A hoverfly

Baccha elongata is a common hoverfly, often found along woodland rides and hedgerows where it enjoys the dappled sunlight. It is seen here on a Viola Princess in the front garden. It is the fiftieth species of hoverfly I have photographed.

Apple mint

Apple mint (sometimes called woolly mint) (Mentha suaveolens) is a member of the mint genus that ranges through southern and western Europe and the western Mediterranean region. It is a herbaceous, upright perennial plant that is most commonly grown as a culinary herb and/or ground cover. It typically grows to 40-100 cm tall and spreads by rhizomes to form clonal colonies. The foliage is light green and can be variegated, with the opposite, sessile leaves being oblong to nearly ovate, 3-5 cm long and 2-4 cm broad. They are somewhat hairy on top and downy underneath with serrated edges.

California poppy

I have lots of different poppies in the gardens - various native red ones, yellow Welsh ones, and exotic red and purple ones. But my favourites are undoubtedly the orange Californian Poppies. The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is native to grassy and open areas from sea level to 2,000m (6,500 feet) altitude in the western United States throughout California, extending to Oregon, southern Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and in Mexico in Sonora and northwest Baja California.

It can grow 5–60 cm tall, with alternately branching glaucous blue-green foliage. The leaves are ternately divided into round, lobed segments. The flowers are solitary on long stems, silky-textured, with four petals, each petal 2-6 cm long and broad; their color ranges from yellow to orange, and flowering is from February to September. The fruit is a slender dehiscent capsule 3-9 cm long, which splits in two to release the numerous small black or dark brown seeds. It is perennial in mild parts of its native range, and annual in colder climates; growth is best in full sun and sandy, well-drained, poor soil.

It grows well in disturbed areas and often recolonizes after fires. In addition to being planted for horticulture, revegetation, and highway beautification, it often colonizes along roadsides and other disturbed areas. It is drought-tolerant, self-seeding, and easy to grow in gardens. It is also pictured in welcome signs while entering California.

Blackcurrants

These Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) are the variety Ben Nevis. I picked a glass full in the garden yesterday and had them with some double cream and a spot of brown granulated sugar. My idea of Heaven in a bowl.