Lychnis coronaria, it’s striking magenta flowers would light up any border. The grey leaves show up the flowers brilliantly. It loves well drained soil and a sunny position. There is also a white version but this is the one for me! I shall save seeds from this one, I want more!
Thistles are just starting to reveal their beautiful purple flowers. Purple is one of my fave colours.
Seed heads of Sweet Cicely, these have a slight aniseed flavour and can be used in Apple or other fruit pies. According to Lesley Bremness in The Complete Book of Herbs they are used to flavour Chartreuse liqueur and when crushed make a furniture polish.
Escallonia at the back of the border provides year round greenery. It is covered in tiny flowers right now, their abundance making up for their size. Now is a good time to take cuttings of Escallonia, they strike easily.
Lots of Calendula at the moment, it self seeds from year to year. An ointment can be made from the flowers which is good for burns, bruises, sores or other skin problems. To make it: 100g Calendula flowers (about 70 heads), 150g emulsifying ointment (from pharmacy), 70ml glycerine(also from pharmacy), 80ml water.
Method: Chop flowers and put with rest of ingredients into a bain-marie for about 1-3 hours depending on desired strength. Take off heat and add a few drops of lavender oil. Strain into sterilised jars.
arignagardener 
Well, I don’t grow calendulas here (we grow marigolds, and although they are a member of the calendula family, they are different) but you were the second person who recommended calendula ointment to me. We have a vitamin pharmacy and I was able to get some there. Now I’m a believer! It has made a huge difference for me. I have been using it for several days on a gastro stoma that is constantly irritated. Great stuff!
I love the bright little flowers. The Sweet Cicely looks interesting.
ah, thankyou for the name!! Lychnis coronaria, I have it in the garden and its such a fabulous striking colour that people always ask about it and my memory is dreadful, it seems to self seed here and pops up in various places, it doesn’t take over though like some plants are doing.
Never seen Sweet Cicely, very interesting!
Thank you for posting the calendula ointment recipe! I use calendula to make a solution for cuts, bruises, etc. – I put dry flowers into a jar with vodka. And yes, calendula self-seeds here too!
My calendula haven’t done well this year. They look a bit sickly. Don’t know why.
How tall and substantial is the Sweet Cicely? I’m wondering whether to grow it.
Esther
Hi Esther, Sweet Cicely is about 3ft tall. It self seeds like mad too.
I have always liked the Calendula. It brought me back to a time when we first started gardening. An aunt of mine said, I see you have Marigolds, no, I said, its Calendula. That was a very long time ago.