GARDENER’S NOTES LONG-FLOWERING SUMMER PERENNIALS
BY JULIET ROBERTS
There’s nothing quite like an English garden in summer. With our relatively benign climate, access to a huge range of plants from all over the world and a long tradition of horticultural expertise, we are fortunate to have some of the most remarkable gardens to visit and specialist growers right on our doorstep. Many of them also offer tea and cakes; gardens, plants and cakes – how good do things get? With this selection of long-flowering perennials, you can make sure your garden is vibrant and interesting all summer long.
2. ERYSIMUM BOWLES’S MAUVE (WALLFLOWER)
This perennial produces masses of pretty, deepmauve flowers. Easy and reliable, if you dead head it regularly you can prolong flowering. Height 30-60 cm.
3. PEROVSKIA LITTLE SPIRE (RUSSIAN SAGE)
This neat deciduous shrub with silver-grey leaves produces masses of erect panicles of tiny violet-blue flowers all summer long. Height 60 cm.
1. GERANIUM ROZANNE GERWAT (GERANIUM) With large violet, palecentred flowers above neat green foliage, this pretty geranium is hard to beat for impact and long performance. It’s low growing and doesn’t run, so works well at the edge of a border. Height 50 cm.
4. RUDBECKIA FULGIDA VAR. DEAMII (BLACKEYED SUSAN)
This hardy herbaceous perennial flowers reliably from July until the first frosts.
Height 60 cm.
GARDENS TO VISIT IN SUMMER BRYAN’S GROUND, HEREFORDSHIRE
Set around a 1912 Arts and Crafts house on the WelshHerefordshire border, this privately owned garden has been developed since 1993 by owners David Wheeler and Simon Dorrell. The 3-acre garden is filled with horticultural delights. With a series of interlocking garden rooms featuring topiary, follies, a rose garden, herbaceous borders, a walled kitchen garden, orchard and potager, the garden is worth visiting at any time, but particularly in summer. Visit www.bryansground.co.uk.
EASTON WALLED GARDENS, LINCOLNSHIRE
Owned by the Cholmeley family for over 400 years, the current heirs began restoring the 12-acre garden in 2001. Set in a beautiful valley, the garden has a Yew Tunnel, Turf Maze, Rose Meadows, Vegetable Garden and a Cut Flower Garden renowned for its sweet peas. The garden holds a Sweet Pea week, which takes place June 30-July 7. For details visit www.visiteaston.co.uk.
BETH CHATTO GARDENS, ESSEX
Created by the late great gardener, writer and maverick plantswoman Beth Chatto, this 7-acre garden is a place of pilgrimage for plant enthusiasts from all over the world. Packed with clever planting combinations, the entire garden is a masterclass in Beth’s ethos of putting the right plant in the right place. In summer, don’t miss the iconic gravel garden where you’ll find the most inspiring displays of drought-tolerant plants. For further details visit www.bethchatto.co.uk.