I thought I'd start this month's photos with four of our biggest trees in the back garden. Above is the Silver Birch, Right is the Catalpa (Indian Bean Tree), below is the big fir tree (not sure what kind it is) and below right is the Robinia (False Acacia).

They provide shade and, more importantly, somewhere for "our" birds and squirrels to visit, sit etc. The fir tree is like a main junction with lots of visitors.

Moving on to the food part of the garden. The Onions have now been gathered in and are in the bottom greenhouse (in the shade) to dry out (apart from the smaller ones that we had for lunch!)

Finally, flowers on the Broad Beans. I thought we'd lost them all to black fly this year so cut them back. Seems to have worked - fingers crossed.

These lovely creatures help keep the aphids at bay!

The Courgettes (left) are doing really well this year - we've had loads already.

I've grown Carrots in tubs this year, hidden in amongst the leeks to deter the carrot fly. They are small (tightly planted) but really tasty.

The Tomatoes are tumbling ones for a change - again, really tasty and growing well.

The Honeysuckle is past its best but still looks nice against the shed.

The plants in the pond are Water Hyacinth - they are going great guns but no flowers.

And now, the tour around the main part of the garden...

The Hollyhocks self seed every year but don't seem to grow very tall and there aren't many of them. Possibly a lack of water.

The Cosmos are very fluffy this year.

 

These lovely spiky plants are flowering up nicely and keeping the pigs company.

Our Agapanthus are flowering nicely as are the Hydrangeas.

This is the last Spiraea with flowers. The flowers on the others have all died back (and they've been deadheaded this afternoon, so after the photos).

The Sedums are starting to show a very faint tinge of pink.

The California Poppies haven't been as prolific as in earlier years.

This bush, on the other hand, has more flowers than ever.

Not many flowers on the Crocosmia this year but still pretty.

The Hostas are flowering nicely. I think the fact we had a month of rain in a day last weekend must have done them some good.

The Heuchera (opposite) seem to be settled in not suffering in amy way since I cut the Red Robin back.

I've tried to plant various things under the Robinia over the years but our weather is too dry here in the south of England so nothing seems to survive the summer. It's OK in winter (more rain!).

Not many Erigeron left but this one was enjoying the sunshine.

The Corylus is taking over!

With the Cotinus, I read in the RHS magazine that if you want darker colour leaves and no fluffy flowers, the best thing to do is prune hard early spring. It seems to have worked.

The Snapdragons have done better in the patio beds than in the bed on the right. Very pretty little flowers.

The Poppies grow where they grow - none are sown, they just self seed where they're comfortable.

The Lavender has been cut back this afternoon (so I should sleep well tonight!)

The Nicotiana really like the patio beds. Not sure why but they give us a lot of colour.

That's it for this time.

I'll add more photos next month.

 

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