Here in the East Midlands we were experiencing the coldest, gloomiest July day on record. The conservatory was the only place in the house that felt reasonably warm and where I didn't need the lights on at midday. During a brief interlude in the rain I looked up and noticed an unexpected splash of pale lavender contrasting beautifully with the reliable dark purple jackmanii.I went outside to investigate. One of the clematis I had bought last year and had forgotten about, had opened its reasonably- sized single flowers, contrasting beautifully. The rain descended again and I was turning back when I noticed another new clematis in flower, one not conspicuous from the house but very pretty close up, four dainty purple-fringed white peals to each small nodding flower.The day no longer seemed so dreary.
Torrential rain remained a factor throughout the month but the temperature rose. Garden plants as well as weeds flourished although open flowers suffered storm damage. I was eating tomatoes from the greenhouse daily by the middle of the month and by the end of it had plenty to give away. Blackberries were remarkably early. I had a bowlful at the end of the month after the raspberries had gone over. However the three figs clinging tenaciously to their tree despite the storms showed no signs of ripening even though next year's tentative crop has already formed
Crocosmia Lucifer came into its own this month but I will have to transplant the clump at the bottom of the lawn this autumn as it rather clashes with the now strongly growing pink hydrangea. Lucifer's colour should work well with the scarlet roses in the front garden
