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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 you have lived here.

The light changes here. It filters through the leaves of an old pear tree, dappled and soft. The stone beneath your feet stays cool even in July. This is the spot you retreat to when the lawn burns white and the roses droop.

The lavender is at its peak now. The bees are busier than you have ever seen them. They move from flower to flower without pause, their legs thick with pollen. You watch them for longer than you expected. Time slows in the shade.

The wall holds the heat but does not give it back here. Moss grows in the mortar. A robin perches on the gate post and tilts its head at you. You stay until the sun shifts and the shadow moves on.

The garden finds you when you need it.

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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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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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Courgette glut in Richmond gardens: what to do with them all

Courgette glut in Richmond gardens: what to do with them all

Courgette glut in Richmond gardens arrives when you least expect it. One day you have two modest fruits. Two days later, you have seventeen. The bees working the lavender this week seem to know something you don’t. The trouble starts when courgettes hide. They camouflage themselves under big leaves, swelling to marrow size overnight. You […]

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The Bench

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