GARDEN
Spring into
Coloured dogwoods have glowed against dark, green foliage and the hellebores have flowered their hearts out.
Now our summer visitors, the swallows and the house martins, are back! Their calls and joyful swoops over the garden mingle with the chatter and twitter of the garden birds which have kept us mesmerised with their birdsong and busyness throughout the spring. May is one of the loveliest, albeit busiest, months in the gardening calendar. Deciduous trees and
Summer Out in the garden with Garden Designer Sally Cunis Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’
Our spirits soared earlier this year at the sight of puddles of snowdrops, banks of creamy primroses, hundreds of golden daffodils and carpets of egg-yellow celandines punctuated by the blue of Scilla, Iris reticulata, Chionodoxa and Muscari (grape hyacinths).
shrubs are covered in fresh, lush foliage. Viburnums, Choisya, Magnolia, the wild and ornamental cherries and the fruit trees are smothered in flower or blossom and the whole garden is suddenly scented and full of insect life. In the woods, the bluebells create a seamless carpet of blue as far as the eye can see occasionally punctuated by a clump of pale foxgloves or ferns.
In the shade garden, Dicentra (bleeding heart), Aquilegia (Granny’s bonnets), Solomon’s
seal and Thalictrum delavayi add an airy grace to the under-planting of alpine strawberry, bugle and lamium maculatum. The hardy perennials are gathering height and may require support; use peasticks or metal supports which can be lifted around the plants as they grow.
A mixed border gives variety and interest for a long period. Combine flowering shrubs, roses, lavender, saxifrage, heuchara, Turkish sage (Phlomis Russeliana), peonies and alliums to give height, variety, interest and scent throughout the summer, underplanting with autumn and spring bulbs to extend the season. Pots of tulips on the terrace or threaded through the border range from simple, subtle shapes and colours to flaming, twirling, multi-coloured parrot forms which will bring a touch of pizazz to the garden.
Sparrows enjoying a birdbath Native Bluebell Swiss Chard 68
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk A mixed border
June is synonymous with roses; this is their month. There is a rose for most situations: formal standards in pots, as ground cover, rambling, climbing over an arch or, for a border, maybe one of the beautiful English roses, unbeatable for scent, colour and exquisite flower form. I simply love them and have planted many in my garden over the years, added them to clients’ gardens and given them as gifts. Their perfume on a warm summer’s day is evocative of childhood, brings back memories and, for me, is pure happiness in one deep inhalation of rose scent! In the greenhouse, or on a window sill, continue sowing tender salad crops and herbs such as mixed spicy or oriental leaves, coriander and basil. My husband’s tomato plants, ‘Ailsa Craig’ and
Viburnum Carlesii Tulip ‘Carneval de Nice’
‘Black Russian’ are doing well in their grow-bags. Our little lemon tree will be leaving the greenhouse soon to spend the summer in the vegetable garden. The currants and strawberries are tightly netted against the birds. ‘Enorma’ runner beans, saved from last year, and peas are ready to be planted out in the raised beds and Swiss chard and Rocket will be sown directly into a bed where there are a couple of rows of healthy perpetual spinach from last year. Weeds romp away in warm weather so keep on top of them in the vegetable and ornamental gardens by hoeing. Watering becomes more important; where possible use water from a water butt, especially for acid-loving plants. Mulch beds after watering and hoeing to retain moisture and to keep weeds down.
Remember our feathered friends. They are the best defence against pests. Clean and fill up their water bowls and bird baths regularly. Many people like to keep their lawns looking neat and tidy throughout the summer. The RHS advocates ‘No Mow May’ to allow beneficial insects and bees to forage in the lawns and wild patches for nectar. If possible, this is good practice even if only a small part of your grass is left uncut; in addition it is interesting to see what wildflowers will pop up.
Whatever you do in your garden, enjoy this lovely time of year.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
