As the seasons ebb and flow, so too does the ever-changing beauty of our founder Lucy’s cottage garden. Each month, she shares quiet musings from among the borders - small joys, new discoveries, and the gentle rhythms of nature as they unfold. From the first unfurling petals of spring to the mellow glow of autumn, these notes offer a glimpse into a garden forever in motion.
The unbroken spell of sunshine we’ve had has been glorious in so many ways, but it has also brought with it near-continuous watering. Though it feels like sacrilege, I find myself wishing for rain – a fact that shows quite how dry it has been. It has left the plants parched, with quite a number of them coming and going much earlier than I would usually expect at this time of year. Others, meanwhile, seem to be thriving in the warmth – among them, my early dahlias and hollyhocks.
One of the great joys of high summer is that the lilies are now in bloom, sending wafts of their delicious and unmistakable scent through the garden. The Martagon variety are just about fading now, ready to give way to the fragrant Royal Lilies. I particularly love the way their scent changes: delicate by day; heady and intense by the time 6pm rolls around. I can’t get enough of this fleeting glory, so I make sure I always have a jug full in the sitting room to prolong the pleasure.
The meadow at the back of the garden is in full flourish and teeming with industrious life. It’s a wonderful sight to behold – and I’m happy to report that, being drought-hardy, it hasn’t struggled with the lack of rain. My only worry is that, when the inevitable downpour does come, these wild but delicate beauties will be knocked down by the force.
Emerson Garden Sofa, Fine Red Awning Stripe, featured right My first crop of dahlias is out and thriving, especially in the sunniest spots. They are a happy harbinger of things to come, with many more to follow over the coming weeks. Despite having watched them unfurl year after year, it’s always a delight to see the first blooms – the relief palpable that they’ve survived the cold and wet of winter.
As the garden reaches its peak with flowers at their brightest, the wildlife is happily following suit. The garden is alive with bees, butterflies and birds, which continue to make it their home. I’m particularly happy that we’ve seen a lot more ladybirds in the past week – not only is it always a pleasure to spot them buzzing about, they’re also slowly helping in the fight against aphids, another creature that seems particularly rife this year.
