AD | Can you believe we’re halfway through the year already? It’s July in my garden again and time seems to be just whizzing by. I thought June was a colourful month but I have to say that July has taken things up a notch. If you’ve read my monthly garden updates before then you’ll know you need to be sitting down with a cup or glass in hand now, as there are a lot of photos to share 🙂
What’s flowering now?
The front of our house gets a little neglected as we tend to sit outside at the back. Fortunately, all kerb appeal is not lost, due in part to Nature stepping in. Under our hedge you can see some red valerian, some yellow alchemilla mollis, and some purple geranium nodosum. Hardy, drought tolerant, and beautiful, ideal for dry shade with evening sunshine.
Next to our front door the roses and honeysuckle are wafting their gorgeous perfumes all day long. Even our postlady has commented that ours is one of her favourite houses because of the fragrance.
Moving around the side of the house we have some lavender and some cosmos – both sown from seed, the lavender a few years ago and the cosmos earlier this year. In fact I’ve got little pockets of lavender all over the garden and cosmos planted in pots and beds too. Both are very easy to grow, and very rewarding too.
As you may recall, I sowed some edible flower seeds in our veg bed earlier this year. They’re beginning to sprout, but the self-seeded orange calendula and blue borage from last year are already romping away. Borage looks lovely in ice cubes for gin and tonics, and both flowers are really pretty in a summer salad.
My cutting beds have been rather taken over by some self-sown poppies, which I’ve had to thin out as my other plants are struggling to grow. But my March-sown sweet peas seedlings are well away and it’s so lovely to be able to pick posies for the house every few days. Sweet peas need picking as often as possible otherwise they set seed and die. Their fragrance is one of Nature’s wonders, so heady and so delicious.
And my other March-sown favourites are my beloved Purple Tower petunias (see cover pic). I adore this variety, it’s so vibrant and fragranced, perfect for climbers or ground cover, and stunning in a vase. I’ve stuffed the seedlings in every spare bit of space I can find this year as I had so many of them. What I find especially amazing though is that in some cases, I’ve got both white and purple flowers in the same plant. I mean, HOW?
Do any of you remember that sunflower seedhead I left out for the birds last winter that started sprouting? Well, I rescued and potted up a few of the seedlings, and the first one has just burst into flower. How glorious does she look now?
Last but not least, another gift from Nature, a lovely self-seeded purple malva or mallow. It’s growing up underneath one of our trees and it’s already nearly eight foot tall! And another purple favourite, which I *think” is campanula, but I don’t remember planting this one and I can’t find the label… No matter, she’s very pretty.
What’s fruiting now?
July in the garden welcomes in the first few ripening raspberries. I haven’t told Flora yet as the little minx would gobble the lot in one fell swoop. And we’ve invested in some new strawberry plants too: seven different varieties. I need to get some straw to lay on top of the soil as a mulch, and to prevent slug and woodlice damage.
In the orchard, we have some early ripening cherries, which luckily the birds haven’t clocked yet. They are delicious.
And the pears, kiwis and apples are all growing happily too. Fingers crossed for a good harvest.
Other soft fruit I’m looking forward to are our peaches, plums and damsons. I foresee a lot of jam making and gin making come September <grin>.
And, of course, our stalwart and reliable grapevine at the front of the house is just storming away. Will this be the year Alan finally gets around to attempting Chateau Willows? Taking bets now…
July in the greenhouse
I said last month that our tomatoes and cucumbers aren’t as far advanced as this time last year. Clearly I don’t know what I’m talking about because we have tomatoes growing already. So I really need to keep on top of pinching out the side shoots to focus the plants’ energy on the growing fruits.
And we’ve just got our first three baby cucumbers too. Whoop, whoop!
Outdoor jobs for July
There’s not much change from June here. I’ll still be weeding, pruning, deadheading, tying in and, of course, watering. Tip: when you water, aim your hose at the roots and give them a really good drench, a count of 15-20 seconds. Just spraying over the top of the plants is useless. That way you should only need to water every three days in really hot weather or once a week in normal temperatures. This is especially true of plants in pots, like this pretty hebe, which the bees love.
Following a lovely week in Falmouth earlier this year, we treated Flora to a Bosun’s swing chair for our eucalyptus tree in the orchard. After learning the hard way not to leave it outside all the time (bird poo Central), she unhooks it and puts it in the summerhouse when not in use. If you’re tempted to invest in something similar for summer, then Cool Hammocks * have a lovely range of both chairs and hammocks. As well as handy guide with some important tips on how to hang a hammock.
Wildlife
July in my garden has seen an army of baby frogs! In both our ponds and in Flora’s smaller one. The adult frogs are all still around though, keeping a close eye on all their babies. Alan’s been keeping the ponds topped up with water too, as if the levels drop too low they won’t be able to climb out. And our bird feeders are always well maintained, much to my irritation. Because I really detest pigeons and jackdaws who steal the food meant for the smaller birds AND poop all over the place as well…
Flora’s garden
Flora’s garden is still dominated by weeds but I’ve decided to cut her some slack because they’re also acting as ground cover in this dry weather. As well as cover for the baby frogs as they start emerging from her pond. Also, this month it’s Spooky’s turn for a photobomb /\_/\
Her sunflowers, purple heuchara, and raspberry plants are all doing well. As are her three garlic plants, carrots and pansies.
