Frogend dweller's Blog

A lovely simple, fresh combination of pink Cosmos ‘Cupcakes’, Dahlia ‘Eveline’ and (I think) Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ as seen (on 18/08/2026) at the beautiful gardens of Kathy Brown** in Stevington, North Bedfordshire.

So, let’s get the weather talk out of the way: It is definitely less hot, so that’s good, but it is still depressingly crispy-dry, so loads of plants are struggling.

One of the Interest groups that I follow on Facebook recently posted about numerous sightings of Clouded Yellow butterflies (Colias croceus) around the Wimpole Estate (National Trust).

Cosmos ‘Apricot Lemonade’, a flower with fizz?

Rudbeckia triloba ‘Prairie Glow’

Well, it has been another hot day in Cambridge and we are predicted to stay parched and cooked for another week at least.

It’s been hot and it’s certainly very, very dry.

European Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on a rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea) In addition to the endearing activity of gathering fluff from hirsute flowers like verbascum, the European Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) is well known for its

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a musk beetle (Aromia moschata).

In the garden during June we’ve seen (from top left in rows downwards): Red Admirals, Brimstones, Peacocks, Marbled Whites, White-Tailed Bumblebees, Painted Ladies, Small Tortoiseshells, Hummingbird Hawk Moths, Large Skippers