The decidedly damp weather here hasn’t stopped the flowers being spectacular and, whilst the giant sunflowers have not fared well, the lemon “Vanilla Ice” sunflowers from Sarah Raven have been delightful. They haven’t needed to be staked and the wildlife love them too. There are lots more butterflies around now and the bumble bees and honey bees are having a party in the nectar bar! I love to listen to them as I dead head the flowers.
Aren’t nice garden surprises great? It made me smile to see this little primrose flowering underneath the Coreopsis. Maybe it thinks this milder weather is the end of Winter!! It was quite a timely discovery as I’d not long visited wonderful blog of Gardening Nirvana where Alys has found a few surprises of her own. It seems many of us experience the unexpected flowers that have seemingly been planted by birds… or fairies!!
Autumn is coming…. and I’m so excited as this is my favourite time of the year. There’s something in the air now, the garden has a slightly different feel and when I came back from shopping yesterday I saw my first glimpse of blackberries!
The Pyjama Gardener 
Great pictures – I love the colour of your hydrangea.
Thanks – the hydrangeas are mainly pink but a few are lilac which I prefer!
Beautiful! The Vanilla Ice flowers are fantastic! love, love, love ’em! (not to discount the rest of your beautiful garden, everything really looks so nice!)
I’m definitely going to be growing these again next year. They were a little slow to get started but now they are definitely stealing the show x
I’d have to say I am not at all surprised with the results of your garden. I bet the flowers and fruits bloom simply in complete bliss over your gratitude. 🙂
You are so kind! I’m sure most of them bloom to stop me nagging them 🙂
Many beautiful surprises! They are just gorgeous!! well done!
I have the urge to go and prune things at the moment as some of the annuals are getting a bit leggy and overgrown. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) the bees are going wild for them so it would be like putting them on an unnecessary diet!
LOL!
Don’t be in such a hurry! Enjoy the cycle.
The sunflowers are beautiful, I haven’t tried any of Sarah Raven’s seeds, I must go and have a look, just a look mind you…..
And a sneak preview of blackberries !!
I’m a huge fan of Sarah Raven’s seeds and plants… and all I did was look the first time too 🙂
so beautiful ~ i love autumn too, can’t wait
Thanks for stopping by! I can smell Autumn already so it won’t be long now x
PJ Girl, thanks so much for the lovely comment and ping back, above. What a lovely surprise (another one!!!).
Love the garden surprises. Those blackberries look delicious.
Every time I stop by, I can’t get over the views.
You are most welcome Alys! The views are the main reason we bought the house… which still needs an awful lot of work doing on it. Maybe I should start a renovation blog 🙂
I love renovation blogs. Instead of another blog, perhaps you could create a Page and link all your renovation posts there. You would still be doing the writing, but less work creating and maintaining another blog.
Of course you didn’t actually ask me…I just inserted my opinion, so please ignore me and carry on. 🙂
Lovely post! You have some interesting things going on. Sunflowers are so cheerful even when its raining.
Thanks Malc… one day I hope to have half as many beautiful plants as you but I’m treading softly at the moment. Plants are so expensive and my propagation skills are weedy!! 🙂
Your ‘Vanilla Ice’ sunflowers are lovely. Is that a dark flowered scabious you have as well?
Yes – the scabious is “Black Cat” and it’s been beautiful x
I love that lavender hydrangea! Gorgeous! What an incredible view of the hills you have! I’d love to trade my view of houses with you. 🙂
Okay – send Bond over!
Those little sunflowers look really pretty. Mmmm, blackberry season! I saw some in the hedgerows today too… Autumn is such a cosy season, I also love it!
Cosy is such a great description for Autumn!
I really must consider Sunflowers in my next garden, I’m really enjoying the show here and in Alys’s yard too. What zone do you garden in? I imagine the brick helps too. The distant vista’s are outstanding.
I’m not sure what zone England falls in we’re… it’s a wet and generally mild climate so possibly like Washington or Seattle?!? My meteorological and geographical knowledge is rubbish so I may be way off 🙂
I’m getting excited about autumn too! I saw my first blackberries a couple of weeks ago; looking forward to foraging!
My husband keeps telling me off for wishing the Summer away – but I do love Autumn!
The primrose is a nice surprise and sunflowers are one of my favorites.
Sunflowers are certainly one of the happiest looking plants in my garden!
Beautiful flowers! I was surprised to see the blackberries – ours have all played out by this time of the year….I miss them. Hope you enjoy yours and find lots of nice things to make with them! 🙂
~Natalie
The blackberries here are generally around from the end of August until October… just in time to have with apples in a pie!
Great surprises! I hadn’t thought of fairies doing the surprise planting – now I know that they have been at work in my garden as well as yours! 🙂
I found a cowslip flowering in a clients garden this morning, now that was a lovely surprise. 🙂
Spooky – I was just thinking of you Jane! There are a few non-Wordpress blogs that I can’t automatically follow for some reason and I have no notifications of new posts (and lucky lady – you’re one of them!).
I’m not ignoring you honestly!! x
Love the Vanilla Ice Sunflower, they are on my wish-list for next year! The fairies in my garden are only planting things like ivy seedlings in strange places, just out of reach for me….wish they could give me some pretty flowers too 🙂
Lovely images…thanks for sharing.
Thanks for coming over to visit… my writing is a little rusty so I may need some tips 🙂
I’m just here to enjoy…and you’re just fine.
Love that gorgeous dahlia colour – did you say you got that one from Sarah Raven – I am really envious as my dahlias have come to nought this year.
Yes – it’s a “Thomas A. Edison” from Sarah Raven and it’s been fab. My others were a bit slow but they seem to be coming along nicely now!
The garden always manages to surprise me. Love the Vanilla Ice sunflowers!