It is the 5th of June. Flaming June as it is called… ha! I wandered around the back garden this afternoon, enjoying the cool sunlight and the green, and wondering where the colour was. My garden is usually bursting with hot oranges, yellows, pinks and purples by this time of year, but winter was so long in shedding her cloak that summer is dragging her feet.
Don’t misunderstand me… I love the fresh, deep, vibrancy of the green leaves, their shapes and textures, sharp edges and shadows, but a little colour would be nice.
The peonies are showing some promise, buds veiled in translucent shells are beginning to blush, the strawberries are starred with white and the London Pride is a mass of pale pink delicacy under the window. There are even some tentative buds on the roses. But apart from the birds and the inevitable objections to the avian invasion from Ani, the garden is silent.
There are few butterflies yet apart from the occasion sulphur or cabbage white, I have yet to see a peacock or red admiral, and the garden is usually brimming with them by now. Bees are few and far between, I haven’t yet seen an earwig or a ladybird. The flying, buzzing, creeping things are missing. The flowers are late and there is nothing to call them to the garden.
The early honeysuckle hasn’t yet bloomed, there are still bluebells in the shady corner and only the wild geraniums I have encouraged appear to be enjoying the weather. Even the buddleia bushes, which can withstand most things, including the depredations of a gardening dog, are struggling to make progress.
“If I stand still she can’t see me….”
The weeds though, they are thoroughly enjoying it all. I am itching to get out and deal with them. Not that I am picky, mind you. If it is pretty, it stays. The bees love the wildflowers and so do I. There are just a few too many at present, profiting from my inability to tackle them and growing like beanstalks while my back has been turned.
Thankfully, though, I am not utterly starved of colour. The orange hair dye was looking awfully tempting… but the tiny patch of garden under the front window is glowing with the pink and scarlet valerian against the creamy flowers of the choisya and the vividness of the pansies. I know that very soon I will not be able to set foot outside of the door without clouds of bees and butterflies scattering. I can’t wait!
So for now I will content myself with looking at the photos of the microcosm in my back garden, taken in other years when June truly was aflame.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Lovely pics! Hope your garden is in full bloom soon 🙂
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So do I! 🙂
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Awww Ani we see you dear heart! ♥♥♥
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She had a mouthful of buddleia.. the previous pic I took was all blurred, catching her nicely as she pounced.. then saw me and froze 🙂 I love the guilty look!
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Hehe Me too, my dog Sam gets that same look when he’s up to mischief
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One of these days I’ll let her raid her photo album when she’s posting… she has such an expressive face..*crazy lady wanders off… 😛
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*giggles* *another crazy lady wanders off to get breakfast* Sm00ch have a great day Sue
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You too 🙂
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Beautiful pix of the flies and bees and butterflies and, of course, Ani hiding!
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What? You can see her? 😉 With a mouthful of shrub…
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beautiful photos but the dog wins the prize
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She usually does, Paul. She’s priceless 🙂
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color is life. thanks for capturing and sharing a bit of it with us ) beth
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Beautifully said, Beth. Thank you 🙂
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Gorgeous! Here’s to your garden blooming soon!
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Won’t be long now 🙂
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I love the photos. Excellent detail. Ani certainly has a future in espionage – great camouflage. Had me fooled. 🙂
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*chuckles* x
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