Can you believe we’re half way through 2020 already? It’s July in our garden again and in this, the second month of Summer, there’s no time to kick back and relax. They say a gardener’s work is never done and that’s certainly true here. There are lots of fruit to harvest, flowers to cut, and plenty of other jobs to be getting on with as well. So, grab your refreshment of choice and join me for my monthly garden update and virtual tour.
What’s flowering this July?
July bulbs
Most of our summer bulbs have finished now but the purple drumsticks (Allium Sphaerocephalon) are swaying gracefully among the Briza Maxima grasses. They’re absolute bee magnets, as is the scarlet red Crocosmia by the pond. Such a pretty flower, I have no idea who named her Lucifer – and no, I’m not joking, that really is her name!
July perennials – climbers
If June was the month for roses, July is the month for clematis. I said last month that every garden needs a clematis, and now ours has two more either side of the arch above the winter-flowering Mahonia. And the purple one on the side of our house has just started blooming too.
July perennials – non-climbers
Sadly, most of our roses are over now, although I’ve pruned some of the repeat flowerers, so fingers crossed for some fresh blooms shortly. The only one that’s still going is this little crimson beauty at the front of the house. And she’s beautifully set off by the zingy green of the Euphorbia. Top tip: always wear gloves when cutting Euphorbia (pruning or for the vase) as the milky sap is a skin irritant. As I know to my cost. Luckily, the red Achillea is more forgiving when cutting for the vase.
July in our garden is also when all our lavender plants come into their own. I’ve planted them all around the patio and paths so we can brush past them as we walk, releasing that heady, calming fragrance into the air. And our gorgeous hydrangea is looking pretty spectacular now as well. Just one or three sprigs look amazing in a vase, surrounded by some green foliage. She’s such a stunner, you don’t need any further embellishment or colour. Fun fact: if you have acid soil, your hydrangeas will produce blue flowers, but if you have alkaline soil they grow pink. We have pH neutral 🙂
July annuals
The sweet peas that I grew from seed and planted out at the end of May are producing a few bedside posies each week now. You need to keep picking sweet peas as the more you pick, the more they flower. Don’t let them set seed. I don’t think you can beat the heady fragrance, nor the thrill of picking your own flowers. Just half a dozen sprigs will scent an entire room. Sweet dreams indeed! And I’m also thrilled to see a self-seeded Malva in one of our flower beds. Only small at the moment, but she’ll grow away given some support, and I can pick her for the house too.
And all of my gazillion Petunia seedlings are flowering their hearts out. Their scent is just amazing – I’ve planted them in beds and pots next to all our seating areas and paths so we can appreciate their perfume. You can also pick them for bedside posies, they last surprisingly well, and look very pretty too.
And we have an unidentified purple wildflower who is proving highly resistant to Alan’s lawn mower, I’m very pleased to say. Isn’t she pretty? As soon as he’s cut the grass in the orchard, she re-blooms. I think she might be either Wild Thyme or Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) but she looks lovely next to the buttercups, don’t you think?
What’s fruiting this July?
Well, July in our garden has seen quite possibly the best raspberry and rhubarb harvest we’ve ever had in our entire 11 years here. Alan has refused to eat any more rhubarb so I’ve agreed to trade it in exchange for some beans from our neighbour. There’s only so much a girl can eat by herself… But the raspberries are fabulous. A very wet winter followed by weeks of sunshine (and diligent watering in the early mornings) have produced a bumper crop.
Unfortunately, just after I found out that our gooseberries were sweet enough to eat from the bush, one of our resident blackbirds beat me to it and gobbled the lot. Note to self: invest in some nets for next year. I’m keeping a close eye on the blueberries which are ripening slowly though. And the grapevine is beginning to take over the wall so needs a little pruning at the top to keep the energies on grapes rather than foliage.
Our Victoria plum tree and pear trees are looking more laden by the day. There’ll be plenty for making my plum jam, and I might try making plum schnapps again this year too. Our pears are beautifully soft and juicy when ripe, the perfect accompaniment to some Stilton cheese. Top tip: take a pear and twist it three times around the stalk. If it comes away, it’s ripe. If it doesn’t, leave it on the tree for another week then try again.
