Garden diary – July’s blousy days

July 2017

Ah the blousy days of summer – those hot July days that fades into long summer evening. July’s days so full of promises and long forgotten dreams that you hope they will go on for ever. This month the memories formed in the July garden will fill winter musings, as we sit by the fire, pull out a snuggly throw and turn on the telly or find a good book.

If you have been following my facebook posts on our Bed and Breakfast page you’ll have seen some of my snaps taken in the golden glow of those summer evenings that are such a perfect time to explore the garden and the coup of the Agapanthus on the lower gravel terrace. So join me for memories of July’s blousy days and dreamy evening here in the gardens at Ednovean Farm in my latest garden diary.

The July garden stars

The Agapanthus

July garden with box palms and agapanthus

The stars in the July garden have to be the Agapanthus as the month comes to a close.

The lower terrace is thronged now by the ethereal blooms of the Agapanthus, which seem to float above the gravel that they have so freely colonised. The original six expensively purchased border plants have turned into a multitude, spreading to soften the formality of the gravel terrace beyond, where only the line of box give back a semblance of order before romantically framing the entrance to the sundial garden and the private terrace for the Blue bedroom.

We’ve been lucky that they started to flower in June and with more buds yet to open the show should stretch on well into August.

Fennel

The bronze Fennel is a particular favourite of mine and another free spirited adventurer in the garden lending a sweet aniseed scent to summer evenings and bringing memories of the Mediterranean holidays back to our home

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas in shades of pink, blue and white fill pots overflow pots and urns, throughout the courtyards but they really prefer the semi shaded parts of the garden and it must be said that two of the white ones in full sun are starting to look decidedly crispy after a couple of hot days. So black marks for me!

This month in the garden

It seems strange that so soon after the long anticipated summer days are here, that we have to start cutting back and carefully curating the rampant growth. I sneaked some Weed and Feed on to the smaller lawns in the Parterre and Charles has put a newly purchased Lidl’s hedge trimmer to good use, trimming the box hedges and patrolling the Italian Garden leaving a trail of debris in his wake! The new hedge cutter is lightweight, makes little noise or vibration and has a surprisingly long run time for its powerful battery. I must say I did subscribe to their newsletter ready for the scoop because those special offers don’t tend to hang around!