Here is a wonderful though unintended juxtaposition. In the foreground is Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) which grows wild in the UK. I grew one in my front garden a year or two back which self-seeded through the railings into the gaps and cracks in the pavement.

 In the background there are a couple of towering specimens of Echium wildpretti. The Giant Echiums -sometimes called Giant Viper's bugloss- are native to the Canary Islands and these two are self-seeded descendants of one I planted at the front five or six years ago.

 Two distinctly different though closely related species from the same family Boraginaceae have both prospered in the same way in the same urban location. Viper's Bugloss is invariably mentioned in lists of the five or ten best native plants to grow for bees and its giant relative would certainly make the non-native shortlist.

 The kitchen garden I made at the music school is well underway. All the herbs I planted in the square bed are flourishing and the Runner Beans are starting to run. The row of Munstead Lavender has settled in nicely. The Rosemary bushes I transplanted seem to be sulking a bit, hopefully they'll pick up. Plenty of Sage and Oregano which was there already. 

 

 Cutting the long grass in one of the meadow areas at the music school. The tall grasses going to seed are picturesque but on the verge of toppling into a thick mat and docks and brambles are starting to appear. A peasant of old would use a scythe but I am a latter day peasant so I got the brushcutter out.

 Most people worship the sun but gardeners pray for rain. In the past week my prayers have been answered. 

 Spring was a virtual drought in south-easterly England. February had been very wet so the dry March was not a problem, plenty of moisture in the soil. However there were no April showers to speak of; I actually got the hosepipes and sprinklers out later in the month. Watering in England in April??

 This continued into May and plants were starting to wilt with no rain and record heat. We had flaming June in May but fortunately May weather has arrived in June. Ah, damp cold days at last- glorious!

 

Hence the colour in the painter's palette: Cornflower blue.

 

 Giant Scabious (Cephalaria gigantea) attracts a multitude of pollinators: bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths. 

 This Red Admiral was very interested in my potting table, or rather the splashes of water I made as I worked. It was a hot day and butterflies need to drink; note the long tongue supping...