The apples on our beloved apple tree are getting bigger and riper by the day. It’s hard to believe that we’ll be harvesting the first crop in about four weeks’ time. Our apple tree is a very early ripener, and unfortunately her bountiful harvest doesn’t store well. So Alan and Flora will be scratting and juicing, and I’ll be dicing and cooking for the freezer. The fruits are slightly fizzy and very sweet – delicious!
Indoor garden jobs for July
The tomato, cucumber and chilli plants that I planted out at the beginning of June are unrecognisable now. Getting in and out of the greenhouse is no longer that easy.
The first few trusses of tomatoes have set, and we have some cucumbers growing as well. This week I’ll have to start reducing the watering a little and giving them a weekly feed of Tomorite (aff link) to boost their flavour. And I’ll keep tying in and pinching out any little side shoots to concentrate the plants’ energies on their fruits. We’ve already had one cucumber from an outdoor plant and it was lovely. Crunchy and delicious, utterly unlike what you buy in the shops.
The chilli plants are doing well too. But I’m going to move them as they’re not getting enough light. I just don’t know where to yet!
Outdoor garden jobs for July
The grass has been growing apace, so Alan cuts the grass on the lawn one week and the orchard another week. (Flora and I are still relishing walking barefoot on the grass, despite being spiked by a few pesky thistles). He’s also repaired the two flower cutting beds which had fallen apart – they look much smarter now.
And, deep in his lockdown haze, he’s built me another vegetable bed as well. At the moment it’s only home to a solitary gooseberry bush and some beetroot seedlings. But I’ve just bought some broccoli seedlings and potatoes to plant out – watch this space.
My other two new raised beds are storming away, I’ve managed to harvest my first handful of French beans and a few Broad beans already. And yes, the French beans are supposed to be yellow (I’m growing yellow, purple and green).
We’re still waiting to harvest our first cucamelon but they’re looking promising <grin>.
Meanwhile, my endless rounds of deadheading, pruning, tying in, weeding, and watering continue.
Wildlife
Despite none of the frogspawn that was so evident in Spring hatching out, the resident frogs are very much enjoying life in our ponds. Top tip: although frogs are amphibians, they don’t live in water all the time. So it’s important to keep plenty of planting around the ponds. Not just for them to shelter under, but plenty of plants equals plenty of slugs and bugs for them to eat as well.
We still have plenty of birds visiting our garden every day, not just the perishing gooseberry thief. Which may account for the fact that we weren’t plagued by any flying ants this year, unlike the rest of the country, hooray. And the best news, now both of our bug hotels are in use! The brown one with stopped up brown holes, you may have seen in last month’s garden update. But the one with the red roof has some occupants too now. Top left hand corner, spot those little green doors 🙂
Flora’s garden
I wasn’t sure whether to include the first photo under Wildlife or Flora’s garden but it fits the layout better here. The frog on the right hand rock is fake but can you just see, peeping out underneath the slate on the left, her real frog? He’s quite bold now, hardly ever hides when I go down to weed for her. Really, I don’t know why I bother to call it Flora’s garden any more, she literally does nothing in it these days!
But I’m going to drag her down there once home schooling finishes and she can’t use that as an excuse any more. There’s garlic to harvest, potatoes to unearth, weeding to be done, and wildflower seeds to collect for sowing again next year.
July in our garden
And on that note, thank you for sticking with me, but that’s the end of my July in our garden update. This month I think it’s been more about edibles than decoratives for a change. But I hope you’ve enjoyed your virtual ramble through our garden and orchard. And that what we’re growing might offer you some inspiration and ideas for your own outside space. Or indeed, your indoor space if you’re into indoor gardening. Thank you again for joining me, and I hope you’ll do so again next month 🙂
Have you been cutting any flowers for your house this month? Either ones you’ve grown yourself or a wildflower posy? Have you eaten any home grown fruits or vegetables yet? What’s your favourite thing about July in your garden or outside space?
What a gorgeous garden you have! I LOVE these updates, as it always inspires me to get out doors and start gardening. I love your tiger, I was very shocked at first! Your rhubarb looks fantastic, I bet it would make a delicious pie! Thank you for your update, it will be interesting to see how things progress during august!
Em | http://www.loveemblog.com
Oh thank you so much, Em, that’s so kind! And I’m so thrilled that you get the gardening urge after reading these posts, that makes me so happy 🙂 Yes, I have a feeling August is going to be a bumper month, fingers crossed!
