Harlow Carr In July

There's so much to see at Harlow Carr at the moment that you really need to allow plenty of time to get round everything.  I'm really pleased that we decided to make a visit each month this year as we see so many changes each time. The grounds are looking really fabulous just now, all the trees are fully clothed in beautiful greenery and the flower beds and borders are bursting with plants.

There are a number of these large planters around the entrance and they display different plants each time we visit. I enjoy seeing so many different displays. It gives me ideas for my own garden.

You may remember the candelabra primroses from my last visit, they're looking splendid by the stream at the moment, such a fabulous display of many different colours.

Another plant gracing the banks of the stream are these primula vialii or orchid primrose. I've never grown them myself but I'm very tempted.

This summer house is situated by the stream, it's such a relaxing place to sit for a while as you can hear the water trickling by.

I like the natural looking planting of these foxgloves.

A white foxglove. I've only got the purple ones in my own garden.

More natural planting with these knautia or scabious.

Allium christophii are such huge flowers, they always remind me of fireworks with their star studded heads.

I showed you a lion in my Photo Medley - May post, here he is again but this time you can see the pair along with the six Doric columns which they're guarding. This used to be the main entrance to the gardens and is the area where the rhododendrons are planted.

I've always fancied having a stone trough filled with plants, these are wonderful examples.

We ventured in to the greenhouse where they're using the Straw Bale method to grow tomatoes. They're growing quite a few different varieties.

This information explains all about Straw Bale Gardening.

There were some impressive looking cucumbers hanging from the plants, this variety is Femspot. My cucumber plants aren't looking their best this year but they're just starting to fruit.

On to the Kitchen Garden where the beds are really filling up now. It won't be long until it's in full production.

These pea pods just need to fill out. I wonder how many people have a sneaky taste, I'd be very tempted.

The sweet peas are flowering and need picking to keep more flowers coming.

 

I've never tried globe artichokes, they always seem a bit too fiddly for me.

The border I'm following has really filled out and there's no sign of the persicaria which was flowering last month. The look of a garden or flower bed can change so quickly.

There's now salvia and eryngiums flowering together in this border, you may remember there was this same pairing in one of the Leeds City Council's Chelsea Flower Show gardens which I wrote about in my Roundhay Park Gardens In July post.

The other side of the same border, you can see alchemilla mollis or lady's mantle flowering here.

My overall impression of the garden this month is that it's filled with hot, bright colours. Not everywhere but you're certain to see them as you look round the different areas. I'll leave you with a selection of my favourites.

July is a great time to visit Harlow Carr, there's so much to see, just make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.