July sails by…

It has come to that time of the year when the ponds and waterways, while all still running need to be cleaned regularly to maintain the flow of water through the system. The Claudi pond, the sequence of pools and streams in the Parkland, the little cloud reflecting pool in the Hortus are all cleared out and any overgrowth cut back from the edges where it is folding over, so that the water remains visible throughout its course.

The middle and upper ponds are larger jobs, and the lochan, which had received such a good purge at the start of the season is already being clogged up by regrowth of potomargeton. Keeping this removed would constitute a full time job in itself, a happy balance has to be accepted.

A few more flowering annuals are put out from greenhouses into beds and successional veg into the Kailyard. Here too the angelica is cut back to keep it in check and allow for a second flourish. There is also a bit more potting on – squash in the greenhouses are doing better than their counterparts outside, and a few more sowings of perennials for next year.

There is new planting around Of Flutes and Wild Roses and the base of Zeno in the Temple woodland garden where clearances from trees fallen and limbed earlier in the season have opened up light and space – the understory here is filled with harts tongue fern and tellima grandiflora transferred from the allotment walls and paths where it is not really wanted or needed. The densely shaded area around the Pyramid and by the woodland edge is filled out with geraniums to help expand the patchwork of ground cover there.

The annual willowherb cull continues by the end of the lochan and on the hillside, as does the never-ending pulling up of nettles and ground elder. A more welcome sight are the feathery plumes of aruncus or goat’s beard which sway and brighten even on darkest of days.

Topiary box forms and hedging is clipped into sharp outlines again, along with the yew pillars in Temple garden interspersing the Liberty, Equality, Eternity, 1793 columns.

The Grotto is given a tidy around and the oculus in the roof cleared of overhanging giant campion and grasses so that the light filters through again, to Illuminate the inscription and busts of the doomed lovers within.

We are in full berry season as red and blackcurrants, strawberries and raspberries ripen. The ‘Raspberry Republic’ yields its fruit.

Julie’s garden gets a good refresh removing overly dominant sweet Cicely and lifting and transplanting clumps of lily-of-the-valley. The path edges are cleared so that it becomes a more inviting space to enter and see the works arranged here.

Repairs are made to the stone works No Ripe Rasp and the fallen Arcadia: A Kingdom in Sparta’s Neighbourhood column, where some small sections had chipped off, just to keep them from deteriorating further.

Even with showery days more frequent than not, there still seems to be a continual need for watering pots and containers, the hostas are relishing conditions and have not suffered much slug damage – perhaps partially as we now also seem to have acquired a new resident hedgehog family in the garden, a cheering sight and long may their good work and presence continue…