High summer in the Ednovean Garden

High summer? Well, July this year has been a capricious month with bursts of sunshine interspersed with gentle rain. So high summer? Well not in the same vein as the glorious Mediterranean summer we enjoyed a couple of years ago but summer nether the less.

Glowing colours of high summer in the Ednovean Farm garden — The glowing colours of high summer lend a dramatic highlight to the year.

In last month’s Garden Diary, I looked at creating a romantic atmosphere in the June Garden a summer romance.

Scented garden plants of July - lavender and tobacco plants in a courtyard — Lavender and Tobacco plants spread delicious scents to linger in the summer air

Our garden a gentle foil for our home

So this month I want to delve deeper into the role the garden has upon our home.

July and the interior is mirrored out int he courtyard where formal topiary and flamboyant hydrangeas compliment the tailored window blinds.

High summer allows the boldest colours to shine at their dramatic best. July must add the real haute couture to the garden season with dramatic frivolous embellishments

A garden can reflect the style of the house, by framing the buildings and hinting at the direction of the interior hidden discreetly behind the walls.

Here on the courtyard terrace, flamboyant dark pink hydrangeas compliment the simple black and white striped blinds of the Apricot Bedroom

As the garden entrances play their part in building the anticipation for visiting the garden so the garden lays a seductive layer of charm around the house.
The long anticipated Agapanthus are in full flower through July. Fabulously flamboyant on sunny days, lending pools of colour in unexpected places.

High summer and hot colours emerge in the flowers — The Echiums have lingered on sturdily spreading their seeds until they’re consigned to the compost heap

High Summer colours

July brings the intense scents and colours of summer each year for a brief moment of revelry.

Scented lavenders fill pots to perfume the air of the summer courtyard gardens

Those passionate hot oranges and red with the rich moody blues and mauves, all spell summer to me in big capital letters.

Summer light in the courtyards gives the lavender a romantic glow — The intense light of summer spreads a little magic through the garden

The sweet scents that waft around the garden and linger trapped in the heat of the courtyards, are a yearly feast to be treasured and remembered throughout the year.

High summer brings glowing colours to the Ednovean Farm garden — Fiery red Crocosmia Lucifer are a simple but effective foil for the aloes without detracting from the view

Yet we still have room for a more laid back frame of Daisies to lead the eye to St Michael’s Mount. Sometimes a garden has to be a discreet to fold gently into the outer landscape!

Garden daisies and St Michael's Mount — Simple white daisies help the garden to fold gently into the countryside and St Michael’s Mount beyond

The potager

Slowly the potatoes have been harvested, the green beans and peas podded and courgettes consumed. The lettuce finally took the opportunity to bolt and cucumbers shyly produced sweet succulent fruits tucked in the depths of their foliage.

The potager has grown rampantly, unruly, through the long summer days. The thrill of organic vegetables tumbling unchecked towards our kitchen has yet to wane! Well maybe a few less courgettes will be needed next year!

The wheel of the season continues to tick now and already the Sweet corn has taken the vacant spot left by the potatoes and the leeks planted ready for the autumn days ahead.

Around the Ednovean Garden in July

I must admit this month I’ve remained fascinated with the idea of developing the back courtyard. I’ve added some annuals to fill in the gaps and started to seek out foliage plants to fill in the gaps in the raised beds.
I finally sourced a vibrant Japanese grass to skirt the tree fern and spent a “happy hour” burrowing with a length of tempered steel to plant it!