As if.
This is Centaurea montana, a perennial cornflower. We used to have these growing under the front window when I was a child. I used to think it was a weed. It never needed any watering, you see, so that's why I presumed it was a weed. This particular plant was purchased earlier this year from Claire Austin Hardy Plants. Apparently, the cornflower regularly escapes from gardens. Now doesn't that make it a weed ? I've planted it near the front of a sunny border, so we'll see how it behaves.
Yet another hot, sunny day today. And whilst I sat in the shade, others did a bit of sunbathing:
This is his favourite spot, on top of the greenhouse. He sits here regularly in the afternoon, and then goes for a drink:
And what about the blue tits ? Well, I last saw Orville on Thursday night. He was still under the apple tree, but he was looking stronger and healthier. The following day, he was gone. There were no tell-tale signs of any struggle, you know, feathers. So, hopefully, he managed to fly. The parents are still feeding their young in neighbouring gardens, and I really hope that Orville is amongst them.
The weathermen are predicting one more fine day before the storms arrive. That'll be fun.
No tak, ptak najpierw się opala na słoneczku, a później się "chłodzi od środka". Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteWell, first bird tans in the sun, and later the "cooled from the inside". Yours.
They know what they're doing, these birds.
DeleteI split my clump of cornflowers last year so now they are more prominent in the garden - they usually get mildewed if it is dry - is yours really that colour or was it just photographed in the shade. Glad nothing nasty has happened to Orville.
ReplyDeleteOh the mildew, forgot about that. If they succumb, I might move them to somewhere a little damper, like the compost bin. The photograph was taken in shade, but it really is that colour.
DeleteIn the hottest time of day, I am inside on the screened porch reading, writing, or napping. I spend the morning gardening before it gets too hot. I kinda like the rhythm of my summer days.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a little too hot for me at the moment, but it's set to cool down here soon. And then it'll probably be too cold.
DeleteLovely flower, isn't it fun learning to embrace those "flowering weeds". Good to hear Orville must be doing well.
ReplyDeleteThe 'weeds' in my garden are putting on a better display than the cultivated plants at the moment.
DeleteMy Mother had lots of those in the garden and gave me some which, in the front sunny garden, were rather too rampant! In the back shadier garden they are more well behaved :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the Blackbird photos. They sun themselves along the edge of my lawn in a row and look so funny (they need deckchairs really!) but do look horribly vulnerable to neighbourhood cats. Yours has far more sense on top of the greenhouse :-)
If my plants get too giddy in the sun, I'll have to move them into the shade. I've got more shady areas than sunny ones, so they'd better behave.
DeleteYes, we always had this plant years ago, I don't see why it seems to have gone out of favour. Great pictures of the blackbird. The warm weather has left us, hope its not long before it returns.
ReplyDeleteThe heatwave has left us now, back to the rain.
DeleteI Love cornflower but sadly cannot grow them here as they are without doubt rabbit fodder :( Grrrrr, bad rabbits!!
ReplyDeleteLovely blackbird....I am very fond of the blackbird, their melodic songs start my day during the summer.
Hope little Orville is ok :)
Orville's parents are still feeding their young in neighbouring gardens. They've usually moved away by now, so it may be Orville that's holding them back. Hope so.
DeleteI've seen quite a few of these plants this year in different peoples gardens. QUite a dainty flowerhead, may just have to find a weeny space to squeeze one in...somewhere! x
ReplyDeleteI squeezed my plant into a small gap in the border, and it seems quite happy.
DeleteI really like Centaurea; mine are the same colour as yours. Really nice plants. I always think of them as old fashioned plants which are some of the best. Mine get mildew on the leaves.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to keep a look out for the mildew. Bought a white Monarda last year, but the display was ruined by mildew on the leaves.
DeleteGreat shots !!!
ReplyDelete