GARDENER'S WORD - IDEAS AND TIPS

One job done. Spring is in the air here in West Yorkshire, the garden is waking up and although England is still in the virus lockdown, at least I can do as I please in my own garden. I've hard pruned Buddleia Davidii Nanho Blue, which I grow in a giant container, down to about 2ft (60cm). It is surprisingly vigorous and before long will be displaying long branches, hopefully with lots of flowers. It attracts butterflies like the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), as well as other pollinators like bees and the lovely, harmless, hoverflies.

I wish I'd had the macro lens on my Canon EOS 6D today, but I didn't, so I did the best I could with my iPhone 5s when a pretty butterfly came and landed on one of my buddleias, Buddleia davidii 'Nanho Blue'.  I had thought at first that the butterfly was a Red Admiral (Vanessa Atalanta) but on checking, I discovered it was a Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais Urticae).   Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais Urticae).   Even though my buddleia (buddleias attract butterflies and are commonly known as the Butterfly Bush) has plenty of flowers on it, butterflies seem scarce in my garden nowadays.  That's sad.  In fact, I don't recall seeing as many Bumblebees as I have seen in the past, or hoverflies .  Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais Urticae).   Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais Urticae).   I see plenty of white butterflies in my garden but I haven't seen the Speckled Wood butterfly for years unless they arrive when I am not looking...

I visited East Riddlesden Hall in West Yorkshire today and my favourite part was mooching around the grounds, taking photos.  I saw these beautiful Echinops flowers and they were alive with butterflies and bumblebees.  I tried to take a video of it all but people kept walking into the shot while 'filming' and ruining it, so we just have stills to look at.   Bumblebees on Echinops flower Butterfly on Echinops flower  Bumblebees on Echinops flower   Echinops East Riddlesden Hall Allium onion Ornamental Seed heads at East Riddlesden Hall Dipsacus Sativus teasel at East Riddlesden Hall Mixed Border and Trees at East Riddlesden Hall Trees and Water – Duck Pond at East Riddlesden Hall

Last year I planted Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue' and didn't take a photograph of its flowers.  Perhaps I bought it when it was not in flower.  Anyway, this year, despite there having been many flowers, I almost forgot.  Flowering has almost finished now but yesterday I remembered when it was raining and blowing a gale.  I managed to take a fairly decent shot of one of the remaining purple flowers, and a not so great photograph to try and indicate to you the rather ethereal growing habit of this delightful shrub.  The leaves are a grey green and pointy on slender branches and they sway around beautifully in the breeze.   Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'  This summer I have been carefully deadheading the flowers on buddleias  to promote more flowers.  Davidii are summer flowering buddleias and it is best to prune them back in early spring as they flower on growth made that same year.  If you prune them too early, like now...

It had been a foggy morning and now that the sun is shining, the garden is soggy and sparkling with beads of water.  Although I've had, and still have, a lot of bees and hoverflies in my garden I don't have as many butterflies visiting as I would like.  My garden has been visited by quite a few Speckled Wood butterflies and the occasional white one, but today I have had the honour of a rather ragged Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) turning up. It alighted on an equally ragged Champagne Moment rose and stayed quite a while fanning and drying its wings in the sunlight before my camera lens got too close and it cleared off! Red Admiral butterfly on Champagne Moment rose Red Admiral butterfly on Champagne Moment rose I always thought that butterflies only lived for days but apparently they can live a year or so in warmer climates, but do not surviving freezing winters.   UK Butterflies - Vanessa atalanta (external link)   Red Admiral b...

After yesterday's rainy day, we have sunshine.  It's lovely out there and soon I shall be lolling on the swing reading my book.  I keep saying that but things distract me.  This morning the distraction was insects.   The garden's alive with them.  I haven't seen so many butterflies this year and only one so far, a Small White butterfly , has allowed me close enough to take a photo.  That is, until today.  A little brown one came along and first alighted on the sunflower which is slowly opening, and then danced onto the September Charm anemone nearby.   It even sat long enough, quite still, for me to get really close with my camera's macro lens.  Perhaps it could see its reflection in the glass and thought it was another butterfly coming along to say hello.  I don't know why it tolerated me so long, but it did.  I believe it is the Speckled Wood butterfly.   Speckled Wood butterfly on September Charm an...

I had never seen the like of Geranium 'Purple Passion' until I came across it while visiting the RHS Garden Centre in Harlow Carr a short while ago.  Immediately, it's burgundy leaves attracted me, long before it came into flower.  The flowers, though small and about 1.5 cm across, are bright and in profusion, standing out against the dark leaves.  What's even more delightful about this spreading geranium, is that it is attracted bees and butterflies.  Geranium 'Purple Passion' flower Geranium 'Purple Passion' leaf The label says Geranium Purple Passion (Cranesbill) has stunning plum-coloured foliage all year and bright pink flowers throughout summer.  It is hardy.  It likes full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil.  It achieves a heigh and spread of 15cm (6in) x 90cm (36in).  It is a source of food for bees and butterflies.  Geranium 'Purple Passion' and a 'Small White' butterfly  Geranium 'Purple Passion...