The rain we had in July has certainly helped the garden to flourish, however it was also quite cool. August has been reminiscent of a typical British summer - high teen temperatures, with sunshine and showers most days. Thankfully this has kept the plants ticking over nicely while I've experienced some issues with my anxiety bubbling over into agoraphobia.
With the support of TMTC, I've been able to work in the front garden this weekend. Many of the shrubs were desperately in need of some pruning, particularly the purple pittosporum tenuifolium Tom Thumb and two Osmanthus Burkwoodii balls.
The new growth on the pittosporum is green but as it matures it becomes flecked with dark purple-black before developing into a beautiful shiny dark leaf. This "evergreen" shrub looks stunning through the colder months but the heavy snow of last winter created a bit of a hole in the top which I've been working to remedy.
At the top of the front garden is an acer which is currently developing seeds. These are winged like sycamore "helicopters" but are dark red. The leaves are beginning to change ever-so slightly too.
Beside the acer, to the right in the top photo, is ceanothus Italian Skies. Fast outgrowing its space, we have had to drastically reduce its height as it's cutting out light to the plants on the terrace below. There is a pieris in between the ceanothus and hydrangea but it is being squeezed out. Come the winter, a decision will need to be made on which remains, the ceanothus or the pieris.
In the back garden, the pond has done fabulously well, supporting lots of tiny frogs from this year's brood. The plants surrounding the pond still have some maturing to do but I'd say that given its first year in its current form, it has been very successful.
This acer was passed to us last winter as it was underperforming in its previous garden. We potted it up and nestled at the "shoreline" of the pond in this sheltered spot, it has flourished. It will need a little pruning to shape but it does seem happy.
The long border is in need of a bit of attention come the autumn. There are a number of trees along this edge that provide vital privacy but in full summer, the plants below are no longer happy. We have a couple of hardy shrubs that are currently in pots that will help to transform this area and my plan is to underplant them with hardy cyclamen, snowdrops and dwarf narcissi, most of which are already planted here.
While we are on the subject of change, the terrace border is something I've never been happy with. So this autumn, everything is going to be ripped out and the patio is going to be extended into the space. Plants have always struggled to thrive in this bed, probably due to the two acers next door and the aspect in full sun. With the changing climate, it will only get worse so it's time to stop trying to work against mother nature in this space. Most of the plants will be rehomed around the garden.
And now we venture through the rose arch gate, down the steps to The Yen on the left to find the wisteria which has developed another sweetly scented flower.
At the boundary on the far left is our apple tree which after a couple of duff seasons, has provided a good bounty this year. I think it may have heard me when I threatened to remove it!
This sedum has self seeded beside the compost bins.
And to the right of the steps down is Mugwart's Retreat.
Beneath the dappled shade of three silver birches, lies our tiny woodland with ferns and another hydrangea, punctuated with white scented phlox.
Along the boundary scrambles rosa New Dawn but with the shrubs now maturing we are often unable to reach the roses. We are therefore going to remove them in the autumn. This will also allow the robin to nest without any human activity in close proximity.
The garden never ceases to evolve but we need to think seriously about what changes we can make to help nature even more. To work with rather than against the conditions we face, such as climate change, and all the while being conscious of our own capabilities as we age.