I love your garden updates Lisa. It just looks so amazing.
I have a clematis someone bought me after Mum passed away, it’s called Pauline like my Mum. It flowered really early this year, about March I think, but I’m hoping it flowers again this year as I love it.
Looking forward to your August post already x
Ah, thank you, Claire, that’s so kind of you! Your clematis sounds lovely but I’m not sure it will flower again this year if it’s already flowered back in March. You might have to wait until next Spring, unfortunately! x
That’s impressive. You have a lot of great things growing in your yard. I feel your pain about the birds eating your berries. I live next to a nature preserve so I have deer, rabbits, and birds devouring anything I attempt to grow.
Oh my goodness, and I thought I had it bad with birds and bugs, haha. I don’t think I could cope with a full on nature reserve next door!
I always love your gardening updates Lisa. Everything is looking so colourful! My favourites are unique look of the purple drumsticks and the vibrant Euphorbia. Our lavender has begun flowering, yet, but it has gotten big recently. And our pear tree is doing well, lots of plum sized pears on it at the moment, so still some growing to do. We’ve been busy revamping our rockery and been garden over lockdown. It’s good to hear Florals bug hotels are starting to get visitors too.
Thank you, Kim, that’s very kind. Your pear tree sounds quite prolific, how exciting. And I hope you’ll share some photos of your revamped rockery and garden soon? How lovely to have been able to do that during lockdown, such a great project!
What a gorgeous garden you have. I love seeing the month-to-month progression!
Thank you so much, that’s so kind of you!
What a pretty yard! It seems like your garden is very extensive and you have so many great flowers, herbs, and wildlife! I’d love to have a yard like that one day 🙂
Thank you – although I have to admit it’s a lot of hard work – but worth it in the end 🙂
How absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you 🙂
Lucifer is SO pretty! I LOVE her colours (and the name is kinda awesome too, not going to lie). We have strawberries growing here too and I’m getting excited counting the number of berries popping up each day. There’s something uniquely special about food that we grow ourselves, isn’t there?
Oh yes, you can’t beat the thrill of harvesting your own food when you’ve nurtured it and picked the caterpillar eggs off one by one, or scraped the slugs and snails off on a daily basis, haha! I hope your strawberries are worth the wait 🙂
Some lovely colours in the garden in July. But I’m so jealous of all that fruit, we have managed to get some of our strawberries before the birds and slugs, but we defiantly need to invest in some nets, especially if we are going to grow more stuff, which I’d like to do next year.
Thank you and yes, it sounds like you do need some nets. The birds leave our raspberries alone but everything else seems to be fair game, unfortunately!
Beautiful pictures as always. Also, as always I am so jealous. And the tiger scared me! My first thought was, WHY IS THERE A TIGER IN HER GARDEN??????!!!!!!! And then I realized LOL
Haha, thank you, Giulia! And yes, it’s been a while since I shared our tiger!
Great update, Lisa! I don’t know much about flowers or gardening, but anything nature I just adore. Especially flowers, and they all photograph so beautifully! I don’t think I’ve ever seen purple drumsticks before, but I love the colour (and the name). Lovely photos!
Anika
Thank you so much – we are very lucky with our garden, on the whole most things seem to want to grow!
What a beautiful garden! I don’t have much space in my rental to garden, but am doing a little bit. Most successful has been basil that I grew from seed paper. I keep propagating little bits but I’m running out of space for them!
Oooh, seed paper sounds interesting – we made some from one of Flora’s craft boxes a while ago but it hasn’t taken yet. Kudos to you for getting it to work! I know what you mean about space for cuttings!
I love reading your gardening updates! I can’t believe how many different plants and flowers you have in your garden!
Thank you, Serena, that’s so kind – yes, we are very lucky!
Look at that lovely purple drumstick! I have never heard of such a flower before, but the color of the purple is making hearts in my eyes.
I love your little flower nook, and all those petunias! Sadly, petunias never do well where I live so I content myself with admiring them on other people’s porches and in their gardens. One thing I do have flowering, like you, are hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are special to me since I won the bushes I have in a baking competition with a peach cake. 🙂
Your cucumbers and tomatoes are doing so well, and chili plants? Fresh chilis must be packed with flavor. It is too bad the birds got to the blackberries first; that is a race I have tried to win many times, but I plan on picking wild wineberries on the hills where I live soon, and hope you pick that rhubarb and make a cobbler!
