I think it is fair to say that last year I let my garden go a little wild. Perhaps in that post-pandemic kind of haze, I just didn’t keep on top of things as much as normal. The results of this dip of neglect are being seen in my garden this summer, and whilst I have a lot of weeding to do on the pathways, I’m also thoroughly enjoying what nature has been getting up to and how it has seized its opportunity in beds and borders.
Most of it is down to self-sowing. So many plants that flowered last year, without me being bothered to cut them back afterwards, went to seed and easily self-sowed into other parts of the garden. Normally, I’d pull things up and get it all ‘back in order’ but I’ve just been really enjoying seeing what unfolds.
I have wildflowers – daisies, foxgloves and campions – popping up with the lavender, companion plants – calendula and marigolds – peeking through rosemary. There are self-sown herbs like chives and marjoram that have appeared with flowers and shrubs that I planted in borders.
It all feels very real and alive, and I’m loving how it looks. I know it’s probably not everybody’s cup of tea, and there is some work now to get the pathways a bit more manageable, but there’s quite a dreamy, natural quality to it that feels very calming in a world that isn’t always particularly calm! I’d highly recommend taking this ‘relaxed’ approach if you feel like it is for you. For now, I’m going to focus on just keeping the vegetable beds and the pathways clear, and I’ll be trying to get into the borders to pull up nettles, bindweed and brambles. Other than that, I’m just going to enjoy this splash of beautiful daisies and foxgloves for a few more weeks, and then see what comes next!