Salvia viridis and lavenders

Just gorgeous!

Your cottagey borders are a delight, Janey.

Really super and glad the bees are enjoying it too. I rescued a bee today from the floor and warmed her on my hand then placed her on a flower.

Thanks Wildrose and Ange they don't take any watering which is a bonus..

That's lovely Linda, my granddaughter does too, she makes sugar water as a pick.me up for them, then off they go..:))

Well done your Grandaughter, Sugar water is ideal. When we had our bees we made a sugar syrup for the bees to feed them with just before the winter set in so that it kept them going after extracting the honey from the hive.

Lovely to hear Linda, you don't have them now? I would really enjoy keeping bees, if just one hive. I don't think my pets would appreciate them tho!

I kept bees for over 25 years Janey. We took on Gerry's uncle's hive of bees and eventually ended up with two hives. It's a great hobby with honey at the end of it and I made wax candles with the wax I cut off to extract the honey with from the frames in the spinning extractor.

Goodness Linda, how you must have enjoyed the whole process and your own honey from your garden flowers or further afield?

I used the honey for some of my cooking too Janey. I loved going into the hive to see all the activity going on. Bees do different tasks in the hive and I used to look for the Queen and also make sure that the hive looked healthy.

Wonderful! Did you see Gardeners World last night with the community lady beekeeper teaching the children all about them? It was a lovely piece..
Where we used to live in Catalunya, we were between the coastal village and the hill village which was known as the honey village. Every spring they held a honey festival with products like you made, that's what reminded me. There were so many different floral flavours. In the village itself was the honey shop with a gorgeous honey fountain and also a half hive behind glass where you could see exactly what all the bees were doing. It was a smashing place to take visitors...

That sounds great Janey. I gave one of the classes at our local junior school a talk about looking after bees and all about Bumble bees as well. I miss going in and helping with the children with reading their books.

Love your photo, so cottagy, my ideal sort of garden.

I can imagine you must do Linda.. Have you written any children's stories lately, with your lovely illustrations? I remember Twinkle, you used to have..:))
I've a small bee house that's been on the wall years now, there weren't as many babies emerging this year in early May as usual. I've just had a look at it now, bright green leaves are sealed over three of the bamboo holes, so leaf cutter bees have been busy..so pleased..

Thank you very much Siris..:) I must admit it does seem to develop itself. For the last few years nicotianas have popped up even though I've not sown any in this garden.
Different colours each year, dark purples, bright pinks and this year white highly scented ones.. It's very good to me!

Not sure how I missed this gorgeous pic, Janey! It’s a really pretty cottage garden you have - a lovely haven for the bees and wildlife..

Yes Janey I'm still writing. Just creating a Christmas booklet for the children at the moment. Glad your bees in the garden are doing well.

I love nicotiana, acidanthera, saponaria and artemisia (ludoviciana) and spearmint .. the scents mingle and at dewfall it's magic. It's interesting that they are all blooming around the same time and complement each other. You have a beautiful, magical combo there! When you mentioned nicotiana (snap!) it brought it all back...

Aw thank you Kate..:)

Sounds really interesting Linda, I bet the children will really enjoy them too.
The bees are keeping very busy and so many different types, I love to see and hear them..

Lovely selection there Lori, I can't picture Saponaria, even though I remember the name.
Dewfall, what a fab word, we would say dusk I think. Yes they all bloomed together with lots of self sets from last year, I was so pleased that the colours all went together, lots of purples which the bees can.see, I'm so pleased you like it..:))