A moment of lightness and balance…
Warm muggy days of early summer are dappled with vibrant green leaf light. The colour is luxuriant.
Comfrey, meconopsis and lilac are in bloom; with pink yarrow to come – some has been planted out in final ‘room’ of the Hortus by the Cloud pool, and more in the stone frieze planter on the patio – Even Gods Have Dwelt In The Woods
The native marsh orchid puts in its pleasing appearance in hidden corners around the lochan edge and by the base of Huff Lane.
Grass cutting becomes a general preoccupation throughout. The increase in temperature means that much of the patchy areas which were re-seeded are starting to fill in to form a more uniform carpet.
All along the edges of the waterways in the Parkland are strimmed back, clearing a view to the concealed water courses which run through it.
The ponds too have been given a good deal of attention, weeding out the Middle and Temple pools. The water supply to the Temple pool dries up for a brief time but it is just a case of working down the pipe from the reservoir to find and clear a blockage of accumulated silt – all is brimful again. The Top pond is left for the time being as there is a mallard duck nesting on the Silver Cloud islet – a new family soon to arrive, if left undisturbed.
There is more planting out of annuals by the cottage and Temple, and in the Front garden – cerinthe, cosmos, cornflower, echinopsis, and some further potting on – including primroses and others from last years sowings.
The Kailyard and Allotment are gradually filling out, as there is a rush of new growth of vegetables and other edibles. The greenhouse shelves form a production line, gradually transferring to outdoors.
Ox eye daisies are appearing everywhere now and are partnered by yellow flag iris and red campion around the lochan.
Lily of the valley perfumes Julie’s garden. This whole area too is given a bit of attention removing many of the clumps of sweet cicely and allowing other less dominant planting to come through.
New growth which had drooped with the warm weather is now reinvigorated by rain as the pattern shifts from long warm droughty days to patchy squally summer showers. Midsummer day itself brings a marked change as sharp showers sweep down – the hope now is that having done its good work the rain passes and we can enjoy a decent spell for the coming weeks.
All of the hedges are given a trim – the box topiary forms are sharpened up and give shape and definition to areas like the parterre in the Hortus, and the wave shapes by the front gate A Cottage. A Field. A Plough.
Weeding too becomes part of the general round – nettles in particular need purged – in the Little Wood, along the edges of grassy pathways, and by the Nuclear Sail. Clearing out the gloomy bank that runs down by this last area means it can be replanted with white foxgloves – the bright sparks of their flowering will illuminate a shady place and will hopefully naturalise there.
All seems to be at that moment of lightness and balance when new growth promises so much. The garden fills out, takes on its proper shape and character for the season.