Orchids and Roses

Common Spotted Orchid or Dactylorhizo fuchsii

 After days of unrelenting wind and rain it has finally dried up a bit and the sun made a brief appearance, although it remains windy. But it's July so things can only get better, or at least that's what we hope for!

St. Pauls Himalayan Musk Rose

A radiant day

Dahlia Delight

Clouds and Sunshine

Slowly but surely the summer that never was is now on it's way out. September looms and there is a sense of autumn in the air already. All the more reason to make the most of the sunshine when it peeks out from behind the clouds. Fortunately  there are still plenty of flowers to enjoy in the garden because everything is flowering so late.

cornflowers

spiraea

One Sunny Day in August

Another sunny day

We are being spoiled. Two sunny days in a row!

The Theme is Purple

 Along the old railway line all is purple. The heather is flowering very early this year. 

 The knapweed is everywhere.

And the Vetch is everywhere too, complete with visitors.

In the courtyard

Hydrangia

Hosta flowers

Clematis

In the trough

Rosa Mundi

It's a very windy day, highly unusual for summer and before it also starts to rain I ventured into one of the flower beds and captures this Rosa Mundi, which is now almost hidden from view by the blue campanula flowers.

She is one of the oldest roses known to men (or women!) and I love to think of all the history hidden in her pretty petals.

Roses and Bunnies

This might be a young hare rather than a bunny Whatever it is, it is clearly making itself at home in our garden.

The Kiftsgate Rose has never done so well as in this dismal summer, for some reason. It's climbing all over the ash tree and might be making it's way into another one. Sadly there is no blue sky to set it off to best effect.

Sunflowers

Flower Friday

 Every Friday is Flower Friday on Blipfoto. The challenge is simply to post a photograph of a flower that you took that day. I don't always participate but the garden is looking it's best at this time of year (despite the weather!) and the challenge is an added incentive to wander around and see what to capture.

Delphinium

Hardy Geranium and Meadowsweet

Red hot poker, and a view of our new roof (which looks exactly the same as the old roof but is a much improved version)

Dahlia

Honeysuckle

Random Pictures from the Garden

After yesterday's torrential downpours, lightning and thunder the net results were one horrific migraine and one TV busted, and that despite the fact we had switched it off. Switching it back on again did for the power card and it's cheaper to get a new one than to have it repaired, seeing that it is more than 8 years old. The head fortunately healed itself.

Nasturtiums

The garden on the other hand was very grateful for all the rain and it's looking very lovely this morning with lots of flowers and specially roses enjoying the slightly cooler temperatures with occasional sunshine. 

Verbascum flowers

Roseraie de l'Hay

Rosa Glauca, also known as rosa rubrifolia

Sunshine and roses

Sally Holmes rose

Gardenia rose

Madame Alfred Carriere

New Dawn

Masquerade and Astrantia (and a little rabbit)

Masquerade Rose

Astrantia

and a view of our resident rabbit. At least resident at the moment! As you can tell he is not too disturbed by our vain attempts to re-house him.

Ox Eye Daisies and Roses