JULY — TOM HOWARD

Picture this

Been very quiet on here throughout July, for a number of reasons, so to make up for it here's a picture dump with some brief explainers. Normal serviced to be resumed in August, probably.

Put this clematis in a pot, in fairly deep shade, and it did nothing. Lifted it out, moved it to a pot in light shade, and it did this. A 'right plant, right place' lesson if ever there was one.

Round two of flowering for the Rosa Kew Gardens hedge. Bought this variety of hedging rose because of the promise of continuous flower, and also because it's thornless, which is ideal when you have young children who like touching and eating every single thing on earth.

Didn't water the sunflower enough did I.

A pepper! Mad! Planted underneath the tomatoes. Been very slow to get going, but has perked up considerably in the plus-30 degree heat.

Nothing in my garden has enjoyed the extreme heat and sunshine as much as this Agapanthus White Heaven. It's never flowered before (this is its third year), and I couldn't love it more.

Interestingly, and frustratingly, the Agastache Black Adder in the foreground here is not nearly as good as last year. My Dad reckons it's because I haven't added enough organic matter to the soil, and yeah maybe. Still, looks nice in front of this Persicaria Firetail doesn't it, and I'm not sure I have a plant in my garden that is more beloved by bees.

Persicaria Firetail from a different angle, with Calamagrostis Karl Foester looking regal behind it.

Canna flower antlers, late afternoon London sky.

Hydrangea Annabelle growing in a pot and resting its heavy pom poms on a Mahonia my gran gave me. Nice mingling.

Cheeky little lily. Hadn't noticed it was even growing until it popped open. What a magnificent frame the variety of greens surrounding it make.

Looks like a jellyfish, is actually an echinacea. This is its first year in a very hot and very dry border in the front garden, and it's very happy indeed.

Bought some yarrow and a Veronicastrum Viriginica Pink Glow and Hampton Court. The white of both of them shows up nicely against the dark green background of the ivy, don't you think. (Not sure why the pink glow doesn't have a, er, Pink Glow, but there you go.)

Being able to successfully grow tomatoes outside every year is, without doubt, one of the best things about gardening in London. I've done it three years in a row now, and they've never had blight or failed to ripen in time. Maybe I am a genius? Nah! These are Chocolate Cherry growing up an east-facing fence. They've been living the absolute dream in the heatwave.

One shot of Piet Oudolf's garden at this year's Hampton Court flower show. Better than all the show gardens, if you ask me. These eryngiums took my fancy.