What’s looking good at the moment

I was looking back at last year’s June newsletter, to see what I wrote about. I mentioned that the peonies weren’t quite open but that the bees were impatiently banging their heads against the flower buds. After going for a wander round the garden the bees seem to be at it again this year, still impatiently waiting for the peonies to open. The roses are all out in full bloom, from the pale white with a hint of blush from Desdemona, the apricot tones of The Lark Ascending, to the deep velvety red of Souvenir du Docteur Jamain.

The tulips are over and the purple pom-poms of the alliums, have taken over. Wending their way through borders, creating a rhythm to draw you down the garden or along a border to a bench, in the local park. Mixed in with blue geraniums and clouds of nepeta, all offset with tall fluffy lilac flowers of the early flowering varieties of Thalictrums. The pale lilac of Thalictrum aquilegifolium and the dark stems of Thalictrum ‘Elin’. The vibrant orange flowers of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ are out in full force, complementing the blue of Geranium pratense. Although I have to admit the first one appeared in March, flowering much earlier than previous years. They are more of an early summer flowering plant than an early spring one.

Trends

Informality was a key trend, this year at the Chelsea Flower Show. The paths often meandering and the trees dotted amongst the planting. A change from the neatly clipped hedging and the avenues of trees. There was plenty of layering to add interest, trees under planted with shrubs, before finally adding in the perennials and grasses. Plenty of roses mixed in with perennials, which I personally prefer, to a dedicated rose garden. It means that even after the roses have finished flower there is still plenty of possibility of colour. I also enjoy hiding the woody stems that roses develop over the years.

Some of the shrubs, used in the Chelsea gardens were edible too, such as redcurrants. Using herbs, fruit bushes and architectural plants such as globe artichokes shows that it is possible to mix and match edible and ornamental plants in a small garden. I have a herb area, around the seating area, near to the kitchen. I can sit out and enjoy the bees foraging from flower to flower and easily grab a few stems for cooking. However, I don’t have space for a dedicated productive garden. Instead there are stepover apples (the names comes from being able to stepover them, although mine look more like hurdles), currant and gooseberry bushes are nestled amongst the flowers. While beans and peas are twined around clematis and sweetpeas.

Yellow was the colour of the show from zingy euphorbias, lighting up shady spaces to delicate cowslips (Primula elatior) and primroses. Along with the tiny yellow flowers of Epimediums. Sunnier borders were filled with Baptisia, more commonly seen in shades of blue but this year it was all about the yellow, from the vibrant Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’ to the lemon yellow of Primrose Path. Along with verbascums, perhaps the deep yellow with a purple centre of Verbascum ‘Cotswold Queen’ or the pale yellow Gainsborough. While I like the flowers, unfortunately they aren’t going to survive on my clay soil. Irises on the other hand are very happy in my garden. At the moment they are shades of blue and purple but if I was going to add a yellow in, it would be probably be Iris ‘Butter and Sugar’. A pale yellow flower with a cream centre.

After the warm, dry spell we have had, where some plants have struggled and others have thought summer had come early. We have finally had some rain and the plants, along with the weeds have taken off. To keep the garden looking at its peak for summer, there are few tasks that would help.

• Climbers: Particularly sweet peas and to some extent clematis, need keeping an eye on and tying in, if they are starting to flop into the borders. Other climbers such as roses and jasmine may need tying in too. As the roses finish they can be dead headed to encourage them to produce more flowers. As sweet peas start to flower, cutting a few stems to fill a vase will also encourage them to keep producing flowers throughout the summer.

• Stake plants: The quick growth spurt some plants have put on, as a result of the recent downpours we have had, may mean that they could do with some support. Staking them will stop them flopping over. Anything from hazel sticks, to bamboo canes and string. Personally, I use metal stakes with a small loop to hold the stem up. They have rusted naturally over time, helping them to fade into the border. I am also happy to leave them in place, long after the flowers have faded and the plants have been cut back to the ground.

• Pruning: Spring flowering plants can be cut back, once they have faded, to encourage a new flush of foliage. It will also help create more space for summer flowering plants.

What I’m working on

Ground will finally be broken on the nature reserve project (the garden is surrounded by the nature reserve). The work is being broken down into phases, where part one will be to complete the work on the canal side garden. This is the more formal, Italian style garden that overlooks the canal and the trees beyond. A relaxing space to watch the ducks and canoeists go by. The first part of the main garden will be to install the main decking area, along with a play area for the children and plenty of trees. Future phases will include a smaller deck for enjoying coffee, an outdoor dining area and plenty of wildflowers with mown paths through. I can’t wait to finally start planting and to know that the clients will have some outdoor space to enjoy this summer.

Work is continuing, on my garden too, the metal supports are now in place, along with the wires. I’ve started training the climbers in, which should stop them flopping into the borders and create more space for new plants. The next steps are more pruning and some weeding, before working on plans for the borders. Most of the plants that I decided to take out, either because they were suffering from box moth caterpillar or they no longer worked, have gone. I will have one last audit before adding any new plants. While client’s gardens are always planned in great detail, with plant lists and plans, my own is normally something I work out in my head. I thought it was finally time I had a plan to work to.

If you have any garden plans I’d love to hear about them.

About the author

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. Get in touch if you’d like help planning your garden for 2025 on 07887 926095 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com