With parts of the allotment looking like green cobwebs and others flattened by inclement weather, 2021 has not produced the aesthetic effect I’d hoped for in the garden.  On the other hand, wildlife has not been discouraged in the slightest and – where scrambling plants haven’t smothered everything – there have been some patches where the flowers have managed to put on quite an attractive display of colour.

This year has seen a multitude of meadow butterfly species visiting, most of these have been representatives of the blues and the browns.  I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure that common blues and gatekeepers have been regulars.  Sadly, I didn’t manage to attract any of the spectacular marbled whites that have been so conspicuous elsewhere around the town this year, but I’ll keep hoping.

Well, no sooner has everything burst into full flower, than it’s time to cut it all back down again.  As brutal as it seems, this is THE key part of maintaining a wildflower patch and I’ll talk about it more in August’s instalment.  Strictly speaking, I should have done this right at the end of July, but I’ve been so busy with work that it’s had to be put back another week at least.

That’s it for this briefer than usual blog, I hope any readers will be content with the double helping of photographs to compensate.  These pictures merit close scrutiny to appreciate the diversity of flowers and bugs present on the site this month.