Drumstick is such a funny name for a flowers, but when you see the long stalk and bulb head it makes perfect sense! Thank you, Jaya, and congrats on winning your hydrangeas, that’s fabulous 🙂 I’ve never tried growing fresh chillies before so I’m not sure what to expect but apparently you can freeze them so fingers crossed. And yes, I have a lot of rhubarb recipes saved on Pinterest, haha x
You have the prettiest garden! I look forward to the monthly update!
Aw, thank you, Cassie!
How beautiful post, how beautiful garden! Heavenly! Loved those crimson rose, hydrangeas and even those wild thymes. The fruits and bird nests are also adorable. The hardwork and sense of esthetic is evident. I also have immense interest towards floriculture and horticulture (actually preparing for entrances to persue horticulture degree).. a gorgeous post.. subscribing…
Oh my goodness, thank you so much, that’s so kind of you – yes, our garden is a lot of work but we love it 🙂 And good luck with your entrance exams, how exciting! 🙂
Wow such a beautiful garden with so many lovely plants! Honestly had no idea about the Hydrangeas, what an interesting fact. Is there a way you increase/decrease the PH levels? Also love that you name some of your plants so cute! My little house plant is called Sam hahaha. Such a lovely variety of colours. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! And yes, you can alter the pH of your soil by adding the relevant compost. But it never lasts for very long due to natural earthworm movements, etc, so if you want a particular colour plant and you have the wrong soil, it’s best to plant it in a pot where you can control the pH 🙂
I always look forward to reading your garden updates. July looks like a vibrient and colourful month in your garden. I love the idea of lavender and keep meaning to get some when I’m at the garden centre. I’ve currently got morning glory plants springing up everywhere in my garden which looks lovely, especially as the roses are now finished.
Thank you, Kelly, that’s very kind. And yes, do get some lavender – you can take cuttings and propagate your own plants for free in Autumn! I’ve never grown Morning Glory, I’ll have to look into that 🙂
Your garden looks amazing! I love fresh fruit and veg, so I’m very jealous of all your home grown treats. I haven’t managed to progress from tomato plants yet!
Tomatoes were the first edibles I ever grew so you’re starting from a good place! Why not try some strawberries? Perhaps in hanging baskets or even indoors? 🙂
I envy your garden and greenhouse! Your garden is so colourful and beautiful. I had no idea of the name of some of these flowers I have growing in my garden – we have clematis in our garden. Flora’s garden is adorable! I absolutely love the frog! xxx
Thank you, Ashley 🙂 It’s taken a while to get to this stage but I have to confess I had no clue what things were when I started either – I just read a lot of magazines and watched Gardeners World every week, haha! xx
Reading this post makes me wanna visit your garden. Your garden look so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Ah, thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I always get garden envy from reading your posts! What a beautiful cornucopia of life and color! We have some clematis in our yard, but it’s already gone away (and to be fair, the vine is in our neighbors yard, so they’re the ones responsible for it…we just get to enjoy it). Right now, we’re in the “get the grass and weeds under control,” before we plant anything substantial portion of the program. There’s been a lot of weed pulling and grass planting. And as of last weekend…a lot of poison ivy. My husband and I are COVERED in it! Lesson learned: next time we’re getting a spray instead of trying to pull it out ourselves ha ha.
Oh no, poison ivy! Definitely get a spray or if you want to tackle it yourselves again, wear PPE! But how exciting, now you have a clear space to plant all sorts of lovely things, yay!
I love having raspberries in our back garden, especially aas they always taste so bloody good! I love your garden so much!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
They really do, especially with the sun on them – and thank you so much, Amie!
Sweet peas are my absolute favourites but we haven’t had a lot of luck with ours the last couple of years. And our apple crop is really disappointing this year but the blossom wasn’t great either. Which is a shame because I need my yearly stash of stewed apple, haha. You’re doing an amazing job – your garden is looking absolutely gorgeous and your fruit crop is amazing!
Our sweet peas aren’t as prolific this year either but I think that’s because I need to add some more fertiliser to the cutting beds (job for this winter). Sweet peas are very hungry and I think the soil in our cutting beds is exhausted now. Apples, generally, are good one year and not so good the next year, so maybe 2021 will be better – and thank you 🙂
Ah such a lovely garden , i like the flowers and fruits. Sometimes i wish i had a garden.
