Equinox garden

 

Late flowers on Wild Marjoram/Oregano (Oreganum vulgare). Frome, 28 September 2025.

Its summer days shimmering with manifold bees and butterflies are long gone, but the rain has given us a few late sprigs of blossom. 

This is the herb "oregano", and it grows wild in the British Isles (hence its other name, "Wild Marjoram"). 

The herb "marjoram" is a more tender Mediterranean plant that wouldn't survive here.

Late flowers on Verbena bonariensis. Frome, 28 September 2025.

Each landing-pad seems to be able to produce new flowers all through the summer. Another plant beloved by bees. 

It's native to tropical South America, but has no trouble growing here in the UK. In a mild winter even the above-ground stems may survive, enabling a speedier start next year. 

I'm not sure what British gardeners call it. We call it "those tall things" or "the Verbs" (relying on context because there are lots of other kinds of Verbena).

Late flowers on Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Frome, 28 September 2025.

The raspberry canes under the swing-frame carry on gallantly.

Late fruit on Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Frome, 28 September 2025.

Japanese Anemone. Frome, 28 September 2025.

Less invasive and a deeper pink than the other variety in the garden. It might be variety "Praecox" (apparently that means "precocious").

As for the botanical name, I'm not sure whether to call it Eriocapitella hupehensis (like the botanists) or Anemone hupehensis (like everyone else) or Anemone x hybrida -- but I believe the latter are usually double or semi-double. 

Young fruits on Common Fig (Ficus carica). Frome, 28 September 2025.

These are the fruits that will be ripe next summer. They've already been on the tree for a year or so. I always forget that initially they are technically flowers. 

Leaves of Geranium macrorrhizum. Frome, 28 September 2025.

If you understand botanical naming and know why there's a double R in the middle of macrorrhizum, please enlighten me!

Cyclamens. Frome, 28 September 2025.

Close-up of Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber). Frome, 28 September 2025.

This is the pinkish-purple form, apparently the only one of interest to butterflies, though bees eagerly visit all the colours. 

It still attracts a few visitors at this time of year: Large Whites, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, late bees and bumble-bees.

Michaelmas Daisies. Frome, 28 September 2025.

The ever-expanding stand of Michaelmas Daisies. That's as far as I can go with ID. The biggish toothed leaves look distinctive, but Google Lens isn't being helpful. 

Garden bench. Frome, 28 September 2025.

One of the benches that become plant-stands in their rickety old age.  

Sedum, more colourful in fruit than in flower. Frome, 28 September 2025.

The botanical name is now Hylotelephium spectabile, but I think a lot of people will stick to "sedum", just as they'll call the scarlet plant in the previous pic a "geranium".

Late flowers on fuchsia. Frome, 28 September 2025.

Of course I don't know what variety it is. It's a large shrub, been here at least thirty years. 

The bees love it. However I've just learnt that in South America the pollinators are hummingbirds, and that red and purple is their favourite colour combination. 

Dewdrops on Lady's-mantle. Frome, 28 September 2025.

The always entrancing sight of dew forming large drops on the leaves of Lady's-mantle. It only happens on the fresh leaves. The older ones let the water seep away. 

Dewdrops on Lady's-mantle. Frome, 28 September 2025.