I used to be fastidious in the removal of weeds from my herbaceous/shrub borders, initially because of laziness I have now come to realise the beauty in what we call weeds! 
They say a weed is just an unwanted plant in a certain location,but these unwanted plants can turn into things of beauty in the eye of the beholder. 

I do however keep part of my lawn well tended which to me is complementary to the haphazzard plants in the borders surrounding it. Part of the shaped lawn at the top of the garden I leave to it's own devices as well and cut maybe twice a year? I also have a clump of nettles in an out of the way shady spot.

I have noticed that my less formal borders are attracting more birds, butterflies, hoverflies and bees which I can look at out ofthe kitchen window whilst washing the dishes.

There is no soil to be seen in the borders and to me it is a thing of beauty!

       

Just a little identification question for you!

       

How that for a tongue twister of a name? Its also known as Phaiophleps nigricans!! https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/17398/sisy...um/details

I acquired  it from someone last year. Its really pretty. Not sure how well it would do in a vase as I haven't the heart to cut any. Its supposed to spread and self seed but don't think its as bad as montbretia. 

Does anyone else grow it? Shall I save seeds?

Couldn't decide where to post this - Foraging or Nutty. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv22y5y34jpo

Help please. I’m trying to find out when I can start harvesting my samphire grass. All I can find is when to pick it in the wild. I can find nothing about when to harvest it from plants grown from seed. If anyone can help it’d be very much appreciated.

   

It’s a little bigger than this now. Photo taken last week.

Actually after just looking at this photo again it almost doubled since this was taken

Some pumpkins have hull-less (or semi-hull-less seeds) which makes them better for eating. Unfortunately, it seems, the actual pumpkin flesh can be stringy and not so good for eating.

Doublyjonah mentioned them at https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...084&page=6 .

Let's make a list of the varieties we come across - with retailers descriptions. 

Pumpkin Kakai https://www.organicseedspecialists.co.uk...n-kakai-2/

Baby Bear https://www.kingsseeds.com/products/vege...-baby-bear

2024 set to be bumper year for Box Tree Moth say the RHS

https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/articles/...r-box-moth

   

Your Challenge for June is to spot all of these butterflies & Moths!

I'm not talking about me personally although my Mother thought I was beautiful (she had to say that!). I'm talking about vegetables and my preference to  choose smaller varieties of veg/fruit in the belief that they'll mature faster and, perhaps, taste fresher than bigger, more mature veg.
For example, I don't attempt to grow beefsteak tomatoes - preferring small/medium sized ones. 
Courgettes definitely win over marrows. I'm struggling to even sow those Giant pumpkins (sorry SC/JJB).
Baby leeks - not the huge ones they wave about at shows.
Small cucumbers, not the bigguns.
Small sweet lettuce - not big floppy things.
etc etc. 
How about you?

A cutting I’ve taken. From where or when , I don’t remember. But it’s doing quite well. 
Can someone put a name to it please. 

         


Is it escallonia ? ………….I seem to have hundreds of the flipping things. First white one though.