I look forward to mid August when the Heleniums finally open their tight fat buds to display a feast of bold bright colour in the late summer border. Their timing is perfect. The monardas and echinaceas are just beginning to look a little tired, the crocosmias are over and the foxglove spikes have been chopped down. And then, suddenly, this happens!

Talk about making an entrance! I am looking forward to a similar happening in a few weeks when hundreds of chrysanthemums begin to unleash themselves and start a riot!