July in the Garden
The gardens are full of blossoms everywhere during July, the annual plantings have put on plenty of growth and are starting to give a really good show. Our dahlias always do well so this year we have sourced some really special new varieties, from the national dahlia society in Penzance, which will also provide the Hotel with cut flowers too.
One of Beatrix Potter’s favourite plants, the foxgloves, are in full flower now. We grow several varieties such as Digitalis mertonensis (pictured), and Digitalis ferruginea, the rusty foxglove! Now is the time to sow seed for new plants, and we will be selecting something special for next year.
A favourite hardy shrub in Lakeland is Philadelphus, sometimes called mock orange, we currently grow seven different varieties, the best one being Philadelphus insignus. Unusually it flowers late, in the middle of July, it grows wild in its native California and its scent is incredibly strong.