Scenic, spectacular Crater Lake has been the subject of my recent posts below (and there will be some more to come), but I don't want to lose track of scenic, spectacular south London.
 Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) is a shrub that lends a splash of colour to the late summer months in gardens, wasteground and especially along railway lines.
 Introduced as an ornamental from China in the nineteenth century it quickly spread beyond gardens and grows tenaciously all over the place. For that reason it is sometimes regarded as a menace- its vigour and tough root system can be a problem in the wrong spot.
 It has merit though; usefully it's in full flower when other plants are fading towards the end of the season. Sometimes called "The Butterfly Bush" few other plants attract such a variety of butterflies and bumblebees are very keen on it too. I would go so far as to say it is one of several plants that are largely responsible for sustaining butterflies and bumblebees in urban areas like London.
 Also in the front garden a patch of Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) is looking very pretty at ground level or rather in an old Belfast china sink I lugged back from the local junk shop a few years ago.