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In a herby vase on Monday

In a herby vase this Monday I have parsley, sage, rosemary, (no thyme, before you all break out into song), white lavender, purple lavender, oregano, fennel, chocolate mint (courtesy of Alison at http://floralacre.co.uk/blog-2/), apple mint, nasturtium, calendula and rose geranium.  I hope you will agree that they make up a flavoursome bunch!
Not long after we first moved to our cottage I planted up an area on the outside of our garden wall, on the driveway, with lavenders, fennel and other plants that I hoped would attract as many pollinators as possible.  It has been a surprisingly successful exercise, bearing in mind there is absolutely no soil there whatsoever, just stones, stones and more stones!  The bees, butterflies, hoverflies and friends are all enjoying the flowers at the moment.  There is, however, one newcomer who I spotted yesterday, that I am not so keen to see.  A very handsome little bug which I had to look up.  The rosemary leaf beetle. I removed and relocated five.  I can't see any today but I daresay they will be back.  
 Keeping the bug apart from the rest!

Comments

  1. Susie at pbmGarden3 August 2020 at 12:34

    Delightful. My nose awakened as I scrolled through your images. Wishing I could smell your herbs.

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    1. the running wave3 August 2020 at 13:04

      Thank you Susie! I have just been enjoying your lovely vases too - they just sum up summer in so many delightful ways! A

      Delete
  2. Cathy3 August 2020 at 17:07

    What a gloriously herby vase that is and a wonderful selection of herbs you have! I am guessing you must forgive the rosemary beetles if you relocate them rather than permanently 'remove' them...?

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    Replies
    1. the running wave3 August 2020 at 18:10

      It is such a handsome little bug and didn't appear to be doing any harm (although probably is!), added to which I find it difficult to kill anything other than flies and slugs, that yes, they got away with it! A

      Delete
  3. Kris Peterson3 August 2020 at 20:37

    I love your arrangement and your bee pics, Amanda. As to the rosemary leaf beetle, yikes! I looked it up and discovered that its formal name is Chrysolina americana, which resulted in another yikes! However, I read that, despite its species name, it's not actually native to the US. I have to say it is pretty, though, reminding me of the green June beetles (Cotinis nitida) we see here. (They're not particularly well-behaved either.)

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    Replies
    1. the running wave4 August 2020 at 07:55

      Thank you Kris! That is quite a smart little beetle! I didn't have the heart to kill any of them. They are just going about their business and I couldn't see that they were doing any damage at all. If there was an infestation I would no doubt feel different! My lavenders are very special to me! Probably my favourite thing in the garden! A

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  4. Sally5 August 2020 at 01:17

    A very pretty posy and I love the vase. x

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    Replies
    1. the running wave5 August 2020 at 09:02

      Thanks Sally. The vase is one of my Emma Bridgewater jugs! Good for flowers! xx

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  5. Anna9 August 2020 at 21:08

    Not only a flavoursome vase Amanda but it must be most aromatic too. Bad news about the rosemary beetle. I haven't seen one yet but I'm sure that it's only a matter of time.

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