched them. There is a mixture of pale pink and white.  I shall certainly try these again next year planting  small seedlings in the garden, rather than potting them up individually.

Cosmos

I've mostly been the sort of gardener that likes to propagate through division and cuttings, but over the last couple of years thanks to some seed sharing with mainly IAVOM friends I am starting to appreciate the joy of growing annuals from seed. I too like to share my seed, so will be posting a later this year.

3. The gravel garden is probably the most resilient of areas.  It could well be because there drought tolerant plants are being grown plus the mulch would help too. This little plant which I first saw in Beth Chatto's garden is  the little Limonium bellidifolium. I was attracted to the little dome of leaves, and it has since proved easy to divide and now I have a number of little plants.  Early in the morning the light was just right to catch the colour of the tiny flowers. 

Limonium bellidifolium

The plant cluster at 10 o'clock is starting to get buried by soil brought up by ants.  We have lots of ants in the garden and early during the week whilst we were sitting in the shade having coffee, we witnessed a nuptial flight as winged ants emerged first crawling up stems before flying up in a cloud. That was on Monday 6th July.

Whilst looking up Limonium and entering into the spirit of growing more flowers from seed next year I came across Limonium suworowii which seems quite showy and maybe right for adding colour and may tolerate the drier weather.  Any thoughts? 

4. We have to time our morning drink to catch the shade cast by the large oak trees on the other side of the wall, and as I had my phone with me, decided to try and catch the dewdrops on the Echeveria Elegans succulent bowl on the table. 

Dewdrops on the Echeveria Elegans

5. Looking at it as we chatted, it really looked over congested. An easy not strenuous job to do when it was a little less stifling during the evening, was to turn it out of its pot, and replant some of the best rosettes, having first removed all the dried leaves and some of the leaves near the bottom of the stem which where it will throw out new roots. 

This time one of the shallow bonsai trays was used to take a display which will remain in there for two or three years.  I couldn't bear to throw away too many and found some antique terracotta pots in the pot store and for now for ease of moving around the garden and also watering, they are sitting in one of the garden tubtrugs, though they will have to be moved out of there when rain is expected. 

 6. I took the opportunity of repotting some other succulents which needed larger pots, and now I am quite out of potting compost.  I still have plenty of grit, sand and the other things I mix in with bought potting compost.  It is such a strange situation and gives a funny feeling.  I shall be rectifying this soon.  For now most pot plants have been moved to a shady spot, but the square table where we sit outside for all our meals, lunch is later to catch the shade as well as the shed shelf are only fit for succulents which have been acclimatised to the outdoors for a few months, and a few of the rocks and stones I collect on my walks.

Last week on Cathy's anchoring post for In a Vase on Monday, she paid homage to her mother and one of the memories that stayed with me, was that she advised of  the value of introducing regular habits into our routines.  Sometimes I vacillate about continuing with Six on Saturday, given that I feel that I must have said all I can say about a small garden, and that I may be boring due to repetition.  However for myself it has encouraged me to appreciate maybe the small things and take the problems on the chin or even try and think of solutions and not being too despondent on the problems. It also helps me to look up and relearn names of plants and also often learn more about their habits.

Six on Saturday - 4 July 2026

Each week as I write the post, I am already thinking about the following week and if there will be anything I can scrape together to write about.  Recently I have felt there was so little, but my garden continues to occupy me, both with simple activities such as deadheading and maintenance. Viewing other gardens are a source of delight and inspiration, whether it is through visits or joining in and viewing other bloggers' gardens.  For a limited Six things from the garden and more if you read between the lines the place to gather and cogitate is over at Jim's.

So here are my six for this week: 

1. Betonica officinalis 'Alba' has a certain poise and is just right for the front of the border along the path.  

Betonica officinalis 'Alba'

A piece of this was given to me a couple of years ago and last autumn I divided it and placed it along this border, where it quietly put down roots amongst the spring bulbs.  Now those have died down, it is flowering time for the Betonica.  I've cleared all the ladybird poppy plants that were just finishing and now they have a little space to themselves.

The individual flowers are a beautiful pure white, and each evening this week, we have had a small hummingbird hawkmoth visit and spend some time hovering and feeding from the tubular flowers.  It seems to be on the small size compared to some I have seen visit. Earlier in the day they are certainly popular with some of the bees.

Close up showing the flowers

2. Over the years this path which slopes down and around the conservatory bed has gradually become slightly clogged with soil, aided  by ants, worms, birds and visiting cats.  It was not altogether a negative as little seedlings especially the violas loved seeding into it.  However it had started to be colonised by tougher perennials such as the Viola odorata 'Kim' and some campanulas which I had removed before taking this picture.  This week I have started to clean it off, and have been using the garden sieve to separate out the stones, and bring the path back to some semblance of order.  I found it less messy sieving out the dry soil, as compared with washing the mixture I dug up through the sieve. It will take another week of the odd hour here and there, during dry weather. The work is strangely therapeutic, and it is a delight to listen to the birds: blackcap, chiffchaff, gold crest and wren being notable this week. 

3. Alchemilla erythropoda was a little plant I used to grow in the garden.  It was probably removed in order to grow something else.  I had been missing it, however to my delight within the seed bank in the soil up popped this plant in the path.  When I get down to that section this little plant will find a safe place to continue growing. 

Alchemilla erythropoda growing in the path

4.  It has also been a week that I have been cutting back or removing plants.  I had two large Honesty plants which I grew from seed starting last year of course as they are biannuals, and had planted under the apple tree.  They were cutting out far too much light from the Chrysanthemums so it was time to give them the chop.  Much was binned, but I have salvaged a few stems and here they are in the conservatory. I rather like the green seed pods and being able to see the seeds.

