A few photos in July for Karensusan

I love that Libertia Sheila. Your Cotinus is ahead of mine, I'm still waiting for the flowers to open :o)

Wow! Now that's real frothy!! Thank you Sheila...I feel very special now! :) It was very hot here today and I was childminding a very pale skinned small child for most of the day, so we stayed indoors a lot! After that I was too exhausted to do much except take a few pics and cook dinner! Phew!

That cotinus is amazing, SB. You can really see why it's called the Smoke Bush from your great photo!
KS, it IS hot isn't it? Have spent most of the day reading - well, why not?

Good for you! I shall be taking it easy tomorrow too! :)

That Cotinus IS amazing, I never seem to get any smoke on mine at all!!! It's too hot isn't Sheila.....I'm afraid I'm melting here, the garden is looking nice though but is needing water!!

Amazing... never seen one with so much smoke, love the Osteos:-)

Thats the first time I have seen Malva Moschata 'Alba'
on Goy. For years I had them on my Brassica area on the allotments. Late every evening the Hoverflies came to them, then they went over and ate the White Cabbage Butterfly larvae on the Brussels. On summer evenings I used to sit and watch them do this. Until the 2nd week in September, when it turned cold at night. Then they disappeared. I just had to spray once, then it was too cold for the White Cabbage Butterflies.

Thank you for your lovely comments Annie, Karen, Tuesday, Gill, Gralew and Diane! That's interesting about the hoverflies, Diane; I LOVE the Malva - bought initially from Beth Chatto many years ago and have saved the seed ever since.

So what are you currently reading Tuesdaybear?! I've just finished "Last Friends" by Jane Gardam - the third in the Old Filth series - she's so good :)

Lol Sheila, your cotinus is more smoke than tree! I too love the musk mallows, we used to have loads and the bees adore them. I've had to try to eradicate them from my back garden as they always succumb , before flowring, to rust. It was brought in on a mallow I bought from a NGS garden:-( The seedlings pop up everywhere although I have been pulling them out for about 9 years! On the other hand one which has appeared on the front garden appears to be rust free, so fingers crossed:-) I bought some liberia last year and they died, my tales seem to be full of doom and gloom lol, but loving this weather( apart from all the watering) I could learn to live like this:-))

Ba, if the Libertia you bought is the "plain" green one with white flowers, we have a few so I could save you some seed if you'd like?

That's very kind of you Sheila, but it was the pretty one lol, I bought three. I seem to keep taking pics of the garden at the moment, too hot for work although quite a pleasant little breeze:-))

I finished Kate Morton's 'The Secret Keeper' this morning but, although it kept me turning the pages, I thought it less well written than her earlier work, with irritating cliches in character and style at times. Enjoyed the plot though. I haven't read Jane Gardam but will look her up on Google. About to start 'The Dangerous Edge of Things' by Candida Lycett Green. Funnily enough, on perusing the back cover, I've just discovered a tribute to her writing from none other than your Jane Gardam! How very odd.

I'm on The Shetland series by Anne Cleeves.....I love her characterisations. it's great to read a book where the people are actually likeable and interesting....unlike some modern writers I won't mention ;) I'm also reading a book called 'The Hidden Jesus' by Donald Spoto....excellent and quite intelligent too! :) Now, do we need another forum for this new Goy book club ladies? :))

P.s. fascinating about the hover flies Diane! They are known for being voracious feeders, but I don't think I could stomach watching them consume caterpillars...not even on my crops! :)

To all you bibliophiles . . . I recently discovered a reference book in the library, called something like "Who Else Writes Like . . ?" which to my surprise I was able to borrow. The librarian told me that they keep the most up-to-date edition behind their desk. It is fascinating, and useful if you have a favourite author, and would like to discover someone similar: e.g. Jane Gardam writes like Barbara Trapido, and (I think) Maggie O'Farrell.

Yes, yes, KS, a book forum, please! I tried to set up a book group a few years ago but everyone I asked said they hadn't time to read on a regular basis, only read on holiday etc. As one who languishes without a book on the go, I'm always desperate to compare notes with fellow readers and so rarely able to do so. It was pure joy recently, when three of my boys and my daughter's boyfriend all began 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R. R. Martin. This amazing series is being dramatised on Sky (pretty accurately for once) and, although very gruesome, it is an enthralling saga. Being able to discuss these books with my family was so satisfying. Now my daughter has started on then too.

Ooh, that sounds interesting tuesdaybear! Thanks!

Have added this blog to faves. For future reference!

Good idea Karen . . . it's great to get so many book recommendations!

Fantastic 'frothy' smoke tree.....Loely pic's!

I'm going to try some of these authors too, bit of a Rebus fan here among others. Love crime as long as it's not too gory:-)

Thank you Paul.
Ba - my husband is a devoted Rebus fan too.
Yes Meadowland!

That would be great, I used to belong to a book club at my local library:-)

yes! me too. My OH loves Rebus. I tried the first book, and decided it isn't for me.

I don't know none of all the writers you've nominated!
are they all English?
I love reading but this year I'm so busy that haven't time to sit and read !
does anybody know Amelie Nothomb?
I love her books !

Most are English Lia, but the 'Rebus' mentioned is actually a character (a detective) in books by the Scottish writer, Ian Rankin. I will look up Amelie Nothomb . . . not heard of her!

Me neither! Thanks Lia!

she is 'Belga' but live in Paris. Story she write are something ilariously dark. Don't know hove to explain, she write 1 book each year, and very short books you can read in a day.
I looked on Abebooks, in GB you can find books for only 0,78 euro!

Hi Sheila
I'm catching up with blogs ..
lovely set of photos .. very frothy cotinus ! :o)

Yey - thanks Terra!