I am sat here thinking about what happened this week, something of interest that I could share with you. Nope. Nothing comes to mind. Nothing of note. It rained, it sunned, I worked, I saw a kingfisher. It was just fine. And it also seemed a little bit overwhelming. You know – weeds, blackfly, slugs, weather; battles that we accept are part of our gardening lives, but also forget how challenging they can be. My resting state of optimism was battling to find the air. Just a blip in my cartwheeling world, I am sure. Head down, keep going, all will be well and there will be more joyful skipping. If you would like to find out how the rest of Six on Saturday gang are getting on, pop over to our leader Jim and all will be revealed. Less burbling, more sixing!
Earlier today my OH looked out the window and said “I like daisies, they remind me of you”. I think he meant wild and common. Unlike this Leucanthum x superbum which, although not rare, is very definitely much more civilised than I am.
Certain plants will follow an untidy gardener around the country. This is one of them, Linaria purpurea, and very welcome it is too.
The Woolies acers are doing well in their pots. If I ever tell you that I have planted them in the ground then you will know that I am planning long term. Not ready yet.
Dark leaved orange/red flowered dahlia. A monster.
Where did this little scabious come from? I sowed some white scabious seed so perhaps this is an aberration. Or perhaps the white was the freak.
Today a dragonfly was in the garden. Our plot is an estate oasis surrounded by plastic grass, hard landscaping and “garden rooms”; God forbid if your kids or dogs got muddy! The sighting of this golden ringed dragonfly (I looked it up) made me very happy. Good will out. I’m counting on it.
And, after all, I saw a kingfisher, surely that warrants a skip!?
Off The Edge Gardening 
I think your OH said daisies remind him of you because they are lovable. Everyone loves daisies. Linaria follows me from garden to garden too. It is amazing how many plants hitch a ride when you move. My acers in pots have put their roots down through the pots, so they think they are staying put. Maybe yours have done the same. Hope you are back to cartwheeling soon.
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Thank you. Linaria is not a bad hitchhiker, I have got worse, such as cymbalaria!
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I’m no longer working and I still find gardening overwhelming & disheartening at times, so I know what you mean. I know that feeling will pass eventually if I just chip away at the bits that bug me, but that’s harder to do when you’re still working.
But seeing a kingfisher – wow! And I love the picture of the dragonfly, the fact that you’ve enticed it into your garden in the midst of all the fakery says you’re definitely getting it right.
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I think the end of June/July is a funny time in the garden, after a mad rush it all collapses for a while. It is the time of year I say “next year I must do more staking!” and “next year I must be more vigilant”. And thank you
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I understand just how you feel, but don’t you find that making yourself think about the garden and the week, then sharing a few pictures each week can make you feel better? As there are daisies around everywhere it must mean your OH is always thing of you! Loved the picture of your green ground covering plants at the start.
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Oh, Six on Saturday is a Godsend. Love your version of the daisy reference.
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The kingfisher sighting is definitely worth a skip. I’ve not seen one for years. I think there’s something in the air that’s making many of us feel rather low. Times out of joint etc. We will prevail. Cue Gloria…
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I think you are quite right, some of us feel it more than others I suppose. And yes, we will prevail ….
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Linaria was never planted in my garden, it just appeared one year and has been with me ever since in different places each time. Everyone loves a daisy so it is a compliment! Your dragonfly picture is stunning, showing you are providing an oasis for wildlife in your area.
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Have you seen the lovely pink linaria, it is a real beauty. I collected some seed once, I wonder where that is?
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Yes, that appeared for a couple of years but that is all, I believe it is call L. Canon Went, very pretty plant.
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Having just identified linaria as my mystery plant, I am happy to be an untidy gardener. Sadly my skipping days are over, so have a little skip for me too please 🙂
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Of course, I will do a double skip!
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Daisys are such bright and happy plants. 🙂 I do like them and unlike some plants they are not needy and are self-suffiencient. Maybe that’s what he meant. 🙂
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I like that, I’m going to take that. 😊
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What a gorgeous header photo! We have the same tastes and preferences in plants, it seems. Those hardy Begonias look particularly happy! How magical to see the dragonfly- they always make me think of fairies.
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Yes, I love a shady bit of garden, it sometimes seems like a challenge, but there are so many great plants to pick.
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Did your hair look disheveled when your husband compared the daisy to you? 😂
And the daisy is a little bit like the flower of love when you remove the petals, one by one, making a wish.
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Typical Frenchman, romance all the way!
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It is so difficult to capture a dragonfly photo. Well done. Leucanthum is a very pretty flower.
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Thank you, it seemed to be very unbothered by me, I hope it is a frequent visitor now.
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Shasta daisy! (I had to look it up because I could not remember for certain.) Its name implies that it grows wild in the Shasta region, but of course, because it is an unnatural hybrid, it does not. Linum is pretty also. I will never know why it is so rare here.
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Oh my goodness: so much loveliness here. Take care, and thank you for sharing the beauty of your garden. And a kingfisher and a dragonfly, too. 🙂
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Thank you Beth 🙂
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The sighting of a kingfisher deserves a cartwheel at least! And the dragonfly. Regarding the daisies comment by hubby are you sure he is not referring to superbum 🤭
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The best yet!
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😂😂
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I love dragonflies too. Were you ever told as child dragonflies sewed the mouths shut of children who talked too much? Such a strange thing to tell children, but we were terrified of them! Garden rooms, bah!
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I’m sure I’ll be having dragonfly nightmares tonight! No, I had never heard that one. 😀
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I hope not. I think it is peculiar to the US.
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Spotting a kingfisher is always a wonderful thing. A beautiful selection and wow to the dragonfly. I hope you’ll be back to joyful skipping soon.
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It is only the second kingfisher I have ever seen, the first was on a boat trip in Bath. And thanks, I am sure I will.
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I’m joining the header photo fan club. I love it when I can get a mix of plants to mingle happily with each other, it always feels like much more of an achievement than getting one to perform solo.
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It is the guano bed under the pear tree, so I’m happy I’ve found some kind of solution to dry shade with lots of bird poop.
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I live in a small Derbyshire village, and I am amazed at the amount of artificial grass there is to be seen. That dahlia looks very like one of the Bishop’s Children that I used to grow.
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It is horrifying isn’t it. I wish they would hurry up and ban it! The dahlia is definitely one grown from seed, a while ago now though, you might well be right.
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