Peterborough, where I live, is one of those towns where buddleias seem to grow with especially wild abandon, springing up everywhere and becoming a troublesome weed – my neighbours currently have one growing from the wall of their house, 20ft up. However, I love them, especially now: before the first and largest flowerheads fade and look unsightly. A head count in my garden reveals I have eight at the moment. In the front there is an old Buddleja davidii seedling; nothing special, so every year I consider its removal. Then the butterflies arrive and my heart melts – it attracts more than any other buddleia I have, and is the only one on which I have seen hummingbird hawk moths. Is it the plant or the position?
Read More...