A New Lease of Life
So, we’re well past the halfway mark, the London Garden Society judges have been, and the nights are drawing in already. One could be forgiven for thinking that the garden had past its best. But there are still a good couple of months of summer left and I’m going to make the most of it.
The herbaceous borders are starting to look a bit louche; slightly beyond control, and that’s the way I like it. Everything is growing up around me like Sleeping Beauty’s hedge, so that when I step into the garden, I feel sheltered from the outside world, the tempo slowed right down.
Up until now all my efforts have gone into establishing the summer borders and containers. But from now on it’s all about curating the displays to keep up the momentum, and that’s no mean feat. Deciding what needs to be cut back to make way for late bloomers is key. But should you just deadhead, or remove the entire flowering stems? Can you fill the gap that’s left behind? Better be sure; after all, you can’t stick’em back on!
Still, it’s this gradual mode of succession that keeps the garden looking fresh right up until October. The creative process gives me a new lease of life too. We gardeners are an optimistic lot; this year is always better than last year, and next year will be the best yet! I’m already thinking of how I can improve planting combinations and develop new themes. In fact, I’m almost relieved when something dies as this offers me a new planting opportunity. So many plants, so little space.
This summer I’ve neglected the roof garden. The irrigation system failed so the plants had to fend for themselves all season. And it’s been a lesson in how to adapt to climate change. The only plants to have survived are the ornamental grasses and kniphofias. So that’s all I’m going to plant. And that’s exciting because I can add new varieties in the knowledge that they will thrive.
One of the reasons I love gardening is that you are always learning. No two weeks are the same. You can plant the same plants in the same place every year and each time they will grow differently. I love the challenge and gratefully reap the unlimited rewards it has to offer.
Love, Caroline x