PLANTS IN FLOWER: Roses, Lavender, Sage, Penstamon, Chives, Nepeta, Feverfew, Santolina, Marigold, Tagetes, Sweet Peas, Cornflower, Honeysuckle, Day Lilies, Meadowsweet, Ladies Mantle, Herbaceous Geraniums, Waterlily.
The border is now at it's peak with the cottage garden roses in flower and soft leaves of the ladies mantle tumbling onto the lawn's edges. The Siberian iris are already going over but the perennial foxgloves, shrubs and the mixture of ornamental grasses which I planted as seedlings are putting on alot of new growth as the year progresses having mulched them last year with composted bark.
The pond area also looks really mature for the first time this summer, with masses of maroon day-lilies flowering and the water lilies progressively opening with their pure whiteness ...
I still need to put some grey local gravel around the the stones which form the border of the pond to soften the edges a little but the overall structure looks pretty much OK. The spreading chamomile between the paving stones and white thrift have also rapidly created green patches against the grey of the stone. While the bull-rushes planted in the boggy area next to the curved wall are already shoulder height next to meadowsweet and catnip.
The herbs in the south facing gravel bed are thriving, apart from the viridiflora santolina which is just a little too tender to take the cold winters here - in contrast to the more common grey leaved 'cotton-lavender' which is quickly taking over the steps.
But still it is the vegetable garden which is grabbing all my attention.... I still need to finish putting down the cedar-wood bark chippings from a local sawmill which will eventually form the paths all around the deep beds. But all the beds are finally planted up now to include an asparagus bed, an artichoke bed, a strawberry bed and an area for cut flowers. Everything seems to grow profusely on this south facing slope with the generous rainfall in the valley, despite the fact that the weather has been cooler than usual for the time of year, apart from a few really warm days. It is just fantastic to dig up new potatoes, eat masses of peas direct from their pods, gather broad beans and pick herbs by the basket on a daily basis ....