I’ve been really pleased with how the garden’s looked this summer but one week into July, it feels like the heatwave is beginning to take its toll in this patch of Somerset . Or is this just the usual midsummer slump, with the promise of more good things to come? Time for a midterm report.
Scorchio
Clover and dandelions add some defiant green to the slowly browning lawnscape (I’m a sprinkler refusnik).
Fading Roses
The roses, which have been blooming brilliantly, seem suddenly in need of a complete deadhead. I’m reluctant to lose the colour though, fading though it is.
Honesty seed heads
The honesty has been looking raggedy for ages – not long to go before I can harvest the seeds and pull up this year’s spent growth.
A purple patch
Mediterranean type plants are loving the heat – lavender, catmint, fennel and of course, the ever trusty Geranium ‘Rozanne’, looking unpeturbed as it empire builds through the beds. The dolly tub I planted up in May is also happy, filled with a supermarket sweep of Mediterranean sunlovers – an olive tree from Tesco, French lavender from Lidl plus some rather recherché pelargoniums from Malvern Flower Show.
Geranium Roxanne and marguerite daisies
Another plant that seems to be luxuriating in the summer sun, is the honeysuckle that was planted to disguise a concrete washing line post … mission successful I’d say.
Happy honeysuckle
Hollyhocks are another success story. Last year I was given numerous seeds by people’s whose hollyhocks I had admire and scattered them around the garden. They are evidently loving the conditions!
Those dreaming spires
I am watering the dahlias, and they’re doing ok. Flowers just beginning to come on stream now. Not sure they entirely match up to their labels, but I’m enjoying the element of surprise.
Dahlia ‘Tamburo’
The tomatoes are watered twice a day, and are fruiting up nicely. I hope the Black Russians make it through to harvest safely.
Black Russian Tomaoes
