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The moment roses take over a garden

The scent arrives before you see the blooms. A thick sweetness that stops you at the gate, that makes you turn your head to trace it back to the source. This is what peak rose season does to a garden. It announces itself.

Right now, across Richmond upon Thames, gardens have reached that brief, glorious moment when the roses decide the rules. Every other flower becomes background. The lawn, the hedge, the careful beds of perennials: all supporting cast. The roses have the stage.

The colour is one thing. The deep crimsons, the soft apricots, the whites that glow in evening light. But it is the scent that changes the air itself, that drifts through open windows and settles in the fabric of a summer afternoon.

This peak will not last. A week, perhaps two if the weather holds. Then the petals will brown at the edges, the heads will droop, and the garden will return to something more democratic. But for now, the roses are absolutely in charge.

Make the most of it.

What does your garden smell like today? Share a photograph if you can.

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The garden in Richmond at midsummer

The garden in Richmond at midsummer

The garden in Richmond reaches its peak in July, when the air thickens with heat and the borders crowd with colour. Lavender spikes stand tall along paths, their purple blooms humming with bees. Roses sag under their own weight. The lawn, if you have kept it watered, glows a defiant green. This is the moment […]

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The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere

The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere

The lavender is out in Richmond gardens and the bees are everywhere. You can hear them before you see them: a steady hum rising from the purple spikes. They work the flowers in a kind of methodical frenzy, dusted yellow with pollen. The scent thickens in the heat. It hangs in the air around benches […]

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The shady corner in Richmond gardens where lavender meets old walls

The shady corner in Richmond gardens where lavender meets old walls

The shady corner in Richmond gardens becomes a refuge when the sun is at its worst. You find it behind the south-facing wall, where lavender spills over brick and the air smells sharp and sweet. Bees work the purple stems with a low hum. You sit on a bench that has been there longer than […]

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What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn't

What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn’t

What survives a heatwave in Richmond gardens and what doesn’t becomes obvious by mid-afternoon. Lavender stands firm, its grey leaves designed for drought, while the bees work overtime in the purple spikes. Sedums, salvias, and anything with a Mediterranean backbone keep their composure. Roses droop but recover. Hardy geraniums fade to papery wisps. Hostas give […]

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The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens

The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens

The first tomatoes in Richmond gardens are ripening now. You notice them one morning, a flush of orange breaking through the green. The smell hits you when you pinch out the side shoots: sharp, green, faintly chemical. It clings to your fingers for hours. This is the moment gardeners wait for. The fruit has been […]

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The Bench

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