Brightly the sun of summer shone,
Green fields and waving woods upon,
And soft winds wandered by;
Above, a sky of purest blue,
Around, bright flowers of loveliest hue,
Allured the gazer’s eye.
('Memory' by Anne Bronte 1844)
It is hard to believe that we are already in June! This therefore must mean that the garden is in “full swing”. Well I think Jenny and I both believe that to be the case. The borders seem to have really come on in the last few weeks, filling out with new summer flowers now taking over the centre stage from the Spring show. I think the AGM weekend in early June always picks a very good week in the year to see and enjoy the garden as it enters summer’s highpoint. I hope the gazer’s eye is allured!
We now have on show, for instance, Alliums, Globe Flower, Cornflower, Columbine and Bleeding Heart during the first half of the month. Chris, our photographer, was very keen to photograph the Globe Flower as its buds were swelling. These are beautiful curled balls of bright yellow tightly rolled together. They are part of the Buttercup family which just goes to show that the commonest and simplest flower has many more exotic members of its family.
Having said that we should still praise the common form of Buttercup, in the right place, such as we can see this month in the beautiful hay meadows along the roadside swaying in the breeze. These are sights not be missed before the haymaking takes place.
We are now waiting, amongst many others, for Roses and Hebes to fully blossom and each to display their “loveliest hue”.
Jenny has been busy adding more bedding plants to the tubs around the Parsonage grounds and will be busy ensuring that they are kept well watered as we enter a dry spell mid month. I do hope you enjoy these tubs on your visit to the Parsonage.
If you are able to come to the Parsonage on Sunday 12th July then we will be holding a Garden Open Day to display/offer many cuttings available for a donation or for a swap so please come along and bring your “plant swap” with you too. As well as plants we will be offering some bites and drinks on the day.
Happy gardening!
Geoff Taylor
Volunteer Gardener