Something odd has been happening this Summer, probably due to the drought, but many of my flowering plants seem to have stalled through much of June and July and are only now getting going.  At least there is something for the bees:

The cosmos is clearly doing well and some dahlia’s that I planted in the cutting patch are just coming into flower along with the chrysanthemums. Self seeded borage also provides some flowers for the bees although they are drying up now. The sedums around the garden are just starting to open now.

However, the perennial sunflowers that I grew from seed this year are not only yet to flower, but seem to have a rather unusual growing habit, looking like a row of triffids by the drive. I am not sure what has happened there.

Perhaps the fact that that new bed is essentially made up of compost means that it is too nitrogen rich so making lots of leafy growth and no flowers as yet although there are plenty of buds? I should add potash from the wood burning stove I think for next year.

One thing I hope to do in this garden is to have something in flower all year ’round, bioty for interest and also for the insects. I’ll see how it goes.