Self Sown

These Aquilegias (Granny's Bonnet) and Borage plants are self sown.  They grow around the perimeter of the garden softening what could be a hard landscape.  Whereas I like a bit of order in the garden I don't like it looking too contrived and these wildflowers give the garden a naturalistic feel.

I think if I was a plant I would be a self sown wildflower.  I would probably be something insignificant to the human eye but provide a source of food to the bees and insects and contribute to the ecosystem as a whole.

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about my place in society and where I am heading.  I am non-existent in many ways and without being melodramatic, would be missed by few.  Like a dandelion struck from the soil, there would be many others popping up to compensate for the loss of one.

Maybe a reinvention is in order?  Never fear, like the perennial weed - I will be back :)

On the Verge

These wildflowers line the verge around Forty Hall Country Park.  Purposefully sown by volunteers, they look like they have been there for centuries.  Talking of being 'on the verge'  I feel as though I am on the verge of something right now.  I am not sure what it is or where I am going but life has just got interesting again.

I have recently discovered historical fiction.  I never thought I would enjoy this genre (apart from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'urberville's, oh and The Grape's of Wrath by John Steinbeck), until I read 'the Apothecary's Daughter' by Charlotte Betts.  Set in London in the 17th Century,  I was transported to the time of the plague and the Great Fire of London.  I could almost smell the stench of the plague pit and of London burning.  A wonderful page turner of a book that I didn't want to end.  The author read Samuel Pepys diary which allowed her a peep into restoration London and an understanding of life at that time.  I must now seek out Pepys diary to read myself.

As of 1st July I am going to be extra busy so I may not get around to commenting on blogs so much but I will still be reading them as and when I can.  In the meantime, can you recommend some good historical fiction for me to 'get my teeth' into?

What is it?

My wildflower patch has been taken over by a rather ungainly purple flowered plant.  It is about 3 feet high in places and dozens of seeds run down from the base of the flower to the top of the stem.

It is definitely an insect- pleaser and that is why I have allowed it to remain for the time being but truth be told, I am not very fond of it.

Can anyone enlighten me to what it might be?  I don't know if it came in my Sarah Raven seed packet or if it is just a rogue seed that planted itself!

Edited 10 August  The mystery has been revealed!  I was looking through my Sarah Raven seed catalogue, and on page 71 the plant looked right back at me!  It is called Phacelia tanacetifolia, a hardy annual and a popular green manure.

I did some research and  found out that it is one of the top 20 honey-producing flowers for honeybees, and also attracts bumble bees and hover flies.  It can grow a metre high and is excellent as a cut flower.  As it is taking over my wildflower patch I think I will use some in floral arrangements.  There will be plenty left for the insects.  It wasn't supposed to be in my classic annual mix and must have accidentally been put into it.  I will save some of the seed and put into a different area of the garden next year.