Thank you so much, we are very lucky 🙂
Great post! I enjoy reading these updates! I love the flowers!
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoy them 🙂
What an impressive and gorgeous garden! Those raspberries look absolutely delicious, and I am so impressed by how much you have going on at once. I’m working on building up my garden, but right now it’s just a few plants in pots.
Thank you so much! We are very lucky with our garden, most things seem to grow away quite happily – beginners luck! And plants in pots are great, you can focus on them and give them ALL the love 🙂
I love your garden so much. It’s amazing how much it has grown since your last updated. I love the huge variety of colors and plants that you have, I hope to have a garden like that one day but I think mine is pretty good for now. A new garden bed is always exciting, can’t wait to see it fill up with plants.
Thank you, Sarah, that’s so kind of you! Our garden is ten years in the making (not counting what our predecessors left us) but it’s still a work in progress to me 🙂
Thanks for sharing what has been going on in your garden in July, so sorry to hear about the gooseberries, I was keen to see how you got on with them, a net might be a good idea, my parents have had issues with birds getting the fruit before we could! Lovely to see the other fruit bushes in full production, also the flowers and vegetables 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
I know, you’re right, a net for next year, definitely, lesson learned! Thank you, Nic, we’re very lucky otherwise 🙂
Your garden updates are my all-time favourites I swear!
We’ve just moved house and FINALLY have our own garden and I’ve just recently planted my herbs and I’m in love with it! your garden is a true inspiration tho!
Ashleigh
Awwww, thank you so much, that’s so kind of you! Yay, you’ve got the gardening bug, it’s the beginning of a real love affair, I hope you share some pics soon! x
I love seeing your garden blooming Lisa and it is looking wonderful as always! Such a shame the blackbird best you to the berries. We are re landscaping our garden and I keep showing your beautiful posts to the other half for inspiration!
Sarah
Thank you, Sarah, that’s so kind and how exciting to be redoing your garden. Sometimes I wish I could start again too – I’d definitely choose something less high maintenance, haha!
You have such a lovely garden! I really want to get a clematis when out back flowerbed is finished (we need to get the fence up first though!)
We currently have verbena, evening primroses, California poppies (in pink and orange) and some candytuft growing in the garden!
My task this month is to start deadheading the wild flowers that have started wilting!!
xx
Thank you, Holly 🙂 Your garden sounds beautifully colourful – I don’t have any verbena this year, I need to sow some seeds next Spring. And yes, do deadhead your wildflowers – and if you can collect any seed, so much the better! xx
Your post just made me breathe in awe of your garden. I wish to have a garden one day with plants and trees. Keep posting 🙂
Oh my goodness, what a lovely thing to say, thank you so much!
Your Euphorbia looks lovely. A colleague recommended it to me, as I am looking for perennials to have a bit of colour in the garden during winter. I was a bit put off by the fact that is irritant though. I think I will try lavender and foxglove instead.
Oh no, do go for euphorbia, you just need to wear gloves when cutting or pruning, that’s all. Lavender and foxgloves aren’t winter flowering plants, they’re both tender, so euphorbia is a much better bet!
Your garden is so beautiful! Gutting about the blackbird and the gooseberries, I’ve not had gooseberries in years! I can’t believe in how many raspberries you have, it must be so nice being able to enjoy fruit and vegetables you’ve grown yourself xo
Makeup Muddle
Thank you so much, Gemma! I know, I’m sad about the gooseberries but lesson learned for nexxt time 🙂 And yes, you can’t beat growing and eating your own, they taste utterly different to what you buy in the shops! x
This time of the year looks so beautiful in your garden with so many different colorful flowers and fruits and veggies. And that tiger is the best guarding your garden. 🙂
July is one of my favourite months, the colours all seem so vibrant, and we start to get lots to eat too. I thought you’d like our tiger!
Your garden is full of amazing flowers. I’m sure that you enjoy in scent and colors every day.
Oh thank you so much – we do indeed! 🙂
That is an incredible garden. I have no talent with plants (only succulents) and this is real goals!
Wow, thank you, that’s so kind – but really it’s a lot of trial and error with a lot of luck!
Your garden was full of such a beautiful flowers. It look so colorful and I’m sure that scent is amazing.
Thank you so much, we are very lucky!