For lovers of flowers July is the month when many gardens are looking at their best. And combined with long daylight hours and, hopefully, warm, sunny weather July is the perfect month to visit them.
Gardens to visit in July 2023
June Blake’s Garden, County Wicklow
The gardens of siblings June and Jimi Blake, across the water in Blessington near Dublin, are two I would always make an effort to visit. Both are exceptional plantspeople who have made remarkable gardens in different areas of the old family’s estate, each with its own distinctive style and flavour, and both are jewels among Irish gardens. June’s is known simply as June Blake’s Garden and of the two it has a more formal structure with plantings that show off her considerable artistic flair.
Tinode, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Tel 353 (0)87 277 0399, juneblake.ie
Hunting Brook, County Wicklow
Jimi’s better known garden, Hunting Brook, is set primarily around a magnificent natural woodland through which the brook of its name tumbles.
Hunting Brook Gardens, Lamb Hill, Blessington, Co. Wicklow W91 Yk33, Ireland. Tel 353 (0)87 285 6601, huntingbrook.com
Parkhead Gardens, Perth
If I had to choose a single genus that could encapsulate my memories of midsummer it would be the lilies, especially those that carry that intoxicating scent. There will be lilies in many summer gardens I’m sure, but I was surprised with such a large and diverse genus to find only two National Collections, both of the Mylnefield lilies, also known as the North Hybrids as they are a group of elegant hybrids bred by Dr Christopher North for conditions experienced in Scotland. One of these collections is held at Parkhead Gardens in Perth. The hybrids can also be seen in Branklyn Garden – a National Trust garden that's also in Perth.
Parkhead House, Burghmuir Road, Perth PH1 1JF. Tel 01738 625983
Newby Hall, Yorkshire
Staying north, but south of the border, the gardens of Newby Hall in Yorkshire are always worth a visit in high summer, and are best known for their long, double herbaceous borders.
Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 5AE. Tel 01423 322 583, newbyhall.com
Cotehele, Cornwall
In summer, the borders in the upper gardens of Cotehele become a myriad of herbaceous plants and colourful flowers, while the terraces bloom with roses, geraniums and irises.
St Dominick, nr Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6TA. Tel 01579 351346, nationaltrust.org.uk