Honesty in a vase

5.  Other plants that were cut down were most of the Love in the Mist and a big clump of Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus. Following an offer of these on the WI WhatsApp, several friends wanting these for drying turned up to collect. The pseudodictamnus was much admired, and following my suggestions of taking cuttings from the bottom of the stems, I have learnt that indeed they are now several in the ground or in pots, plus stems have been hung up to dry. The plant will soon bounce back, send up new growth and I may well have another set of flowers later in the year.  I usually cut it back again in early October to give a neat tight cover of growth to overwinter. In a larger garden of course, one could leave the growth but I am unsure of what it weathers like over the winter.

Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus awaiting collection

6. Earlier this week I went to visit a great gardening friend Hilary who is also a specialist and speaker for the Alpine Garden Society.  It is always a treat for me to be invited over and after coffee we walk around discussing what has changed since my last visit.  My garden easily fits several times just in part of her garden adjacent to her summer house!  However the last part of the garden we were in was the walled garden which has her glass house and several raised gravel beds.  My plant of the visit, or at the least the plant I would like to grow had to be this one:

Teucrium ackermannii

At the time we couldn't find the label, no the one in the foreground belongs to another plant, and AI gave it as Teucrium aroanium.  However when I got home I realised I had been looking up T aroanium only a few days previously, and Hilary's didn't match.  I did some further searches on line and found the correct name, and a couple of days later Hilary replied to my suggestion of the correct name, by email, saying  she had found the label and indeed it was T. ackermannii.  I had already set some cuttings and I shall now be rewriting the label.  Hopefully I shall have one or two good plants for next year.

Teucrium ackermannii cuttings

I wonder what I shall write about next week....

 

Plants I have read about this week and would like to grow: Penstemon ‘Garnet’

Six on Saturday - Through heat and thunderstorms

 What a week it has been for the garden and gardeners in Somerset and the south of England.  We had the most amazing storm on Monday and a lesser storm still with lightning last night, and in between severe heat with tropical night time temperatures. Apart for the early flowering plants such as the ladybird poppies which were going to seed anyway, being severely buffeted around, we had little damage.  I am sure the weather was an even greater challenge for gardeners with glasshouses.  Today Saturday, the morning is much cooler. I am joining others over at Jim's for this weekly meme.

Last week I posted a Teucrium in the gravel garden, and so this week I thought I would show you two of the others ones I have. 

1. Seedling itself gently around the garden and useful in its form and upright flower spikes is Teucrium hircanicum. I also find the leaves very attractive, this plant in the front 'Mediterranean Garden' and is completely unfazed by the sun and heat, unsurprising given its origins.  This is a plant that I have also had growing in different parts of the garden, and  a plant worth leaving through the winter without trimming as it holds its form well.

Teucrium hircanicum

2. Another Teucrium that I like in all its stages is Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum Marginatum'. It has the most charming leaf form with ruffled edges.  At this time of the year there are also some fine small flowers.  Again another plant completely unfazed by the heat and drought. Neither it nor me  had read the guides to planting and it does really well in my heavy clay soil, at least in this garden . 

Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum Marginatum' flowers

Teucrium scorodonia 'Crispum Marginatum' leaves

3. First thing in the morning, it has been cooler in the garden than in the house by a few degrees, and spending an hour or two in the garden doing jobs in the shade before breakfast, is most probably something I shall continue to do.  I've trimmed the Golden Lonicera Balls in the front of the house, and also tackled the Topiary which I started a few years back just by the bird bath. The Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold' (Golden Box-leaved Honeysuckle) is perfect in place of box.

4. I have a little creeping thyme, which started off being planted in the gravel garden. By taking small pieces and just pushing them into the ground, it has now spread to different places, and I find that growing it at the edge of the gravel path, means than the soil is less likely to be dug over and therefore get mixed in the stone, by birds or visiting cats.  Again doing very well in the heat. It is very easy to reduce its size once flowering is over, and during the winter when the underlying bulbs are getting ready to emerge.

5. I have two types of Betonica officinalis along this bed, and looking at how they are coming along, I can definitely say that the dwarf form 'Ukkie' which was  divided and planted early this spring, is not quite in the right place.  It will be moved to somewhere closer to the path but probably not in this bed.

6. By the edge of that path is a clump of White Sea Campion. Silene Uniflora Alba.  I have a couple of other plants somewhat out of sight, and these will probably be moved as well to that edge. This is a wildflower of coastal areas, but is quite adaptable to the clay soil.

White Sea Campion. Silene Uniflora Alba 

I've just learnt that in Roman mythology the Goddess Minerva turned the young boy Campion into this plant after he fell asleep instead of catching flies for her owls, with the bladder representing the bag he should have filled.

Back to the weather this week, not mandatory of course for six on saturday, but I feel that the weather really affects the garden, so often mention it.  I also like to watch the skies for different clouds and try to foretell weather.  The first storm arrived and so much light cut off that it was as if we were in a total eclipse and all the street lights came on.  Strong constant wind felt what I imagine like the wind on the edge of a tornado, and there was loads of thunder and lightning, with hail in the rain, though not large enough to cause damage.  We are at the top of a slope luckily we were not subject to flooding, and the rain soaked in well. Later in the week, but this time during the night we had a less severe repetition.  As it was so warm, the remarkable thing they did not clear the air or reduce temperatures.