Catch Summer where you can

It's an elusive summer, isn't it?

Seems to me, we have to catch those moments when we can.

And that's why I love my garden so much.  The sun may not want to shine each day, but there is beauty to be found in the flower garden.  This red rose and the glorious Allium cristophii make my heart sing.

What brightens your garden right now?

In the Garden on a wet June day

Even on a wet and very soggy Monday morning, there's beauty to be found in the garden.  

The beautiful elegance of Hemerocallis glowing alongside Weigela 'Carnaval'.

I have Geranium x oxonianum Wargrave Pink dotted around the garden.  I love it! It's a prolific and very easy perennial to grow on our clay soil and is happy in shade or sun.  

Which is just as well, because much of my garden is shady.  And when the raindrops decorate it's flowers, it brightens even the dullest of summer days.

And Aquilegia is always welcome, in any colour, any size.  For me it is an essential cottage garden plant and links me to my parents and grandparents gardens.  I could never have too many Aquilegias, so I'm delighted when they self seed around the beds. 

What beauty do you find in your garden on a rainy day?

What is a Lawn?

There are gardeners who love pristine lawns... not a single daisy or patch of soil showing.  

Then there are gardeners like you and me ... we love to see the daisies in bloom, to encourage wildflowers to grow amidst the blades of grass.

Here are a couple of shots of my own lawn on this damp drizzly day. 

It's not the most attractive of lawns, I admit.  

I let it do it's own thing.  The daisies are welcome to take over wherever they please.  Our children play here.  The blackbirds love to come find their food here.  And down at ground level, there are many species of insects all busily doing their thing.

I don't use pesticides because I'm an organic gardener.  I don't feed the grass.  In fact, all I do, is mow it - rarely.  Maybe once each month of Summer it gets a mowing.  

There are many different ways to enjoy a lawned area in your garden, for a thought provoking read visit this link:

http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/grass-free-lawns/rethinking-the-traditional-grass-lawn/

I think you'll find it interesting and maybe you'll want to find ways to bring a floral lawn to your garden.  I know I'm going to explore a wider range of wildflowers, even if daisies are my favourite!

Take a look at this too ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22846419

Thanks for reading!

Welcome to The Organic Gardener, Somerset.

I'm Denise and I specialise in Organic and Sustainable gardening practices.  

Whether you want your garden to be full of flowers, vegetables or a mix of both, I'll help you create the garden you dream of.

I offer design, planting schemes, maintenance and pruning.  

My practices are all wildlife friendly.  I never use synthetic chemicals whilst gardening.   I'll help you identify the best, natural, wildlife and family friendly plants for your idyllic garden.  I work in the area covering Midsomer Norton, Frome, Wells and South of Bath.

RHS Qualified. 

If you'd like to find out more, please contact me ...

email:  theorganicgardenersomerset@hotmail.co.uk

telephone:  01761 415922 or 07743 021881