JULY is the month when the garden becomes alive with colour as the early summer displays develop. Roses are everywhere and are especially spectacular where they are growing up through trees.
The area of garden to the right of the Potting Shed is the first stage of our new woodland section which has a winter emphasis complemented by a collection of colchicums and specialist snowdrops.
In the area opposite the potting shed you will see the blue spires of Galega and the pink spikes of Sidalcea. The fresh pink flowers of geranium A.T. Johnson mingle with the architectural ‘hard’ form of the teasels which selfseed so readily.
Walking around the garden today in an anti-clockwise direction some of the highlights are:
The border in front of the glasshouse is our steppe border incorporating many new plants from drier regions of the world arranged informally in a naturalistic style. Cool pastel shades predominate – the dark blue spikes are Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’, the pink, Salvia nemerosa ‘Rosewein’. Pink is also provided by Phlomis tuberosa and Sidalcea neomexicana.
Still in its early stages, the border opposite is a new sister border to the steppe border and provides blue spikes with Veronica longifolia and Nepeta x faesenii ‘Walker’s Low’. The tiny pink flowers along the front are Dianthus carthusianorum blending with the small red balls of Knautia macedonica ‘Mars Midget’.
Following the path round, the large splashes of white in the border on the right are Persicaria Polymorpha combining with the pink tones of Sidalcea and the blue spires of Delphinium Giant Pacific ‘Summer Skies. The white daisies of Kalimeris incisa make a pleasing contrast with the spikes of Veronica spicata.
The borders lining the other side of the path are our annual beds, this year focussed on cool pastels with Cosmos and Gaura linkheimeri.
The moist garden is behind the impressive block of Portuguese laurel hedging where the pink plumes of Filipendula purpurea associate well with the foamy flowers and attractive leaves of Rodgersia pinnata ‘Superba’. Pink astilbes weave through the planting.
The cut flower borders fill the area between this path and the burn. Phlomis russeliana’s creamy yellow ball flowers contrast with grasses such as the oatlike Stipa gigantea which catches every breeze. The white daisy flowers are Anthemis tinctoria ‘Alba’. The small purple plant is Dianthus barbatus nigrescens ‘Sooty’ and the fine low feather grass is Stipa tenuissima from Mexico.
The beds immediately opposite, over the burn, make up the early flowering area. The white drooping flowers are Sanguisorba tenuifolia planted alongside Nepeta ‘Dawn till Dusk’ and Eryngium. The purple foliage plants are Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’ and the yellow spires are Verbascum nigrum.
Next to this is our naturalistic ornamental potager where the flat yellow saucer-like flowers of Achillea Gold Plate drift above this newly planted area and contrast with the purplish blue spikes of Agastache foeniculum. This planting starts to mature late in the month.
In the two beds at the entrance to the potager the giant white Crambe cordifolia is just finishing its dazzling display, Sanguisorbas with their airy red or white flowers combine with Veronica longifolia (sharp blue spikes) and Achillea ‘Walter Funk’ provides orange to add a bit of heat.
The beds opposite are known as the traditional ¼ beds. The white vetchlike flowers of Galega x hartlandii ‘alba’ contrast with the French lavender, and Salvia spikes mingle with pale pink geraniums and silver Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’.
Turning to the right the two beds bordering the path up to the cartwheeling statues are the tall grass prairie beds. Here you will find the striking metallic blue thistle, Eryngium x zabelli ‘Forncett Ultra’, Veronicastrum virginicum roseum with its tall pink spikes and the ball-like flowers of Echinops. Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ is foamy pink in among Lythrum virgatum. These borders will gain momentum from now onwards.
Coming back down this path and running the length of the potager and early flowering area is the Nepeta Walk where the nepeta cultivar ‘Six Hills Giant’ combines traditionally with pink and white shrub roses. The tall pink or yellow bulbs with the curled back petals are Lilium Martagon. Dried allium seedheads provide some interesting texture.
As you leave the garden the tall grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ and spikes of Veronicastrum provide the early height for these box beds. At a lower level Astrantia major ‘Claret’ contrasts with lime green Carex muskingumensis.
Please feel free to explore the glasshouses and frames, but please do not touch plants or labels. Please also fill in one of our questionnaires as we are always interested in visitors’ comments.
We deliberately do not label every plant in an effort to retain an informal atmosphere but
if there is something which particularly interests you and there is a gardener around please feel free to ask him about it. Alternatively if you email a digital photograph or description and rough position in the garden we shall happily reply. (cambo@camboestate.com)
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