The picture is of one of my winter hanging baskets. The attractive leaves of Ajuga reptans 'Braun Hertz' went well with the magenta cyclamen, trailing violas and dwarf Hebe but have now come into their own with their deep violet flowers which are popular with the bees.
The seeds of Welsh Poppies, Cuckooflower, Mustard and Greek Cress have germinated and the Fennel, Agastache and Basil seedlings are putting on good growth. On the other hand the Lemon Grass, Heliotrope and Swan River Daisy seedlings are very slow to develop.
I now have buds on the Garlic Mustard which I grew from seed last year and I'm hoping it might attract Orange-tip butterflies. I spotted quite a few Holly Blue again today but these remain the only butterflies I've seen so far this year. Less welcome visitors included a few wasps and lots of aphids on the Aquilegias. The latter got a good blasting with the hose pipe this evening as there are not enough 'good' larvae or ladybirds around to cope.
Finally the Chillies are taking over the kitchen window sill. There are flower buds forming on Trifetti and the yellow one (species unknown). Thai Hot remains small but very healthy looking whereas Sicily needs potting on and hardening off.
Georgie
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