Advice and inspiration with Nige Eaton, horticulture expert at Moss & Moor, Ilkley
A DIFFERENT VIBE FOR THE GARDEN IN JULY
July is the month where I sit and savour the warm evenings for as long as possible. In my village garden bats flit across the evening sky, the heady scents of herbs surround and a feeling of calm pervades. White-flowered plants glow in an evening garden, and ensure you have scented blooms to get an all-round experience.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) is a climbing evergreen with sweetly scented clusters of flowers throughout the summer. The scent is heavy on the evening air and is loved by hummingbird hawk moths that migrate here from Europe for the summer. Star jasmine like well-drained soil, in sun, so look great climbing a south or west-facing fence or wall. The heat released by the wall after sundown enhances the fragrance on the air. If your soil is heavy clay, plant them in planters and raise them up on pot feet to allow the compost to drain. I also plant Nicotiana sylvestris (tobacco plants), a stately annual which reaches six-feet high, covered in white-scented tube-like flowers. Luma apiculata (Chilean myrtle) or its cousin Myrtus communis (common myrtle) provides additional contrast. Both evergreen shrubs have scented leaves and white flowers in summer. The deep inky blue autumnal berries that follow can be used in making preserves. Beloved by wedding florists, Queen Victoria had myrtle as one of her wedding bouquet flowers and royal brides have followed the tradition. The head gardener of the royal parks is tasked with taking a cutting from each bouquet to propagate a bush to plant in Windsor royal park. What a responsibility!
Whatever you plant for July, go for blooms with a scent you can enjoy in the warm evenings.
GARDEN OF THE MONTH
BENINGBROUGH HALL
This eight-acre formal garden and parkland sits around a Georgian mansion and boasts a beautiful walled garden, a woodland walk and a newly installed Mediterranean garden. Designed by Andy Sturgeon, winner of numerous RHS Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, this new installation focusses on drought-loving plants in recognition of our changing climate.
The archways of the walled garden have an array of formally trained fruit trees, showing the inventive ways you can grow fruit on walls and garden structures. Don’t miss the double herbaceous border and
PLANT OF THE MONTH
HEMEROCALLIS (DAY LILIES)
Day lilies have been seeing a resurgence in popularity. Originally, they were large clump-forming plants of more foliage than flower, but new breeding has removed their overbearing nature and produced beautiful, taller, elegant additions. My top five varieties are Bonanza, Sammy Russell, Stella de Oro, Chicago Apache, and Pink Damask. As their name suggests the individual flowers last a day, but weeks of flowers a
