I am writing this sitting in an old rattan chair in our open front porch enjoying the warm September sun.
I’ve had a few weeks off Six on Saturday while we took a French road trip followed by the chaos of getting the kids back to school so it is wonderful to be back joining in with a The Propagator and all the faithful followers of SOS. I have missed you and your gardens!
So without further ado, here are my six:
1. English laurel in flower
I cut this laurel right back as it was dominating the herbaceous bed, but a couple of years on it has come back with luscious dark green leaves and delicate spires of white flowers and is now an asset to the border rather than a thug.
2. Catnip and spider
At this time of year everything is sprawling in our herbaceous border, but I am grateful for this Nepeta which has provided subtle colour and interest all year long. The neighbours cats love it too!
3. Verbena bonariensis
I really should put a support around this Verbena with its lolling lollipop flower heads, but I am quite liking it horizontal.
4. Ammi majus
I am presuming this self-sown umbel in what was a pot of strawberries is Ammi majus which I grew from seed from Great Dixter last year. Then the slugs got it but this year having sown itself it’s doing just fine. Alternative idents welcome if I am mistaken.
5. Sunflower and butterfly
The sunflowers are self-sown too this year as last autumn I left the dried seed heads on the flowers for months. They suffered in the winds earlier in the summer but this one is looking rather dashing today. The butterfly thought so too.
6. Cosmos and bronze fennel
I grew the Cosmos from a packet which cane free with a gardening magazine, I forget which. It has grown through the bronze fennel and I think it makes an attractive combination.
Don’t forget to check out The Propagator’s blog today and scroll through the comments to see what his crew are up to.
Carrots and Calendula 
Impressive laurel flowers. I had forgotten they did that. Our house and garden seem to be being invaded by spiders. So long as I keep the seedlings under control, the verbena bonariensis looks lovely.
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That Verbena bonariensis in front of the garden chair is lovely ! Great capture.
I hope you had a good time in France, this summer was hot and beautiful for everyone.
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The fennel and cosmos making a good combo. The long-tailed tits have swarmed my fennel this morning. Worth growing for a couple of weeks each year when the birds swamp it.
My verbena largely grows sideways like yours in order to get through the tangle of growth it’s in. I’m hopeful it will self-seed to better spots.
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Lovely to see you back! And I am liking your rather naturalistic garden planting. The butterfly photo is fab 😁
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What an excellent contrast between the Verbena and the blue chair!
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Wow what a wonderful photo of the Laurel in flower. I agree the picture of the blue chair and Verbena is great.
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I am sorry for my tardiness. I missed yesterday’s posts too.
When I was a kid, I found a packed of wildflower seeds in Sunset magazine in a waiting room at a pharmacy, which is a boring place for a kid. The pharmacist told me to take them and see what they do. It was rad, but after all these many years, the sweet alyssum is still there!
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Loving your butterfly and sunflower photo. Just brilliant!
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