Nearly August!

lovely written blog (painted a picture in my mined) the hollyhock looks really nice.

from jane.

Very interesting blog especially about the different sized bees, I've noticed this with the bees going in and out of the nest under my shed.

That hollyhock is gorgeous!

Very nice. I did like the teasel picture. My Mum once told me they are carnivorous plants, and digest the juices from the insects that drown in the little pockets of water that collect at the leaf joints. Nature is amazing.

You have described it well Honey, its been raining all day here with thunder going around us all afternoon, waterbutts full again and I gained another two ponds but pleased to say its started to drain away again now, no watering neccessary except inside the g'houses, everything in the garden is looking lush and enjoyed the weather once the wind died down, except my roses, ready for some more summer weather again now as my tootsies prefer the freedom of my flipflops, not as hot though, lol .....

Thank you everyone for the nice comments, its good to let the brain have a ramble round and foist the resulting thoughts onto you all, as a captive audience!
To Lincslass, I know what you mean about the roses, mine got so heavy with rain they just drooped completely over - the shock of actually getting some rain I expect. Also our water butts are full, now the quandary is do I pump them out into the pond so they are ready for more rain, or are we going to get more rain to refill them?
Steragram - didn't know that about teasels, I shall go out and study it. We have a few which are self sown from the wild and I always plan to save the seed and plant a few more, but the birds always beat me to it.
For Louisa and Jane - the hollyhocks were here when we came, always came up in the wrong place, the edge of the drive so they fell onto it or the middle of the lawn. Hubby doesn't like them, but I have coralled them into one section (nearly) and will try to keep them there, lots of colours, lots of nostalgia.
For Jaykaty - I contacted the bee people because I had seen what looked like the big normal bumblebees going into the small b.bees nest and wondered if they were stealing from them, laying eggs in their nest (like the cuckoo bee) or killing them off. You would never believe they were the same bees, the difference in the sizes! But then - people come in different sizes, so why not bees?

Mmmm, loving this cooler weather.

Honey, if you look at my photos, you'll see I put up a picture of an Imperata grass for you! (to inspire you for when you get rid of your grass . . . )