June, we are on the cusp of summer, frosts have gone and so have the spring bulbs. The borders are filling out and you can start to see where there are gaps that give you an opportunity to take a trip to Longacres, or is that just me… I’ve spent the last month doing a daily round of the garden and pulling out any bluebells and forget me nots to give the plants coming through space to flourish. The garden will never be one of those immaculate gardens without a plant out of place. I prefer to let plants seed and get the benefit of lots of free plants.
I am still very much on the learning curve with gardening. Being on light sandy soil, it feels it is a constant battle to give the plants the nutrients they need, it looks full of life in spring but by the end of summer it has run out of steam. I’ve just learnt that manure alone isn’t enough, that will help retain moisture, but I need to feed the soil. I have previously done a bit of fish, blood and bone, but this year I’ve decided to go down the chicken manure pellet route for feeding the plants and I hope that will help.
The flowerbeds are coming along well. A few years back I noticed I had that ‘June gap’, the spring bulbs were over and nothing much was in flower. I have built up my lupin collection and love how they have come on.
They seem pretty slug proof even if the aphids have found one of them, but I’ll sacrifice one lupin if the others stay aphid free. Unfortunately, we have a lot of ants in the garden and they farm the aphids and deter ladybirds, as I don’t use pesticides I’m patiently waiting for the birds to do their job. I have noticed an increase in the number of birds over the last few years, so maybe there is hope. My hosta’s are thriving and I’m loving their different shades of green, the pots have been planted up with Salvia Nemorosa Tanzerin and the calibrachoa which I bought earlier on in the year from Longacres. I’m hoping the bees will also enjoy the display.
There is nothing quite like looking at the number of plants you’ve been buying and growing and then wondering to yourself where on earth are you are going to put them all…
Thankfully the neighbour decided to replace some fence panels which once completed gave me the opportunity to overhaul a big part of a flowerbed.
A huge conifer had also been removed a few months back and because of this growing conditions had gone from being very dark and dry to lots of light. After digging over the flowerbed and clearing everything except an azalea, I gave the soil a good feed with a load of manure and chicken pellets and got planting. This year I have decided to try dahlia’s for the first time. In an attempt to do more block planting this new area has given me the chance to plant them all in this area, along with some nicotiana Lime Green.
I have spent a couple of years growing agapanthus from seed and at last have somewhere to plant them.
I’m really pleased with how it has turned out so far and just hope the slugs stay away from the dahlia’s. Not taking any risks though, everything is strulched.
I’ve been lucky enough this month to visit some stunning gardens. Firstly, was Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in Horsham. We got the timing right and the display of rhododendrons and azaleas was breath taking.
This is a garden that has been closed for the last 9 years and recently re-opened in April after it had been brought back to its former glory. The gardens hold half of the worlds varieties of rhododendrons and is definitely worth a visit. The children loved running in and out all the little paths running between the plants.
I also had the opportunity for a day out at Great Dixter and Sissinghurst. Great Dixter is one of Britain’s best gardens and it didn’t disappoint. The home of Christopher Lloyd, the garden is all about inspiring new ideas and the planting was stunning. Made up of different rooms with different styles it is a garden that is easy to go around and get inspiration for your own garden.
I loved the gladioli, and came away with a few more astrantias to add to my collection. Astrantia Major and Astrantia Shaggy, can you ever have too many different types of astrantia?
Next on to Sissinghurst, this is another incredible garden that has been divided up into rooms and has so much interest.
It is famous for its ‘white garden’ and whilst I was probably a couple of weeks early it still didn’t disappoint.
I loved the combination of sweet rocket Hesperis matronalis and the Gladiolus communis subsp. Byzantinus.
That has to be the benefit of visiting all of these gardens, to be able to come home full of new ideas and incorporate those into your own garden. But hold on, didn’t I say the other month that I needed to reduce the number of different plants in the garden… So many beautiful plants, maybe I need more flowerbeds…
A wonderful article, all expressed in a down to earth manner. We don’t all have gardens the size of Cricket pitches so appreciate how we can work on our gardens whatever the size.
Thank you.
Great article. Love the pictures, very inspiring. Now if only the rain would stop. Trying to harden off 20 Lavender plants grown on from plugs and they are not happy with wet feet!!!
Looking forward to reading more from you.
Well done. All looks great.