Thistles, spikes and bees

If you don't have any thistles or eryngiums in your garden I strongly suggest that you get some.  They might not be an obvious choice of garden plant, but they have architectural foliage, striking flowers, a long season of interest and they are adored by bees. What is not to love!

Eryngium zabellii Big Blue has incredibly vibrant blue flowers

The start of summer

May is a month of promise - it has its own worthy stars, but it is really just the warm-up act for the big performance that begins in June and continues through July and August. So many plants have sprung into flower and lush growth that it is hard to single any of them out. The garden has now begun to work as a whole tapestry of colours, shapes and textures and bare earth can no longer be seen.

 Zantedeschia (Arum lily) surrounded by campanula