FIRST TIMERS AND A THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Anyone would would think that one of my ferns had turned rusty with all the rain we've had this summer......

In fact these are the spores which turn brown as they ripen and drop off like dust.

I've never tried to grow a fern from spores...hygiene is really important...at least so I've read...yet Mother Nature manages to do it with no sterilising equipment.

I was really surprised to see that my Spider Lily (Hymenocallis occidentalis) has flowered again. It had already bloomed this year indoors during the Spring and I'd stood it outside to die down and build up strength for next year!I'm really excited to see that two of the Ginger Lilies are starting to form buds....... there are some very important memories attached to these longed for plants (see this post), I know how thrilled Mick would have been to see these buds and I know I'll shed a few tears when I see them in flower.

Another "first time in flower" is our Black Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus); I think last year's sun must be the reason for this as we certainly haven't had much sun this Summer.

This Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) in the pond has never flowered before either.......it's certainly been a year for "first timers"!
In my "catch up" post on Monday I said that the yellow crocosmia (monbretia) still hadn't flowered..well lo and behold........

if my memory serves me well this particular one was Crocosmia 'George Davidson'.

Our garden is primarily made up of hardy perennials but I do have a fair few "tenders" which as I use as annuals and never bother to take cuttings of. Nowadays petunias, verbenas etc are so cheap to buy as small plants (unless you want a specialised variety) that it's not worth the cost of heating to keep them going through the winter; plus of course where would I find the room! Earlier this year I bought a few single and double petunias they were tiny plants but I grew them on and the following two have really caught my eye.....I tried so hard to get a decent photo of this butterfly; I think it's a female Holly Blue...she certainly had me cavorting round the garden and finally settled on some Lamium .....I couldn't get close enough for a good photo before she flew away over the wall............chasing butterflies is good exercise!!!!!Now I know that some of you have allotments and large vegetable patches so you'll probably not think much of this first small harvest from my Hestia Runner Beans...but they were enough for a single portion and tasted really good.......lots more on there way as well!!! Now I haven't forgotten it's Thursday.............

AREN'T THE "GOOD THINGS THAT COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT" JUST THE LEFTOVERS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THERE FIRST???