The runner beans are in!

We've planted runner beans (variety 'Painted Lady') on some of our bean wigwams. The Annecy Garden is quite a sheltered space & while there were frosts last week on my allotment a mile distant, we think tender plants like runner beans & french beans should be ok.

Runner beans planted on a hazel rod wigwam. Note the mushrooms ~ a consequence of using spent mushroom compost as a mulch.

There are some pretty flowers now, Phacelia tanacetifolia has just started flowering. Insects, particularly bumble bees love this plant. But apparently the sugar content of the nectar is too low to attract honey bees.

Phacelia tanacetifolia with unidentified bee

Also flowering:

Viola 'Eastgrove Blue Scented', a lovely derivative of Viola cornuta. The plant is a good perennial & the flowers are edible, even if too pretty to eat

Broad beans are also flowering & they too have a pleasant scent

I'd just like to flag that we will be holding a Plant Sale at the Annecy Gardens, The Strand, Sandford Park, Cheltenham on Saturday the 1st of June from 11am until 2pm. Please do come along ~ we'll have a good range of plants for sale (all at very reasonable prices). As well as fruit & veg plants, we'll also have plants that are attractive to insects.