September cafe!

I threaten to take mine out every year, but as you say the bees and insects love it so it has to stay. lol. :O)

I know just what you mean!

They have a killer root system too, Mel. Know what you mean tho...I have a meadow full of ciliolate asters, New England Asters and Golden Rod (Solidago) it's a sea of colour and the bees and hoverflies are sooo happy...and best of all I didn't have to lift a finger..all nature.

Wonderful! I know I'm only removing the top growth when I "slim down" the bushes. I gave half of them the "Chelsea chop" last year, but although it neatened them up a bit, I felt it postponed the flowering beyond the best time for the bees, so this year they are back to their enthusiatic selves!

Good thinking there Melchi that is one of the problems with the Chelsea chop on the plants that the bees and insects like. I have only done it on parts of the later flowering plants and only on some of the lysimachias which are still flowering but not sure if I would bother again with doing it on them again.

Great photo ! :o)

Thanks TT! It all seems a long time ago now - especially after the hail we've had in the last couple of days!

Nice to have the photos to look back on :o)

Indeed it is!

That is a lovely pic. So refreshing and cheering.

Thanks, Wildrose. Strangely enough, I was just looking back at some of these photos this afternoon. It is so easy to forget how the garden looks at different times of the year (especially when it's under snow!)