Foxy thimbles

A couple of foxglove flowers, botanical name digitalis (from digit meaning finger) because of the thimble-like flowers. Usefully medicinal in small doses, but don't try it at home.

Stalagmite and Stalagtite

Foxglove below, and white wisteria above

and in the jubilee rain...

Silver Jubilee Poppy

25 years old at least, comes back faithfully  every year.

And closed after sunset

Amsonia, Blue Star Dogbane.

A favourite understated plant, amsonia, or "Blue Star",  named after the American botanist Charles Amson. This one might be Amsonia  tabernaemontana which translates "mountain pub"). As a member of the family of Dogbanes, perhaps it once deterred dogs?

Posy of Jubilee Hegemonies

As the Jubilee weekend starts, let me present a posy of very deep-rooted hegemonies, symbolically smothered with bindweed. Otherwise called 'Granny's Bonnets', in true blue of course.

Beauty Bush

Kolkwitzia amabilis ('lovely') is a splash of apple-blossom pink, hence itsw nickname 'Beauty Bush'.

Minuses and pluses

Not a good year for the pocket handkerchief tree - disappointing flowers in size and duration (this is last year's picture)

 but a marvellous year for lupins and other herbaceous plants.