The show goes on!

We have had a good summer, there's no doubting that. Apart from a couple of cold, wet weeks in August it has been warm and sunny. And the best thing - it's still going! In the shop there is still some of what we all crave: colour. There is a supply of flowers for butterflies and bees, of which this year there seem to be fewer than ever. Eupatorium in particular has been fabulous for butterflies and is a definite 'must-have' plant for next year. And good old Verbena bonariensis just blooms and blooms - and the butterflies love it. Rudbeckia and Echinacea are both in bloom in the shop, but one discovery I have made this year is that these plants really need a hotter climate than ours in which to flourish. Seeing them in their native environment (mid-west USA) has taught me that there are a lot of plants that don't do as well here as we think they should. Other plants that could arguably fit into this category are Pachysandra, Hosta (too sluggy), Hydrangea 'Annabelle', many Acers, Begonias, Calla lilies........ the list could go on. In fact, seeing plants growing in the mid-west USA this summer made me wonder how many trends are spread in magazines and books, only to fail when applied in the Irish context. Coming to think of it, England has a much more extreme climate than ours, so what works there mightn't necessarily work here. The moral: we should always seek advice from close to home.

Anyway, our shop is full of lovely plants, most of which DO thrive and flourish here! Here is a selection, all in bloom in the third week of September.

Verbena bonariensis: this plant just blooms and blooms. Bees and butterflies love it. It's easy to grow but doesn't live for more than a few years, so learn to spot the seedlings near the plant and cultivate them (or drop in and buy a new one).

Aconitum 'Bressingham Spire': a great plant that grows very well in many gardens here.

Selection of pots and plants including Pittosporum 'Irene Patterson', Pinus mugo 'Mops', Aeonium, Lavandula  vera...

Anemone 'Honorine Jobert': pure white, easy, tall, pretty....

Dahlia (orange) with dark foliage.

Gladiolus murielae: one of the more fabulous late-bloomers.

Little indoor plant: we have an ever-changing selection of indoor plants and little pots to place them in.

Our 'big pot' filled with Lobelia (Blue) and Bacopa (white). In the foreground is Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie'.

Aptly-named crabapple 'Gorgeous'.

Silver Astelia and blue-green Euphorbia myrsinites: a good combination. Helictotrichon sempervirens (tall blue grass) in the background. Popping up in the middle is Pseudopanax crassifolius: we have always bought our Astelia, Helictotrichon and Pseudopanax from Tim and Mary Leahy in Co Kilkenny. Their nursery closes this month and we will sadly miss them - for their fabulous service, wonderful knowledge and exceptional plants. We wish them the very best.

Heuchera and Stipa on a bench.

Agastache.

Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood' is wonderfully reliable, long-blooming and tough.

Coreopsis 'Moonbeam': looks wispy, acts tough. This plant has bloomed year after year in our slug-filled, heavy-soiled garden.

Cosmos sanguineus: sometimes it smells of chocolate, sometimes it doesn't.

Another view of pots.

Salvia 'Caradonna': long-blooming, good-looking, easy.

Number one butterfly-magnet, Eupatorium maculatum.

Gladiolus murielae again.

Schizostylus coccineus: blooms all the way through winter and loves a bad site and a dose of neglect!

Solanum laxum / Potato vine. Another plants grown by T and M Leahy.