Don’t wince, but I’ve actually done my order for spring bulbs next year. I know it sounds ridiculously early to plan for March and April 2012, but because we have an acre of garden, bulk buying well ahead is needed if we are to keep the cost down and get a good choice. I use de Jager (www.dejager.co.uk 01622 840229), a company based in Kent. Their bulbs are good size, they never substitute and they almost always produce good flowers. I’ve ordered 250 Lent Lilies, Pseudonarcissus Lobularis, a small, native daffodil that grows to 15 cm and will look natural and (I hope) gradually increase in our meadow. I’ve picked 2 lily flowering tulips – one called Burgundy and another White Triumphator for pots – they will flower in May if the squirrels don’t find and eat them first. Both grow to around 60cm so they need keeping out of the wind to look their best. Lily flowering tulips are really elegant, and look lovely underplanted with bedding plants such as forget me nots. Tulips like well drained soil, so it’s a good idea to mix a little grit in when you are planting them. I’ve also decided to have another go at lilies in pots – I had to ditch the last lot because the dreaded lily beetle did for them. So I’ve ordered some bulbs of Regale Lily, still my favourite despite endless varieties now on offer. I saw one well known company recently offer dwarf lilies for ground cover – whatever next?!

August and September must be good months for you vegetable gardeners, harvesting all those delicious crops. Even I’ve had some success this year – we’ve got Pink Fir potatoes, sweetcorn, climbing French beans and tomatoes all thriving, despite the dry weather. The asparagus has just about survived: the lack of decent rain early on didn’t do it much good but it is getting going now.

The late summer borders have put on a good show this year. One bed has a good, striking colour combination: a large Inula with huge, bright yellow daisies, a tall, intense blue salvia, clear red crocosmia, rudbeckia, golden oregano at the front and a climbing yellow rose at the back. The Romneya, or Californian Tree Poppy has been gorgeous with huge, fragrant white poppy like flowers coming over a long period from July onwards. My favourite salvia, ‘Purple Rain’, with beautiful, grey felty leaves, has been lovely at the front of a sunny border with dahlias behind. The pink buddleia is just coming into its own as I write (mid July) and will soon be covered with bees and butterflies. A group of grasses are at their best now – Molinea in particular has thrown up tall, elegant flower heads that sway beautifully in the breeze. Soon they will start to take on Autumn colours and look even better. I bought a tray of Zinnias from Karen at the Gardening Clubs plant stall at the village event. They are looking fab, beautiful clear, colours in a pot by the front door; they make me smile every time I walk by.

We put enough effort into our garden during the year so take some time out to relax and enjoy it!

Have a good summer!