How can it be the end of July already. Summer is truly with us now but its been an erratic one especially for us up North! Some sweet warm days but lots of rain and many grey days too, it has to be said that I’ve not sat in the garden as much as I would have liked this year. The cut flower garden is moving on, some flowers are liking this cool wet summer, the sweet peas have done well for me this year after a slow start. The autumn sown annuals have flowered their socks off and going over a bit now and in come the spring sown annuals like Larkspur, Calendula and Godetia, plus the half hardys Cosmos, Sunflowers, Amaranthus, Nicotiana, Phlox and Zinnias, though the less said about the Zinnias the better.
I still had a few Cornflowers coming at the start of the month, here is Cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ with Canterbury bells and the Salvia ‘Oxford Blue’ which will just go on for months as long as you keep picking them. Plus some of pale blues and pinks from the Sweet Peas, here is Sweet Pea ‘Alan Williams’, ‘Nimbus’ and ‘Our Harry’.
I have had some lovely big bunches of Sweet Peas. Will do a separate blog about these soon, highlighting some of my favourites from this year. I’ve used them a lot in individual posies as well this year as have grown a nice range of colours. Already planning the ones I’m going to grow next year.
The annual phlox has arrived now and I have to say if any flower is going to usurp Sweet Peas as my favourite flower scent then its those little flowers. Gosh I love it, I could just keep sticking my nose into this bunch. They start off slowly flowering looking a bit floppy and short but don’t panic, just cut them or deadhead them and then they will eventually bunch out after a few cuts and then you get nice long stems. They will flower non-stop until September at least and are so long lasting in a vase, pushing two weeks, as the unopened flowers will continue to open along the stem. I can’t wait to start using them in my bouquets and posies.
This year I’ve grown three varieties Phlox ‘Creme Brulee’.
Phlox ‘Cherry Caramel’
The Cosmos, have also been a little bit slow and some have been nibbled but they are getting tall now and starting to flower properly. I just love Cosmos ‘Apricotta’ and here it is looking splendid.
My new love though is the Godetia, why have I not been growing more of these, they are fabulous. Here is Godetia ‘Crown’ and ‘Memoria’ with Origanum.
Another blue posy with another new arrival this month which is the Larkspur, here is Larkspur ‘Imperials’, mine are mostly a gorgeous rich purple with Salvia ‘Oxford Blue’, Cornflower ‘Mauve Ball’, Echium ‘Blue Bedder’, Feverfew and Sweet peas ‘Nimbus’, ‘Noel Sutton’ and ‘Our Harry’.
I’d forgotten how much I love Nigella ‘Delft Blue’, what a beauty, you need to examine them close up to see all the detail. The white petals look like they have been painted in watercolour with that splash of blue and the dark centres are gorgeous. I’m hoping to let some go to seed heads too.
Take note though you musn’t forget about your biennials, I sowed mine at the beginning of the month, have pricked out the Wallflowers, Sweet rocket and Honesty they are growing well now. But I’m a bit behind in pricking out the Foxgloves and Sweet William so must get those done. The important thing is you need to make sure they don’t dry out, thankfully with all this rain they are still being watered most of the time.
I’m also already thinking about next year and planning what I want to autumn sow this year, going to really experiment with that this year. Keep an eye on the Higgledy Blog as Ben is going to do a discount on hardy annuals for autumn sowing.
Finally I’ve been doing a different form of flower arranging this month helping build a Feature garden at RHS Tatton Flower show. A small garden within the RHS partner garden section at the show featuring the Moongate at Bluebell Cottage Gardens, where I also work. Designed by Sue Beesley, Eden Landscapes built the Moongate in a day! Then myself and Chris from the nursery placed the plants and planting followed with a fab team of us getting most of it done on a damp day. We were all muddy but very happy at the end. Sue also created the amazing stained glass feature.
The planting was for a sunny position at the front of the garden and shady at the back. The sunny side included the star of Tatton Sanguisorba ‘Lilac Squirrel’ plus Persicaria ‘Beesley’s Pink’, Centaurea ‘Silver Feather’ and Echinacea ‘Rubinstern amongst others.
The shady side had the statuesque Lythrum salicaria, Sanguisorba tenuifolia ‘Alba’, Thalictrum ‘Splendide White, Astilbe ‘Flamingo’ Rodgersia pinnata ‘Superba’ amongst others.
What an experience, absolutely loved it, more photos on my Instagram page. We also had a stand in the Floral Marquee for which Sue won a Gold medal. I had a lovely time chatting to people about the plants and we sold out of many things. Exhausted now but got to get back to normal and back into my garden which has been a bit neglected so hoping to get busy with more flowery fun next month.
Higgledy Anne
(I’m on Instagram anne_hinks if you fancy a follow)