But the real stars are these gorgeous multi-coloured nigella wildflowers (aka love in a mist). They normally tend to be blue but we’ve got pinks, whites, and purples too. They look so pretty in a bedside posy and if she I keep deadheading them, they’ll keep flowering for ages. We’ll collect some seedheads to sow again next year too.
July in my garden
Phew, another verrrrrry long update, I hope you’ve enjoyed your tour of July in my garden. That’s if you’re still reading, in which case thank you so much for staying the pace! Everything is just so beautiful right now, I always struggle with what to share and what to leave out (and believe me, I leave A LOT out, haha).
We’re not a fan of too much clipping and pruning, and our garden is more of a rambling, haphazard, if it grows let it grow, kind of space. Perfect for sitting out in, and appreciating the sounds, smells and sights on a summer evening with a large gin to hand. Just how we love it 🙂
Do you enjoy gardening? What will you be getting up to in your green spaces this month? What are you looking forward to the most?
* This post has been sponsored but all opinions and photos are my own.
Your garden looks so lovely! I’m torn between living in a condo and landed house but seeing your garden photos make me think how great it is to have a garden of your own where I can plant my favourite flowers and enjoy them while drinking tea.
Ah, thank you so much, that’s so kind! We are very lucky with our outside space but I did live in a one bedroom flat for 15 years and all I had was a window box, so I’m making up for lost time now 😉
The year has just flown by hasn’t it!? Your garden looks stunning and has really inspired me to get a little crate in my garden – just don’t know where to start!
Jessica
Thank you so much – and if you do want to start, just grow something you love, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks!
I LOVE your garden! It looks really vibrant and beautiful right now! And I am so happy to see you growing berries. I wanted to try strawberries on my balcony but because I’ve been away at the beginning of June there would have been nobody to foster them during their first steps. Maybe next year. I am taking your garden as an inspiration for hashtag balcony goals from now on 🙂
Aw, thank you so much, Susanne, that’s so kind. Actually you could still grow strawberries, we bought our plants from a garden centre, they’ve got lots, and now’s an ideal time for planting out on the balcony 🙂 #balconygoals it is! x
I think I planted my sunflowers too late on the season so they haven’t bloomed yet, but you’re looks stunning (as does the rest of you garden)
Oh, there’s still plenty of time, don’t worry, everything is blooming at odd times this year, it’s all due to the topsy turvy weather. And thank you, that’s very kind!
Your garden is looking so bright and colourful! I love honeysuckle. It’s so nice to see all the fruits coming into season too. I’d love to be able to eat homegrown fruit! Seeing Flora”s little patch is always adorable too X
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
We are very lucky, some honeysuckle was here when we moved in but I have planted more since then. It’s such a stunning plant. And yes, we are due a bumper fruit harvest – if only you lived nearer to me, I’d be able to test all your recipes, haha! x
I don’t really know much about gardening, so I always find these posts you do interesting. Your garden looks so pretty! The photographs are so pretty. It’s so good we have more sun and you can enjoy the garden more. The orange calendula is pretty. Thank you for sharing Lisa xx
TBH neither did I when I started, I’ve just learned stuff as I’ve gone along. And watched a lot of Gardeners World too of course 😉 thank you, Lauren, this is very kind of you! Xx
Wow, I don’t know how you’ve got a multicoloured petunia, but I hope it comes back next year if you keep the plants! Our honeysuckle isn’t really out yet, and it doesn’t look as if it’s going to be as bountiful as last year. The lavender is coming out though, and I’m determined to keep some of the dried flowerheads this year; when I make pincushions, I like to stuff them in with the wadding so they smell fresh and florally when you squeeze them. I love your borage (or any flowers that blue, really… 💙) Spooky is gorgeous too!
I know, it’s a complete mystery, if only I could figure out why, haha. That’s a good idea about lavender cushions, I should try that this year, we have so much of it, it’s a shame to waste it. And if you like blue flowers then definitely have a go at borage, it’s really easy to grow and self seeds like mad, you only need to sow it once! 🙂
Your garden is stunning!! I can’t wait for when I move into my own home and I have a big garden to do what I please with!
Oh thank you so much, that’s so kind. And that is EXACTLY how I felt when we lived in our flat for 15 years, I couldn’t wait!
I’d love to spend a day sitting in that hammock chair, reading my book! It looks so relaxing! I’d be excited to grow raspberries – they’re one of my favourite fruit! x
I’d love to spend a day in the chair too, but Flora guards it very jealously, haha! Raspberries are my favourites too, especially just picked and still sun warm, yummy ) x
I love how detailed you are! Such a beautiful garden and cute cat haha
Thank you – it’s always so hard to choose what to leave out but I’m glad you appreciate a ton of detail! 🙂
What a beautiful garden you have! I’d love to be able to grow my own fruit. That whole section about what’s fruiting at the moment made me so happy. You’re so lucky with all the different types of fruit you’re able to grow! You’ve definitely inspired me to start tending to the garden outside my house!
