Today's photos

Pretty area by the steps with the pots :o)

Thanks Terra! Steps are a gift in a garden.

Yes... the different levels help such a lot :o)

I like the area near the steps too, and the rest of your photo's M. nice blog

I think the tall yellow one is a form of verbascum, we had one, just appeared, then dropped seeds which grew, needs watching!

I so love your steps! That ivy looks incredible too. Thanks for showing your pictures :)

It is a mullein/verbascum, Lizziebee which first appeared
many years ago. It is very well-behaved! I've never had more than one, though I would like to. I occasionally plant a couple of the perennisl form, but they never do anything!

Thanks, Yorkshire and Scottish! I just love blogging and use any excuse!

Nice steps Suzanne and a wonderful blog.

Thanks for the pics , Mel .
Is the yellow giant one of those that grow similarly to a foxglove , which in folk -law were supposed to keep witches away ?

I like the way you have done the steps too.

Very pretty . I like your steps :o)
Yes weeds are pretty too. I always leave some (well it's my excuse for not weeding too much lol)
Those begonias are real survivors. I find it hard to kill them, and they are always so pretty and fill a space nicely :o)
lol about the graph :D

Those Begonia`s look lovely, so pleased you forgot about them, I do like your Ivy screen, I might give that a go to hide the area where my waterbutts, brushes, clothes props and mop bucket live, its in the dogrun but still annoys me each time I walk by...
Lovely photo`s Mel...

Thanks Kath - I love my steps! (I have a couple of stepladders elsewhere - they're great for displaying plants)

I didn't know about mullein keeping witches away, Driad, but it must work ;-) They do grow similarly to foxgloves. I love the white stuff on them - it makes them shine, somehow.

Thanks Drc, it's sort of evolved. I do like displaying pelargoniums there - they show up well from indoors. As soon as the weather is good enough, I always open the doors - they've been shut tight most of this year :-(

Thanks Hywel - I'm rather fond of quite a lot of weeds myself - which is just as well lol! And I think I've probably got enough to do without bothering too much about statistics!!! Begonias are lovely - so bright and, as you so rightly say, very vigorous.

Thanks Lincslass - the begonias were one of those bonuses that are such a lovely surprise. I recommend the ivy screen - dead easy! And it was quite effective within two or three years. I am surprised by how well it has survived in a container for so long (famous last words...)

Your 'close up' shots are really gorgeous - no need to change your camera just yet!!

Clever way to grow Ivy without endangering buildings or trees. I too like what you have done on your steps. Begonia semperflorens is a favourite of mine and the other begonias are looking wonderful too. Lovely photographs. I think you sent us the sun with your blog. It has been very pleasant today.

Thank you Wildrose - it just doesn't cope very well if the light is bright - I get white patches. But no, I'm not ready to invest in another camera yet!

Glad you had some sun, Scottish. It's not too bad here - grey with some drizzle yesterday, but dry so far today. Lots of rain last night, though - the half barrel was overflowing this morning!

Lovely blog, Mel. I really like your steps too and the fact that you've left the weed. I'm another one who lets a fair few weeds remain, as I like a more natural look and the insects often enjoy them; as someone once said (I forget who), a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. Your mullein is amazing and I think the ivy screen is a great idea.

Thanks Tuesdaybear! As I said to Hywel, I rather like some of the weeds! I've been out weeding today, actually - mostly ground ivy and ordinary ivy. And I cut back a couple of rather rampant hollies so I am covered in small scratches. And I didn't feel them at all at the time!

Just looking back through these comments, I realise I called Scotsgran "Scottish" (I know you are Scottish, Scotsgran, but you know what I mean - and why I am confused!) Sorry!

That ok. As long as you don't "ca me ower". Interpret as "push me over" Ca is used to name someone as well as being used as push.

Thanks for that info, Scotsgran - I've never heard of that. A lot of Scots words are used in the NE where OH comes from. I started my teaching career in Jarrow and learned a lot of interesting expressions (as I'm sure you can imagine!)

Those steps I love, I would love steps, or even a different level, but I know we cannot have everything we would wish for. Or I would have a stream and a lake and.................. lol:O) Love the plants Melchi, great work done in saving those. I managed to save my pelargoniums from last year think I might take some cuttings this year and try and keep them that way. Only trouble with me is that I am so short of space to store things, and my little green greenhouse (plastic cover really) has disintegrated this summer and will have to be laid to rest. lol. Enjoyed the blog very much.

Thanks, Oliveoil! The steps are a real advantage and I love them because they really make that corner. There are steps down from the back door, as well, but they are a bit more utilitarian, although his year I have put pelargoniums there as well. My cold greenhouse is only 6'x6' but it is very useful (it's on pavers). I have tomatoes in it in summer and shove in pots of things I want to overwinter - usually just pelargoniums and fuchsias. It's rather hit-or-miss whether they survive or not, but they usually do.

I would love a pond with a gravel "beach", but I haven't really got the space. And a stream would be lovely!

Wey aye man Mel. A pond would be right nice. My daughter went to Uni in Newcastle and swears she never spoke like a Geordie but we know different. Her first job after leaving Uni was at a company named ISL which locals interpreted as 'Imported Scottish Labour' there were so many Scots in it. Lol. She loved the North East. It had everything you could wish for within easy reach. Sandy beaches, safe sailing, in the sea or up at a reservoir. Hill walking and of course the famous(infamous) nightlife.

Aye - it's reet canny, Scotsgran pet! I loved it up there, and we go back quite a lot, especially to Northumberland. Corbridge and Hexham, Alnwick and Craster are all regular destinations. And my father came from Sunderland. My daughter went to Liverpool, and is now in Glasgow and the voice definitely changes. I am a southerner, but I had to learn the "tune" when I taught in Jarrow, otherwise the children would never have understood me (they didn't, when I first arrived!). The beaches are just wonderful. Cold - but wonderful (exactly because they're cold - no crowds!)

I love to hear local dialects spoken.

Yes - long may they last :-)

I went walkabout today and discovered my viola leaves have all been 'lace patterned' by Voldemorts too! Blighters!

Commiserations - I'm starting to find barren "sticks" in some of my pots :-(

I toyed with water-on slug destroyer yesterday, but I thought of the blackbirds and relented!

It's a real dilemma - I don't use slug pellets, but can understand anybody who does (my Granny did). I shall probably just go on shrugging, but it is somewhat discouraging! If I had spent a lot on my borders, I would be very cross indeed. And my poor runner beans...!

Self seeded plants are lovely and always do so well. I get loads of violets - I love the dark leaves. But at this time of year, I steel myself to pull some of them up, otherwise i would be inundated. It's the same with poppies.