The heat is ramping up, but everything is still looking lush and green. The Mexican Petunias are showing their velvet-like flowers, and the osteospermums are co-ordinating with them. I never really think about colour combinations, but often find that the plants make their own compositions!

The herbs, in particular, are enjoying the increased warmth… lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary, mint… they’re all putting on growth, and smelling delicious, ideal for use in cooking!

The apricot that I planted fairly recently has settled in well and is almost as tall as I am (although that’s not saying much as I’m pretty short!). Hopefully, we will get fruits in the coming years.

One major project, when temperatures allow, has been changing my pathways to gravel. After our carob had a serious haircut a couple of years ago, I wanted to build more paths and had seen an idea of using broken-up twigs which then rot down over time to make a lovely, crumbly soil. This is when it’s a good idea to check the climate of the people who suggested it. For two years we’ve been stumbling over almost completely intact sticks. Wobbly, terrible with a wheelbarrow, no sign of rotting down. There’s a reason why gravel is used so much here. I have to be aware of garden users with mobility issues, and gravel fits the bill the best… I think there will be a pause when the August heat comes, but by Autumn, the garden should be totally accessible and easy to walk around. And I will have great muscles from all the gravel shifting!

Happy July gardening!