More small joys

 

Much to my joy the sweet peas have finally flowered ... just these two, but there might be others lurking.

The campanula flowered a month ago and I assumed that was it, but I dead-headed it anyway, and look, it has given me a second display:

The evening primrose continues to delight every evening. Each flower only lasts a day so we have to appreciate them while they last: 

I bought a couple of new things for the shady corner; a Sarcococca confusa by the window, which will grow quite tall and bloom in the winter, and a Brunnera Jack Frost (with the silvery embellished leaves) that will have blue flowers in the spring. The Brunnera has hairy leaves and I thought that might make it less appealing to the slugs (who have demolished the hosta almost completely), but they have already had a nibble:

Going to empty the recycle I found a pile of coloured glass pebbles, so I gathered them up and have made a bee watering bowl:

Now for the sad news: the slugs killed our beautiful passion flower plants, just days before it was going to bloom. I thought it had just wilted in the heat, but when I searched for answers one forum question mentioned slugs eating the stalk coating, and when I looked I realised that is what had happened. So we have swiftly bought a replacement, since dead plants are too depressing:

I have improvised some protection for the new plant, a barrier made from a coke bottle filled with, and surrounded by, crushed egg shells. And the slug patrols will be reinstated, having tried not to worry about them munching on the dahlias:

Stay safe. Be kind ... but not to the slugs.