Friend's garden, Maghull, Liverpool.

Day lillies

Happy bees

I visited a friend's garden in Liverpool, and was staggered by the number of bees and butteflies enjoying the sunshine and the many perfect blooms.

A pink  rose covered abour

Liatris with bee

More bee friendly blooms

Window box display

Perfect weather.

Perfect weather

Lazy idyllic precious days

Bees buzzing about in the summer haze.

There is barely enough breeze to stir the grassy threads

Of tall foxgloves amongst the flower beds.

A cloudless sky of such clear blue

Bright butterflies dance their brief rendezvous.

The clarity of bird song on still warm air.

A day so beautiful, a jewel so rare.

An English summer sweet as strawberry

To be savoured in the mind, preserved deliciously.

By Izzy Silver

Priory Park, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Geranium

Yellow Rose

Hebe in flower

  Priory park is looking lovely
 at the moment. Here are just a view floral highlights.

Pink lupin

Rather fancy carnation

Less fancy but delightfully smelling carnation

Purple lupin

View across one of the ponds

Lemon life

Lemon life

They say when life gives you lemons
Make lemonade,
But I don't like fizzy drinks,
So I made lemoncello, a drizzle cake and a meringue pie,
And threw a party.

Rose garden, Rhododendrons, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Formal Bed

White rhodedendron detail

 The daffodil have faded and the roses in the rose garden are a long way away from flowering.

Red Rhodedendron

There is still a lot to see though. The formal spring bed full of primrose varieities and tulips is a delight. The rhodedendrons though are what I came to see. Only a few of the bushes are in flower, the rest will follow over the next few weeks. Already though there is white, lilac, cream, cerise and scarlet examples to see. 

Cerise rhodedendron

Lilac rhodedendron