In the Pink

I went for a stroll down the lane to see what nature would catch my eye. I keep hoping to spot the occasional dragonfly but there were none to be seen this time. After sitting on the veranda of the cricket club pavillion for a while to take in the scenery and fresh air I wandered back home. On the way I took a few photos of some pink flowers I had spotted on the way there.

Common Mallow:


Thistle with a couple of hoverflies, Episyrphus balteatus (I think):


A closer crop of that photo:


A plant I have failed to identify ....


On reaching home I couldn't resist taking a photo of my Callistemon (bottle brush plant)



A straggly bush but a really showy plant when in full bloom and each year attracting more bees.

Red Bottle Brushes

The Callistemon (bottle brush plant) may be somewhat straggly in growth



but the unusual brilliant red flowers make up for it



Even though it is not a native British plant it attracts a lot of bees.
I wonder what bottle brush honey tastes like.
This coming Autumn I will try to cultivate some cuttings.

Seeing Red

At long last the first flowers are opening on the Callistemon (bottle brush plant).



The first of nearly fifty flowers showing this year.

Having survived two winters the Salvia Hot Lips are putting on a good show



When they finished flowering last Autumn I cut them down to about one third their height.
Without pruning they could become too leggy with long bare hardwood stems.

Not Long to Wait

for a display from



my Callistemon (bottle bush) plant.

Last year it had a few flowers. This year it looks like having 25 or more.

The flowers grow directly from the new growth on each branch



Lots of buds nearly ready to open to give a brilliant red bottle brush display.

Brush That Bottle

The second set of flowers have finally opened on my Callistemon plant



I have always been fascinated by the way they develop.
Growing right on the branch and part way along it.
Bottle Brush is a very apt name for it.