Ah, thank you so much, that’s so kind of you to say so. Yes, we are incredibly lucky to have enough space to grow all kinds of things, although as I only had a window box for 15 years, I’m making up for it now, haha!
You’re garden looks so bright and colourful Lisa. I love the vibrant purple colours in petunias and the yellow of your sunflower, both of these say Summer to me. Our pear and plum trees are starting to come through well now as well, although I don’t think my parents ever pick the fruit! To be honest the birds get a lot of them before they’ve finished ripening. I’m glad to see your frogs are doing well and your black cat Spooky is a gorgeous photo bomber.
Summer is such a technicolour feast isn’t it? We are so lucky though, we have very good soil (courtesy of the previous house owners who must have spent a fortune). And the birds normally eat all our cherries and blueberries too, but we have enough larger fruit so we don’t mind too much!
Summer is just beautiful wildlife/garden wise isn’t it?! I wish I suffered less with hay fever so I could appreciate the flowers more from close up! I love love love your tree-chair, I bet it’s so peaceful to sit out in the garden with a good book! I’ve always wanted to have roses climbing the house when we eventually manage to buy- have you got any tips? Yours look incredible! Soph – https://sophhearts.com x
Oh yes, it is. I used to suffer dreadfully from hayfever but I’ve grown out of the worst of it as I’ve got older. Piriton was the only antihistamine that worked (and still works) for me. As for the chair, I wouldn’t know, Flora guards the rights zealously… but I would imagine it is, haha. Roses around the house are dreamy – as far as tips go, just make sure you choose the right rose for the right spot – a climber or a rambler if you have a two storey house (and install some wires for support) or a smaller bush or patio rose if they’re going to live in pots. I learned all this hard way! x
Your garden looks absolutely stunning, I adore all of the bright colours. We’re currently sorting our garden out at the moment. It was a huge mess when we bought our house and it’s the last thing to be sorted. We’re painting the fences/ wall at the moment to tidy it up and then I’m going to get lots of colourful flowers to brighten it up.
Thanks for sharing!
Ah, thank you, it’s been a labour of love over the last few years but most of our flowers are bulbs or perennials now. I just sow a few favourite annuals every year. It was a mammoth undertaking though, and sometimes I do get the urge to rip it all out and start again (except I don’t want to be divorced…!)
Your garden is so beautiful! This post is inspiring me to go out and plant some new flowers in my garden too! All of the photos are so gorgeous, as well! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
melissakacar.blogspot.com
Oh wow, what a lovely thing to say, thank you so much, I hope you do plant some new flowers, yay!
What a beautiful garden! The flowers have really sprung to life havent they?! I think the sunnier weather is helping ours; everything has seemed a bit delayed with the hoards of rain we got last month, but now it is coming into its own.
Looking forward to your jam / gin making!
Thanks for sharing, has made me want to go out and do a bit of gardening!
Aimsy xoxo
https://www.aimsysantics.co.uk
Thank you so much, that’s so kind of you. I think you’re right about the rain delay but my goodness the hot weather is making up for it now! I always end up giving my gin away as no-one in my family likes it, haha but the jam does go down well 🙂 Enjoy your spot of gardening! x
Wow! Your garden is looking absolutely gorgeous, Lisa! And Flora’s garden is really blooming too! I’ve never seen multicoloured nigella wildflowers before, but I think they could easily be my new fave, so pretty and such a lovely mix of colours. Also, Flora’s swing chair looks so dreamy, I could just imagine chilling out on that with a book and a nice refreshing drink… blissful! I’m always so fascinated by the different fruits and flowers in these posts and every month feel inspired to try growing something new in my garden. Plus thank you for sharing your watering tip, you have actually just reminded me to go water my plants, aha! 🙂 Another fantastic post, these always such a joy to read and your photos are so beautiful!! PS. Yayy for cat photobombs, Spooky is gorgeous <3 xxx
Aw, thank you so much, Bexa, this is so kind of you. I can only imagine how lovely it would be to chill in Flora’s new chair as I’m not allowed in it (yet). How are your plants getting on? Are they the ones from Mud & Bloom last year? Strawberries are easy, you can keep them in pots as long as you water them. Yum, yum! And yay for Spooky, I felt (as did he, obviously) it was his turn to shine! xxx
Your garden is doing so well! Glad to see that everything’s blooming and it’s filling up with such lovely colors.
Thank you, Eena, it’s really gorgeous at the moment, we’re so lucky!
Beautiful! I was given a Borage plant recently (I call it “Boris”!) and I’m told it spreads quite quickly if you’re not careful.
Thank you – and yes, borage is a thug, a prolific self-seeder, you’ll never need to sow it again 🤣
WOW! Your garden is just blooming Lisa. Love all the beautiful flowers and those ripe raspberries look yummy. How did you deal with the tiger hahaha. 🙂 Beautiful post as always. 🙂
Via | http://glossnglitters.com
Aw, thank you, Via, that’s very kind. We were lucky with the sunshine throughout June and early July, wish we could say the same for August but 🙁 And the tiger loves the rain!