Flowering in my Sussex garden this summer
Following on from my similar May blog post about garden wildflowers, here is what was in flower a month later.
White herb robert – Geranium robertianium
This continues my theme of what is a weed and what is a wildflower? My friend Mercy sent me this plant, which seems happy in my garden. It is a wild herb robert which is naturally white rather than the usual pink. You can see the plant still has a pink tinge in the stems and seed heads. I have now purchased seed of a variety of this Geranium called Celtic White which has none of the pink colouring at all.
![white herb robert geranium robertianium seaford garden june 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/white-herb-robert-geranium-robertianium-seaford-garden-june-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Scented mayweed – Matricaria recutita
This is a scented plant whose flowers can be made into a relaxing chamomile tea and is also known as annual chamomile or German chamomile. This chamomile was never wild here – it has escaped from my dried flowers shop daisyshop.co.uk where I sell it by the kilo. But it is a common wildflower in England apparently.
![Scented mayweed Matricaria recutita seaford garden june 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scented-mayweed-Matricaria-recutita-seaford-garden-june-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Scarlet pimpernel – Anagallis arvensis
I love scarlet pimpernel and remember my dad pointing it out to me on a walk as a small child. I found it very appealing and slightly mysterious, knowing there was a story about a man with that nickname. Dad was not a gardener or botanist, people just took more of an interest in nature then I think.
![Scarlet pimpernel anagallis arvensis seaford garden jun 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Scarlet-pimpernel-anagallis-arvensis-seaford-garden-jun-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Red dead-nettle – Lamium purpureum
And as a kid what’s not to like about a nettle that not only doesn’t sting you but has pretty purple flowers?
![red dead-nettle lamium purpureum seaford garden jun 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/red-dead-nettle-lamium-purpureum-seaford-garden-jun-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Petty spurge – Euphorbia peplus
This little thing is very pretty but always grows one at a time in just the wrong place. If it would stick to one patch and cover some bare soil I would probably leave it be.
![petty spurge euphorbia peplus seaford garden june 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/petty-spurge-euphorbia-peplus-seaford-garden-june-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Hedgerow cranesbill – Geranium pyrenaicum
Another cranesbill which grows like a weed in my garden and self seeds in the lawn. I think it may actually be a cultivated variety which has run wild. I mentioned it in my May garden post, but have since been able to identify it (thanks again to Mercy), and have spotted it in the wild in Devon and Wiltshire.
![hedgerow cranesbill geranium pyrenaicum seaford garden june 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hedgerow-cranesbill-geranium-pyrenaicum-seaford-garden-june-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Common poppy – Papaver rhoeas
This lovely poppy came up on my veg patch this summer and I didn’t have the heart to weed it out.
![common poppy papaver rhoeas seaford garden june 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/common-poppy-papaver-rhoeas-seaford-garden-june-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Common chickweed – Stellaria media
This little thing gets weeded out whenever I see it. Apparently it’s edible but I’m not inspired to try it!
![common chickweed stellaria media seaford garden jun 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/common-chickweed-stellaria-media-seaford-garden-jun-2020-1024x683.jpg)
Common fumitory – Fumaria officinalis
Another pretty which self-seeds in my veg patch. I do pull it up when it looks like it’s going to be in the way of something productive!
![common fumitory fumaria officinalis garden seaford jun 2020](https://photographingwildflowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/common-fumitory-fumaria-officinalis-garden-seaford-jun-2020-768x1024.jpg)
Read more about identifying wild geraniums