If you look very carefully, you will spot the frog

Frog-tastic

There were two large plastic buckets full of water almost hidden under the ivy near my backdoor - covered in duckweed, as duckweed seems to spread of its own volition - and undoubtedly mosquito sinks.  It was only when I emptied them that I realised they had frogs in - so I had to reinstate both the full buckets of water AND the duckweed and worry about what I had done to remove the ivy.  The frogs, it seems, climb up the ivy branches to get to the water.  Now if i could be sure the frogs would eat all the mosquitos as they hatch, we would all be fine.

Frog lurking on edge of bucket having climbed ivy stem to get there

Mystery moth

Found in the soap dish in the downstairs cloakroom.  I think it is some kind of emerald moth - the moth identity site I looked at gave every moth a greenish cast.  This one was a most beautiful mosaic of turquoise and green.  Rubbish photos taken one handed as taking moth back out into garden to find somewhere more suitable to be.

I kill lavender .... 

What lavender plants should look like - in St Georges Hospital, Tooting

Met a woman in Neals Nursery the other day, she was contemplating salvias (I had to ask) with a friend and said they were a good alternative to lavender.  I confessed to being a serial lavender killer, despite lavender being regarded as hardy, robust, a plant that anyone can grow.  She said that lavender just didn't like the London clay we have round here and I was heartened, possibly even smug, it was not my fault, all those many lavender deaths over the years.  til I went to my mate Denise's for a barbeque round the corner to find her lavender flourishing - so much so she's tied it up in chicken wire and its now taller than a tree.  London clay does not work as an excuse.  

Meanwhile, this year's lavender contenders are down to 17 from the original 24 plug plants.  So far, death is mainly due to being unpotted (de-potted?) by foxes.  My mother laughed to see still rather tiny lavender plants potted up in giant pots - well, it was what I had to hand - and I always live in hope, when it comes to lavender.  Two are even making flowers.  From teeny tiny origins - they were barely 2 cms high when they arrived - they are now approx 8 - 10 cms tall and small bushes (well, potentially bushes)

Lavender plants for sale at Neals Nursery - what most people start off with (sensible people)

.  Hopefully the great bindweed and borage dig out will mean that the lavenders can be planted in the autumn and then we'll see how many survive the winter.  

Teeny tiny lavender plug plants this spring ... 

yup, they really were that small and fragile

There were two varieties of lavender in my cheapo newspaper offer purchase - Hidcote and Munstead.  I didn't realise this until after I had potted them on - and have no way of telling the difference.  In theory, they are for edging borders, tho' I have no intention of edging the borders with lavender.  I plan to plant them in groups, possibly in two different groups with as many plants as possible in each one.  Originally I had planned to plant the whole border with lavender - never a good idea with my track record.  

The vision of my garden as a lavender field in Provence full of happy bees will have to remain exactly that - a vision not a reality.