Calm before the storm?

Late Summer poppies in the garden

Today was a lovely warm and sunny day. One of those late summer days that are so special.  Autumn is knocking on the door, telling Summer to be on her way. We still hope she can hang on for a few more days, but Autumn is giving us a blast of HER weather tomorrow.....

Top of the UK is Orkney! The bit in RED...

But for today I enjoyed the sunshine with.... Button of course! Here she is snoozing in the sunshine while I work, planting Spring bulbs.....

And of course the hens are never far away. Mrs Chooky hen was abroad with her wee brood today. All seven of them....

But she doesn't like to keep them out too long and soon it's time to take the "children" home....

The garden has been sadly neglected this year. I've been busy with work, away for a holiday or work, or had visitors.  But though my veg patch failed due to lack of attention, the flowers carried on blooming anyway. Here's a selection that are still blooming today.

Love in a Mist (?)

Cornflowers

Daisies transplanted from Beckenham in Kent!

A summer flowering bulb, so pretty

From a wildflower mix. 

Big Blousy Poppies!

Skeletal seedheads of lovage

This border looks sad now - but it's full of seed heads which I leave for the birds, bees and insects. This is how it looked in July.

Meanwhile.... a rainbow danced over Stromness.

A ship sailed out of Stromness harbour....

There was a rain shower over the hills of Hoy....

The kye (cattle) in the field made the most of the benign weather....

And the sea looks calm around Graemsay....for now!