July is the month when we are most rewarded for all of our hard work in spring with an abundance of summer colour.

So many shrubs and perennials bloom during July that I fear if you blink you miss something. Early July starts off with roses, clematis and summer blooming spireas. The vegetable garden is still providing us with the last of the spring vegetables including peas, spinach and lettuce.

July is also a major month for daylilies. Although many varieties such as Purple D’oro or Ruby Stella will bloom all season long, the large hybrid daylilies produce some of their best blooms in July.

As July progresses so does the vegetable garden. We are thrilled to be eating home grown beans, cucumbers and tomatoes topped with basil. The first blooms of early season hydrangeas appear as well as the large, bold blooms of asiatic lilies.

Towards the end of July late season bloomers such as Echinacea and Black-eyed Susan start to appear and will stay with us right into fall.

so despite the chores of weeding and watering be sure and stop and enjoy the bounties of summer our gardens provide as a reward for our labours.