my rose garden is an especially peaceful and fragrant place at this time of year. We designed it with the beds ranging from pale whites and yellows through to dark pinks and deep reds
STORIES · 25.07.23
Food | Garden | Mindful Living
I notice constant changes in my garden throughout the year, but never more so than during the summer months. It feels like there is an abundance of colour, scent and flavour at every turn, from roses, dahlias and sweet peas to trugs of fruits and vegetables that continue to ripen every day. Although it feels like we haven’t enjoyed as much sunshine as usual this month, there has still been plenty to celebrate in the garden, so I thought I would share some of my highlights from the season so far.
There’s nothing quite so delicious as a homegrown pea, freshly podded from its shiny shell and bursting with natural sweetness. Happily, ours have done particularly well this year, and thanks to Steve’s steady succession of sowing we should be able to continue harvesting them for quite some time yet. The broad beans, French beans and runner beans have also started, with the ‘Cobra’ variety being particularly prolific last week. I like them lightly steamed and tossed through salads to add a little extra crunch.
We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy baskets full of peaches from the glasshouse, plus lots of punnets of strawberries, redcurrants and gooseberries – the latter is one of my favourite berries. I love their tart, grassy and quintessentially British flavour that works so well baked into a sponge cake – or simply simmered down into a sharp gooseberry compote and folded through whipped double cream. Usually the blackbirds find a way to get to our berry crop before we do, however they have been less troublesome than usual this year, for which I am very grateful. It is early days in the orchard, but it looks as though we won’t have as many apples as usual. Although it can be frustrating, I find this sort of unpredictability is one of the thrills of organic gardening; a reminder to relinquish control and learn to accept the rhythms of nature.
unpredictability is one of the thrills of organic gardening; a reminder to relinquish control and learn to accept the rhythms of nature
We have an amazing spectrum of sweet peas this year, which are peppering various parts of the garden with their vibrant petals and unmistakable scent. Mrs Bernard Jones, Platinum Sensation, Leominster Boy and Our Harry are particularly bright and beautiful varieties. I love giving little posies as gifts – or bringing them into the house to decorate the table and mantelpiece.
My rose garden is especially peaceful and fragrant place at this time of year. We designed it with the beds ranging from pale whites and yellows through to dark pinks and deep reds. As they bloom, the range of natural colours always amazes me, so I am very grateful to Jenny who created the record above which shows the the various flower heads at their peak. I particularly like Miss Alice, which has the same name as my daughter.
As each season passes, so my garden will change, and soon the roses will give way to the dahlias which were planted earlier this year. They look to be off to a good start, so I look forward to sharing another update with you when they are in full bloom.
