Looking Good in the Garden for August

Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Exmouth’ can take up to 30 years to flower after planting, so I’m VERY EXCITED that mine is blooming after 10 years. The flowers are huge and have a delicious citrusy/spicy fragrance.

Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Exmouth’

Phlox paniculata Hesperis has far smaller flowers than most border phlox, but I love its delicate beauty, especially with a self-sown ornamental grass. Available from the wonderful Dove Cottage Nursery near Halifax.

Phlox paniculata Hesperis

Lobelia ‘Pink Elephant’ has proved far more robust than most of the hardy lobelias which are generally annihilated by slugs as soon as I plant them. The coarse hairy leaves are the reason.

Pink Elephant

The quinces are bulking up nicely. As they swell they always remind me of a remarkable film ‘The Quince Tree Sun’, a slow, but compelling film about an artist who spends the autumn drawing the quinces on his tree. You will love it or hate it. Available from www.amazon.co.uk

Quinces

The lettuce are looking lovely, and nearly ready to pick, growing in one of the old galvanised water tanks on the shady side of the green house. I’ve planted a new batch of mixed cut-and-come again in a wooden wine box for when the lettuce are all harvested.

Lettuce