We have reached midsummer and the days are long. The Alliums, which produced a stunning display this year, are over but their green seed heads forming globes remain continuing to add structure and definition in beds and borders.Now is the time of the foxglove, astrantia and dianthus. The garden colour has changed, losing the purples and fresh green of Spring to be replaced by reds of many shades and hues. But soon the hotter colours will arrive and the Lavender will begin to dominate. The Angustifolia's of Hidcote, Munstead, Folgate, Felice and Imperial Gem flower earlier and ahead of the x intermedia varieties which form the bulk of our Lavender stock. Their longer and more dramatic flower stems will soon unveil themselves.
Our yew cones, all 9 of them in our front garden, have been trimmed and shaped to form teardrops. Planted back in 2011 in a line along our northern boundary, they are maturing well and their formality works well in the more open and green sward of the front garden which contrasts with the billowing abundance of colour at the back.
But now, for the first time, the garden feels truly mature with beech hedging forming real structure, partition and division. I think we now have what we planned on paper four years ago.
