July we love

I have discovered that no lesser a fgure than George Orwell was not only a very keen gardener but also wrote an essay about the joys of gardening and being in the garden through the year. About June he wrote of “the back-breaking work of earthing up potatoes” and “going for walks after supper”. In November it was “raging gales” and “the smell of rubbish fres” that drew his attention.

In this month he was pleased about “going to the offce in shirt sleeves” but, more evocatively, “the endless pop-pop-pop of cherry stones as one treads the London pavements”, which is a lovely image for July.

STAR OF THE MONTH

Kniphofia ‘Sunningdale Yellow’

All the plants we have chosen for this month are must-haves for me, starting with a fabulous red-hot poker (maybe this one is not exactly “red-hot”, but sunnily glowing). I know that you will fnd it hard to believe, but some people don’t like kniphofas. They are missing out as the spikes of strong-coloured flower will liven up any border. From natural meadow to formal rose garden, we all need a kniphofa.

Best in a rich soil (add lots of compost). Divide clumps in spring or take offshoots and pot them up.

Height x Spread 80cm x 50cm

THINK PINK

The ultimate cottage-garden plant. No tumbledown porch or picturesque village dwelling would be complete without one of these towering beauties – this one is a particularly fabulous colour (also available in white, purple and many other shades of pink). They flower over a long summer and will insinuate themselves into even the most inhospitable crevices. A joy not only for us but also for bevvies of bumblebees and butterflies.

Alcea rosea ‘Halo Cerise’

Watch out for slugs and for Hollyhock rust – an annoying fungal disease. Growing plants as biennials – throwing them out once flowering has finished – may help. H x S 1.8m x 50cm

GET TO THE POINT

I love this plant and I don’t think I have made a garden without at least one variety. Why is that? Because I really love the thin spines of colour (this one is white but there are also pinks and a soft lavender) that go with everything. The leaves are arranged in wheels all the way up the elegant stems and, as it fades, the whole shebang adds structure to the autumn border.

Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Album’

One of those plants that responds well to the Chelsea Chop – when you cut it back in late May to delay flowering and create sturdier plants. H x S 1.3m x 40cm

DEEP PURPLE

This is very high up the list of “plants without which no garden w