Echinacea

My favourite plant in the garden at the moment is our echinacea. I almost relocated (polite way of saying pull it up and stuff it somewhere in the back garden) it a few months ago but I'm glad I didn't because after a ropey start it's looking amazing. Three years after planting, I think it has finally settled in.

I'm amazed by the middle. The florets (spikes) are actually tiny tubes filled with nectar. We've planted it next to our Buddleia Sungold to make a bee and butterfly buffet!

I was focusing in on this cone when a butterfly landed right in front of me.

I'd really like to pick a few of these for the house but we only have six or seven flowers; they are pretty big though. Also they are a really good food source for pollinators and they probably need these flowers more than my coffee table does.