Campanula and Cats

 At its prime. Campanula takesimana. Korean bellflower. Drooping in the heat of the day. Absolutely beautiful right now. Cordelia, from the hill watches over it from her favourite perch. The compost.

                                     

 The campanula is quite hardy, not frost tender, and blooms from June to July.  I tend to gather a few seeds in August. With hermaphodite flowers, it self pollinates, but bees, beetles and bugs toodle back and forth between flowerets.  Not a great cut flower, I've found. The bells tend to wilt quickly. It prefers to stay in the soil.

(Penguin having a water break)

 It prefers a woodland setting, with dappled light, or even no light. It's not fussy, and  tends to appear around the garden  without any attempt from the gardener. It can be aggressive. But that's the best part.

                               

Some people have actually used the leaves in salads or cooked them with the flowers. Not sure I would  try that. It is said that they can be slightly bitter.  Again. Don't try it. But an interesting thought. Have not found any recipes using the flowers or leaves...........

 (Flicker.....)
 Deer and Bunnies will not eat this variety of bellflower. Though, if hungry enough I suppose they would eat anything. 

(Smokey . Comes from his house three doors down, every morning, to soak up sun)

There are 500 species and sub species of bellflower, ranging from the Northern Hemisphere to Mediterranean regions.

                              

If it goes to seed, it will spread everywhere. But since I do not mind it spreading everywhere, I  encourage it. Cut it down when all the blooms have finished.Keeps it a little under control.

                   
 This particular colour is known as " Elizabeth"

 The cats aren't all that excited about the fact the Campanula is flowering  so well this year. Smokey's brother, Spencer is happy that I filled the water bowls on the porch.

                                    

And also worthy of note, the apples are  growing  and turning red. Lots of apples. Means lots of cider to make this year.

           Thought I would throw in this picture. No, it's not Spencer. It's another neighbouring cat. Lives on the other side behind us. He's about a year old. Soft and floppy. We decided to call him Cuddles. If it's not flowers, it's cats.

 (Spencer saying hello in the early morning.............he snorts when he purrs. )

                                        

And Smokey. Basking in the sun. Like the flowers, and the campanula.

                         
 In the 1920's this beautiful flowering plant was discovered on a Korean Island called Ulung-do , in the Sea of Japan. It grows pink and white and purple with streaks and spots  and dangles on straight stalks with leaves of shiny green. It is romantic. It is sublime. And makes a suitable kingdom for Cordelia to watch over.