Bowled over by this
MY ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ perennial wallflower has been in bloom for weeks now. I have often read that erysimum flowers are attractive to butterflies but I’ve never seen one land on my plant.
Last week, I spotted this red admiral enjoying a drink of nectar then fluttering away only to come back a few minutes later.
When I saw this photo, it also reminded me that I need to deadhead my plant! I will take cuttings this summer as we need to help our wildlife with plants that flower for a long period.
Each week we publish a reader’s gardening poem. This week, Jean says: “This poem was inspired by my neighbour who once said that petrol mowers were not for women”.
He has been out with his mower, I knew I’d heard the splutter, The revving, popping, gasping sound,
That sends my heart a flutter.
My borders are all tufty, My grass is oh so long, There are dandelions, daisies, Oh! Everything is wrong.
There’s no time to be wasted, I must get my mower out. My garden shears, my edging tool, My petrol can and spout.
Trim, trim, trim, edge straight edge, Clip, clip, don’t forget the corners. Angles clean and beds weed free, For the benefit of ‘looker on-ers’.
I press the button, 1,2, 3, And cross my fingers tight, I take a breath, grab the cable And pull with all my might.
There she goes, rev, pop, gasp, The roaring whirls of thunder, As I proudly walk behind my pal, My trusted little Red Wonder.
Up and down my lawn so green, I am the petrol mower queen. Light and dark, green rows of grass,
I am the beaming garden lass.