Jo's News & Views No 7 July 2026
Hello Everyone
So last month was the hottest July since the records began. I've lost count of how many days we had temperatures over 30 degrees. I think all our gardens are beginning to suffer now because we have hosepipe bans in place. However it is not all doom and gloom as I do have some lovely photos to share with you.
One of my favourite places at Myddelton is the Old Conservatory as it never disappoints me, photo 1. Under the Senna septemtrionalis is this delightful Crinum moorei, the Lily of the Orinoco, photo 2. At the front of the photo is the strange Cereus forbesii 'Spiralis', Spiralled Cereus, photo 3. Nature never ceases to amaze me!
Outside the conservatory there was a lovely mix of plants that can survive the Mediterranean climate we're experiencing at the moment. Dipsacus laciniatus, the white teasel, photo 4, is doing well. The Canna indica, the Indian Shot plant, is definitely happy here as it is a hardy tropical plant, photo 5. Also here is the Ricinus communis 'Carmencita', the Castor Oil plant, photo 6. It is indigenous to the south-eastern Mediterranean basin, East Africa and India but is widespread throughout tropical regions and grown here as an ornamental plant.
On the Pond Terrace I stopped to admire the arrangement of pots there, photo 7. I was particularly taken with the Nerium oleander grown as a standard. Another shrub that likes well drained soil and full sun.
On the way to the Kitchen Garden I stopped to look closely at the Mespilus germanica 'Nottingham', the Medlar tree, photo 8. It is covered in small fruit, photo 9, which is usually available in winter and eaten when bletted. That is a lovely way of saying that the fruit has to go beyond ripe to a state of rotting for it to become edible.
In the Kitchen Garden the Cynara cardunculus or Artichoke was doing well, photo 10. This is another plant native to the Mediterranean which grows well here. In the Peach House it was wonderful to see such an amazing crop of nectarines and peaches, photos 11 and 12.
On the Tulip Terrace the summer bedding is doing well and it was lovely to see the succulents on top of the wall enjoying their 'summer holiday', photo13.
Walking through to the Rose Garden I stopped to look at an 'old friend', the Calycanthus floridus, or Carolina Allspice, photo 14. For years I thought the tips of the flower had turned brown because it needed watering but no, that is a characteristic feature of the plant! Also here climbing along the pergola is a beautiful Wisteria sinensis covered in flowers, photo 15. Next is a particular favourite of Mr Bowles, the Rosa bracteata, photo 16. In his 'My Garden' trilogy, he wrote about this rose saying .... if only it were a shade hardier and began to flower earlier in the season, it would be the finest of white Roses. As it is, however, I love it dearly, and it grows on one of the four buttresses, or whatever is the right name for the legs of the old Market Cross .... , photo 17.
My fauna section has been sadly missing over the past few months so I'm pleased to make up for that omission this month. I was lucky to see this Jersey Tiger moth near the pond, photo 18. It has black and creamy-white striped forewings which when opened reveal bright orangey-red hindwings. In the Rock Garden I saw this Gatekeeper butterfly, photo 19. Then here are a few from Therfield Heath. A Gatekeeper with its wings open, photo 20. A Chalkhill Blue butterfly, photo 21, definitely a favourite of mine. A Meadow Brown butterfly, photo 22. In my garden I am fortunate to see a Hummingbird moth most days, photo 23. This is another day-flying moth that hovers while feeding like a Hummingbird, hence its name. Then it's baby bird time! We have had a baby Meadow Pipit visiting us for a bath in the pond, photo 24. Then the Wagtail likes the regular supply of meal worms to feed its chick on, photo 25. Finally, my favourite bird and photo. A Goldfinch feeding her young on Niger seed, photo 26.
Hope you have enjoyed my wander through the garden.
Best Wishes
Jo
Comments