Filling the Colour Gap

It’s that time in the garden when the late spring and early summer flowers are gone, or fading fast, and the late performers are only just starting to kick in. And thanks to the very welcome, but exceptionally heavy rain that has fallen recently, the roses have taken a real battering, so even the repeat flowering varieties are looking pretty sorry for themselves.

I know that in a couple of weeks time the hydrangeas, dahlias, phlox, asters, echinacea and Japanese anemones will start to fill the garden with colour once more, so rather than dash out to a local nursery to buy some added colour, I’ve decided to relax and enjoy my largely green surroundings.  Shape and texture are highlighted when not distracted by colour and my various terracotta pots and rhubarb forcers have become sculptural presences rather than mere containers. Even the small pots that I put on the top of canes to avoid any eye-poking accidents make their own contribution.

A recent visit to the wonderful Fairlight End garden #fairlightendgarden in nearby Pett Village when it was open in aid of the NGS, revealed that they are using their rhubarb forcers in a similar way. Fairlight End is open again in aid of the St Michael’s hospice on Tuesday July 18^th, while my garden, together with seven other Hastings Old Town gardens is open on Saturday, July 22^nd from 10.30am-4pm.

Fairlight End garden

My garden will be open with other local gardens