Without a doubt July’s stars in the-garden-over-the-fence are the Dyer’s Chamomile daisies, also known as Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria). They have flowered and flowered for weeks now, spilling out on to field path behind the house, tumbling into the garden through the fence. So much gold from a small packet of seeds bought from Jekka’s Herb Farm.
In fact some of you may remember that back in the winter I was worried about the plants’ survival. Some started flowering late last autumn and were still going in December. I was afraid that after such an untimely show, they would keel over and die. I needn’t have worried. I think they have magic powers, though they do have their foibles. For one thing, they are not early risers, and if you catch them too soon in the day, they will not be properly dressed. Each night as the sun goes down they fold back their petals, tight to the stem so they look like a crowd of golden lollipops. Now there’s a thought to ponder on. It makes me wonder if they do this to attract particular night-time pollinators.
And talking of pollinators the garden has been humming with hoverflies, bumbles and honey bees. And now as the month draws to a close, hot on Marguerite’s sunshine heels come Helianthus, Doronicum, Golden Rod, while among them, dots of mauve and purple from Centaurea, Phlox and Drumstick Allium add a touch of flair. What a happy garden. Which of course makes us happy too. So I’m passing it on 
even though today it is raining here in Shropshire.
The Changing Seasons ~ July 2019
Please pop over to Su’s to see her changing seasons in the southern hemisphere.
Tish Farrell 
how beautiful.. I imagine that sting’s ‘field of gold’ was written for a scene like this –
Oh that’s such a lovely thought, Beth. Thank you for adding that ‘sound track’.
Great post and fantastic images.
Thanks, Pete.
Not sure what you did to the first image, Tish….a bit out of space
Yes, it is a bit spacey.
😄😄😂
Tish,
I love the promise-of-a-strip-tease at dusk of the Marguerite Daisy; but I think your suggestion is right: this whole display everywhere in the natural environment is not for us but arises out of a long evolution of techniques for the survival and flourishing of the natural world, species by species.
We are merely the witnessing and camera-holding species!
Blessed earth. Happy garden, as you say. But it is, undoubteldy not listening and has no idea of happiness; and it is we who are happy and we who are blessed!
Sarah
‘it is we who are happy and we who are blessed!’ very well said, Sarah.
That is the brightest yellow I’ve seen since Van Gogh! It is the essence of summertime.
I was thinking that Van Gogh would have had a fine time with a field of Marguerites.
So lovely in Shropshire, Tish! Altogether a moody proposition in Leeds. But I happen to like rain the size of golf balls 😍☔👪💕
Oh heavens – that does sound wet. We had a wet 24 hours too. Brighter today. Happy visiting!
😍👪☔⛅💕
These are absolutely marvelous Tish. What lens do you use for the closeups?
Thank you, Hannah. I use the macro setting on my point-and-shoot little Canon and hope for the best 🙂
There are point and shoots that have a macro setting?????? How close do you need to get?
I reckon most of my close up shots are between 4 and 12 inches from the subject. You have to give it time to focus and lower light levels often seem a bit more successful. The Canon ixus range have a macro setting, and the small Lumix panasonics. My current small Canon is an SX620 HS. It has quite a lot of other whizzy features and a monochrome mode. One of my oldish canon ixus models also had a dynamic macro setting which I didn’t quite get the hang of, but possibly allowed you to be further away from the subject and zoom in.
Thank you very much for giving me the specifics, Tish!!!! I clearly am way behind in the evolution of point and shoot cameras and need to do some research before I start spending tons of money on additional lenses for my Nikon.
I’ve bought a few little Canons (i.e. older models) quite cheaply on Ebay after reading the specs on Amazon and YouTube – good for carrrying around in pockets for unexpected close-ups!
Ah – thanks!!!!! Wonderful idea. 🙂
Golden summer!
YES!
I love the sea of Golden Marguerites. The way they fold back their petals back is so endearing, too! What a wonderful, colourful, changing display of blooms you have, Tish. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos too. I’ve been noticing how many different flying creatures are about, especially in the sunshine. I love to try capturing them close up, it’s an interesting game in the wind, though! 😄
Indeed one can spend many an hour in pursuit of bugs and butterflies, Debbie. What fun!
These are all entirely delicious and making me reconsider about having yellow flowers in summer.
They are a cheerful, cheering lot – the yellow bunch.
what a magnificent golden display, I wish my garden was alive to bees and butterflies . . . this year however my lavender, buddliea and other bee friendly plants are very lonely
No bugs in the lavender and buddliea! Oh now that is very strange, Becky. What’s going on in your neck of the woods?
fields turning golden and flowers yellowing into August – a re-run of Spring before the Autumn I always think. Lovely to see so many pollinators on your blooms too and get a fresh look at Farerll country
Yes, a second spring in some ways. I’m just now sowing lots veggie seeds, which I don’t usually do much of at this time of year, hedging my bets with our warmer autum-winters outdoors and also growing things on in the polytunnel after the tomatoes. But the countryside around us is definitely showing some autumnal inclinations, which seems a bit soon – late summer flowers colliding with the high summer bloomers.
lovely way you have of putting things
merci, madame.
I feel such joy seeing your beautiful flowering plants Tish, especially as it’s very windy here and our one flowering plant — the magnolia — is getting a hammering.
So happy to bring a bit garden joy your way, Su. Poor magnolia though. They always look so quickly shot-at in bad weather.
Yes: it’s been decimated by the rain and wind of the last few days. ☹️
What clever little daises, tucking themselves into bed at night. 😀
Oh that is a lovely image, Widders.
😀
Fabulous flower. The yellow is so vibrant Tish 🙂
Thanks, Brian. We definitely have a golden moment.
So much glorious yellow! Such a happy colour 🙂
Happy yellow – definitely, Joanne.