Only a few spits of rain since last Saturday, and strangely they landed in bursts on the garden steps rather than on the garden borders. I’m glad I left (as in over-wintered) the anemone flowered Inca dahlia in the same pot I planted it in last year. At least it’s made watering and feeding it more doable. And now it’s putting on a fine show.
It’s also been attracting the recently returned Holly Blue butterflies They are far smaller than these photos suggest – wings about half an inch tall. I’ve yet to catch one fully opened.
Here’s a less damaged one visiting the Dyer’s Chamomile:
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So many of our garden plants are looking stressed, but there are also some extraordinary examples of drought resilience, plants that have received not a drop of water from me. The first is Common Ragwort, which has been growing in a crack between the house wall and the concrete path. It is a native wildflower, a biennial belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is also listed as a notifiable toxic weed if found on farmland, being poisonous to horses and other livestock.
On the other hand, it is highly attractive to insect life – to some 200 species according to the Royal Horticultural Society, including Peacock butterflies. And it is an essential food source for the stripy caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth. As a child I recall coming upon squirmy masses of larvae on ragwort, which greatly offended me.
And so when I first found it growing under the sitting room window, I almost pulled it up. And then I thought how handsome the flowers looked against the brickwork. I also noticed that it has a lovely sweet-meadow fragrance. I discover that its staying power is down to the plant striking out with deeply branching tap roots. Which means there must be moisture under our house. I’m not sure if that’s a good thought…
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The other plant growing in a similar situation further along the house wall, is some self-sown Verbena bonariensis. It’s not been watered either, and seems perfectly happy.
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I’ve already featured the Kent Beauty oregano in SoS, but that was weeks ago, and I’m thinking it deserves another appearance for remaining so lovely under extreme conditions. It has had some water, but not much, and seems especially happy in the raised bed with the miniature Evereste crab apple tree and the cotton lavender.
Otherwise, the most successful growing at the moment is happening in the greenhouse, tomatoes and baby cucumbers:
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One day it will rain. Chins up, gardening folks!
Copyright Tish Farrell 2026
Six on Saturday: Life, death and butterflies in Jim’s garden this week
Well, all your plants – both deliberate and accidental, seem to be doing well, and also Doing Their Bit to attract insects. Well done you!
Thank you, Margaret 🙂
Funny how the wildflowers (aka weeds) don’t seem to suffer from the lack of rain. Perhaps we are being told something. My oregano wasn’t doing so well in its container so after seeing yours I pulled it out of the pot only to find that the compostable ‘pot’ it was in hadn’t actually composted so I pulled it off and planted the oregano into the garden. It looked dead, but I am glad to see new shoots appearing.
Good to hear it’s reviving. It’s v. annoying when one discovers plants still trapped in their fibre pots.
Seems like this is a practise run for what lies ahead, Tish, but those are wonderfully flamboyant dahlias. And great toms! xx
Yep, v. hot day on Thurs. Tx
What a beautiful butterfly. Your garden is still producing even in a drought situation. Something to smile about!
Yes, got to keep smiling, Anne 🙂
really like the Dyer’s Chamomile, Tish and so glad you featured the Kent beauty Oregano again as I must have missed it last time,
I love that oregano. I believe there’s a variation with more exuberant, elongated flower structures.
Wow, that Inca Dahlia is really something special! And to see it with that beautiful blue butterfly on it–gorgeous. Your veggies look delicious!
The little blue butterflies are a lovely garden feature 🙂
Beautiful.
Thank you, Rupali.
Well done with the Inca dahlias, and th blue butterflies are a delight!
I’m so pleased with the dahlias. The original tuber (since expanded to several) was a spur of the moment buy on ebay of all places.
It did well!
It’s hard to imagine a rainy day right now, isn’t it?! But it’s great to see so many plants thriving despite the drought, and to see how they attract the butterflies 🙂
🙂
Love the ‘wild things’ plants. 😀
So beautiful! I love the butterflies atop the flowers.