Garden Diary – Was the Baby Robin after my purple chillies?

One morning, as I was photographing my purple chillies, a fledgling Robin appeared in the greenhouse. It ran around my tomato plants seeming quite confused, but after a short time it found the door and flew onto my outside chair. What a lovely start to my day!

It was certainly rather breezy and drizzly last week, and I said to lots of people, “if we do get a heatwave next week and I’m moaning it’s too hot, just remind me about this horrible weather”.

I don’t know how the poor bees hang onto the flowers when they’re bobbing all over the place! I captured one bee on my purple Geranium called ‘Rozanne’ and on the light purple Catananche, better known as Cupids dart.

I’ve definitely had a purple theme going this week, with more lovely purple clematis coming out. It’s doing so well now it’s in the ground. Also the purple lupin was at its best and the dark purple salvia ‘Amistad’ has loads of flowers on.

And of course the most popular post of the week being my chillies ‘Buena Mulata’ going ever so slightly viral on ‘Blue skies’, attracting nearly 2500 likes and so many comments, I could hardly keep up.

It was mainly from American gardeners that didn’t know you could get purple chillies. They wanted to know how hot they were and where they could get them from. Maybe I should be starting an air-mail seed shop!

Along with purple, many bright colours seem to be blooming, including the bright yellow coreopsis that has finally decided to open its dozens of buds.

Monday 8th June 2026

Lychnis Coronaria/Rose Campion 💕💕💕

A beautiful pop of colour that seeds itself everywhere, & is drought tolerant. Although it’s getting rained on this morning 💦 #magentamonday #bloomscrolling #pinkflowers

Tuesday 9th June 2026

Geranium ‘Rozanne’, not just attracting my admiration 🌿💜🐝 #TuesdayBlue

Hardy geranium’s provide flowers for months at a time, good for you & your little friends 🐝💜🐝💜🐝🌿

Wednesday 10th June 2026

Hold on little bee 🐝💜

It was so windy yesterday, the greater quaking grass was certainly quaking! 🌾 #wildlifewednesday #bees #quakinggrass #cornflowers

I had a little visitor in the greenhouse this morning. A baby Robin 🥰 Bless its little cotton socks. It found its way back out & flew onto my garden chair. #robin #wildlifewednesday #Fledgling

Thursday 11th June 2026

Raining this morning, which we need. 🙄 I guess. Be better at night though 😂 #clematisThursday #bloomscrolling #clematis

Friday 12th June 2026

Bit grey & drizzly this morning, but apparently the sunshine will be back by lunchtime ☀️ just in time for the weekend 🤗

I’m sure the garden has appreciated it’s drink 💦🌺

#FlowersOnFriday #bloomscrolling #flowers

Saturday 13th June 2026

I love bright colours in the garden 💜🧡🩷

#SixOnSaturday #bloomscrolling #flowers

Buena Mulata is an heirloom chilli & I’ve been saving, then sowing the seeds for years. This particular plant was kept going all winter in the summerhouse, which is why it’s fruiting so early 🌶️💜🌶️💜🌶️💜🌶️💜 #chilli #chillies #homegrown #kitchengarden