I planted these Japanese windflowers a few years ago. I could not imagine how fast and furious they would grow. The flower delicate and almost fragile but the plant and the foliage sturdy and determinate. These late summer evenings I watch the flowers grow high almost touching the fruit heavy branches of the apple trees.

The garden is out of control. It's a jungle of overgrown perennials and weed. These are the sweet spots.

This is one of my biggest wrong buys. I had an old fashioned pink peony in mind and came home with this almost obscene monster. The flowers are plate sized and very intense in color (I havn't photoshopped these). No smell what so ever and a pretty short but very intense blooming. This year I counted 34 buds. Over the years my disappointment has turned into a mild form of loving for this sturdy and frisky plant and I am pretty sure that when we move I will take her with me. I am sure she will survive the change.

We have lived in this house for six years now. The garden when we moved in pretty untended. But there where old apple trees, big lilac bushes and beautiful paving-stones from the 1930's. We have moved everything but the trees, trying to create a garden that fill our needs and wishes but that would also match the house. On the second photo from bottom- taken two weeks ago - a small space close connected to the house. The space is framed by the house, bushes and planking which makes it a hot spot. When we moved here this spot was bigger, like in the bottom photo (a different angle, but the same space). An arbor, surrounded by lilacs.We have made the spot smaller by moving the lilacs and we have replaced the dark red tiling with slate. Making brick flower beds of the original red tiles. Larkspurs, Foxgloves, Lavender, English rose Winchester Cathedral and Bowman's root are in bloom today.

I

In the garden right now, aquilegia, lilac and loads of oregano. When we moved in six years ago we planted one plant of oregano. It has spread. Wide. It's everywhere. Lovely. Butterflies love it as much as we do. And I brought a sack of straw from the stables today. Used straw. The smell in the car very prominent. But I think the raspberries will enjoy it.

There is so much to do in my garden right now. Part and transplant perennials, topdress the raspberry land, found new beds and all the weed. An invasion. Already. Last weekend we prepared the vegetable patches and sow the potatoes. I had grand plans for this weekend but I am delayed by this new love of mine. Mr P the horse. Isn't he the most beautiful?

weed

There is so much vegetation in my garden that i try to fight. I wouldn't bet me as the winner. I've been struggling today with the weed between the stones in our small green plantation.

memo: garden knee-pads may not be such a bad idea