Wednesday 7 September 2011

ABC Wednesday H is for a Host of things

H is for a Host of things in my garden.


In spring there are Hyacinths . . . 
. . . and Hazel catkins . . .
Corkscrew Hazel (Corylus avellana contorta) which gives sweet Hazel nuts
Our Helleborus niger - Christmas rose - flowers in March!
Our Holly tree (Ilex'Golden King') flowers in early spring . . .
. . . attracting the Holly blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus)
. . . here seen on Ivy (Hedera)
Holly berries are greenish-white in early summer . . .
 . . . ripening in early autumn . . .
. . . and providing winter food for blackbirds and thrushes, particularly the redwing.
Heathers, pink and white, offer nectar early in the year to provide sustenance for early bees.
Heather or Winter Heath (Erica carnea)
Before the winter, Honesty flowers and will produce transparent seed pods, attractive to flower arrangers. Honesty (Lunaria annua) is known as 'Money Plant' in South-east Asia and 'Silver Dollars' in the States.
Honesty (Lunaria annua) self-seeds freely
Honeysuckle gives fragrance to the garden and attracts many insects . . .
Late spring and summer bring Hordes of Hoverflies . . .
Hoverfly(syrphid fly or flower fly) on pyracantha . . .
. . . and occasionally a Hornet (Vespa crabro)  a large social wasp wasp that looks frightening but is much gentler than its smaller cousins.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) have been scarce this summer. Normally we see dozens at a time collecting nectar . . .
 . . . like this one on Ceanothus (Californian lilac)
Day lilies (Hemerocallis) add colour and interest . . .
 . . . and so do mophead or lacecap Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
My final H is for Hanging baskets, in which grow a variety of plants, from lobelia and petunias, to pansies and strawberries and tomatoes.

To see more Hs from around the world please click here.

21 comments:

  1. it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas pictures, for a while!

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  2. What a great stroll though a season's flowers...

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  3. Honeysuckle. What a pretty name! I can't believe you have all those H plants in your garden. Very cool.

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  4. Superb H post, and a cool blog overall! :)

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  5. Wonderful collection of H plants, Janice. I have always loved hyacinths, and heather, and holly, none of which I can grow here, except indoor hyacinths.
    My grandmother had two holly trees in her front yard when I was very small. I loved looking at them, and learned early (as soon as I could walk) not to touch. I've never seen a Holly Blue Butterfly, however. What a delightful creature.
    I do have honeysuckle, however.
    Thanks for inspiring me to write a bad poem. What fun, what freedom it is to let go like that!
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  6. Wonderful collection of flowers. They look so colorful and pretty.

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  7. I feel so redunant, but the pictures are beautiful.

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  8. Your blog is always such a feast for my eyes.

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  9. I felt as if I was strolling through a magical garden. Wonderful array of flowers.

    Linda
    ABC Wednesday Team

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  10. Gorgeous collection of flowers!

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  11. Lots of wonderful H-words in your garden. I wish MY hellebores bloomed as early as March@ :) Your garden must be very nice.

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  12. What a wonderful selection! I haven't seen any Honesty in years. We used to love to pick the money coins seed-heads when we visited my grand mother.

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  13. WoW! Great photos.
    Your garden must be a beautiful place to relax in.

    Wonderful post!

    Humility Of A Flower

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  14. You have the most beautiful and interesting garden, I'm so glad you also have the talent to photograph it so beautifully so you can share it with us. Unless it's a secret garden, I'll bet it really turns heads, and I'm sure the birds, bees, butterflies and other garden visitors are all very grateful for it. Such a lovely H post!

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  15. I adore hanging baskets... and all your H plants are heavenly!

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  16. You have beautiful flowers in your garden ! We just rearranged our front yard, all bushes are cut and replaced by bark and flower pots. Looks much better !

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  17. Beautiful garden photos. The hyacinths would be such a delight.

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  18. What a vast array of garden flowers and the hanging basket has them all :) Very cheerful and bright!!
    My H Post - Handlooms of India

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  19. My goodness, your garden is just bursting with H's! What lovely examples!

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