So summer is finally here and the garden moves from the drama of spring to what we hope will be the warmth of summer, packed with even more colour to enjoy and fragrance to immerse ourselves in too.
Roses take centre stage in the garden as the month progresses, these take a lot of work to make sure we have a great display, the first job after the New Year is to start the mammoth task of pruning and with just shy of 2,000 plants that is no mean feat. In March several new varieties to us were planted to bolster the display. One I like the look of is Rosa ‘Hot Chocolate’ which is planted in the Queen Mother’s rose garden, a floribunda with a unique blend of russet brown flowers full of fragrance and with great disease resistance against the dreaded blackspot.
To keep these looking their best, regular deadheading will take place on all the repeat flowerers so that we can keep the flower power going all summer long. The older roses which just flower the once, we leave to go to seed. The hips add real interest to the plantings later in the year as well as being a good food source for birds.
The rose gardens are great places to get inspiration and see which one you would like to try in your own garden. We have over 270 varieties, and for me, fragrance is a must as that is the essence of a rose, however, each of us will prefer certain colours or types.
For those who love growing things to eat our fruit and vegetable garden is full of things to see, the beds are bulging with a succession of crops which, when ready will be sent to our restaurant for our team to create lovely meals. This year, over 50 varieties of tomato will be grown; I always find it amazing to see all the different shapes and sizes available. The new glasshouse is full of gems and surrounded by pots of herbs. Nearby, on the south-facing wall the fan-trained peaches are swelling, following a helping hand with some hand pollination using an artist’s paintbrush, back in March.
Our meadows are also at their peak, the delicate grasses dance in the breeze and wildflowers provide a great food source for our wildlife to enjoy. The yellow rattle that helps diminish the grasses’ vigour, is full of flower alongside drifts of southern marsh-orchids with rich pink-purple flowers.
What’s on at Rosemoor this month
FESTIVAL OF ROSES: Enjoy the beautiful rose gardens and weekly guided walk. June 17 to 16 July 16
WALKIES AT ROSEMOOR: Explore Rosemoor in the evening with your four-legged friend. June 14.
PELARGONIUM AND GERANIUM SOCIETY NATIONAL SHOW: See the Garden Room full of these plant gems as well as a display of Rosemoor’s Plant Heritage Pelargonium National Collection. June 17 and 18
ROSE WEEKEND: Including the Craft and Food Market. June 23 to 25.
ROSEMOOR LIVE: Motown Soul & Disco party, June 29, and An Evening with Songs from James Bond, June 30
