Not everything in my garden is rosy! My purple sprouting broccoli outgrew it’s Enviromesh covering and a plague of Cabbage White butterflies descended. I checked for eggs and destroyed many clumps but obviously missed a lot because the entire crop has been ruined by thousands of voracious caterpillars.
Oddly, the other bed of the same variety which was sown later and kept covered for three weeks longer has no damage. The Cabbage Whites are now dancing around but not laying eggs. Phew!
Gladiolus papilio ‘Ruby’
I am pleased I had the patience to grow this Gladiolus papilio ‘Ruby’ from seed three years ago. They have rewarded me with several spikes of beautiful rich velvet red flowers for the first time this year and hopefully for many more years to come.
Some gardeners are a bit snooty about yellow but I love it. To me, it’s the colour of sunshine, chucky eggs and happiness. Consequently, I have yellow everywhere and now is it’s time. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, Helianthus ‘Happy Days’ and the tall spectacular daisy flowered Silphium perfoliatum.
Aster asteroides ‘Stardust’
This little Aster is an ideal front of border plant and gradually spreads but not in an invasive way. It also has the attribute of hiding it’s spent flowers with new ones avoiding the usual browning and decay. A magnet for pollinators and butterflies too. Pretty and clever, the ideal combination!
Myrtus communis
It may be common Myrtle but any plant included in Royal bouquets is good enough for me. Grown from a single tiny cutting in a 9cm pot just three years ago, it has literally blossomed into a substantial and much admired shrub.
Hemerocallis (Day Lilly)
An impulsive £2 supermarket purchase of a ‘white’ hemerocallis has turned out to be a beautiful lemon yellow and scented to boot! A fortunate stroke of serendipity!
So there you have my six for this Saturday.
Enjoy your weekend.
David
Davids Garden Diary 
delightful!
But not the caterpillars!
Thanks David, you’ve shown this novice that success is not a 100% sure thing. Your successes are a source of inspiration.
The Day lily is a very pretty one. What a bargain. My purple sprouting has been got by the cabbage whites, but I’m going to leave it in and see if it gets going now they’ve finished laying.
I have Brussels sprouts looking just the same and for the same reason, I took the mesh off and the butterflies pounced. It leaves you wondering whether it’s worth the money.