Kathy Brown's
JULY GARDEN
The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington,
Nr Bedford MK43 7QB
Tel. 01234 822064
www.kathybrownsgarden.homestead.com
E: info@kathybrownsgarden.com
Mid to Late July = Clematis festival at Stevington with full list and map available!

Open for individuals or small groups on all
July Tuesday afternoons  2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th 1-5pm
July Sundays 1-5pm
  • July 7th    Edible Flower Demonstration 2.15pm, no need to book
  • July 14th
  • July 21st*** Bee Day! and Photographic Workshop Day *** see below
  • July 28th   
Open to groups of 15 or more by special arrangement;

The late flowering clematis are the main show with over 100 named on a map which we give out to all our visitors. There are clouds of blue, purple, white and red viticellas on the arches and pergolas, several pink texensis along the warm front of the house and many yellow orientalis types on the wisteria arches. There are various species clematis too. They all contribute wonderully to the July garden, with glorious displays of countless blooms.

July brings the white regale lilies in full array while beneath the white stemmed birch avenue, the generous strip of purple and white acanthus looks dramatic against the purple beech hedge. By now the naturalistic grass gardens are beginning to look their best with layers of pink and white echinaceas in bloom besides the ornamental grasses.

The edible flower border is now rich with lavender for my delicious flapjacks and cakes, bronze fennel flowers for all the lovely salmon and prawn dishes, marigolds for the carrot cakes etc etc. Our visitors will enjoy them as well as the July Groups!  I am giving a special **edible flower demonstration at 2.15pm on Sunday July 7th

The wild flower meadow is a picture with pale blue scabious, knapweeds, trefoils etc with mown paths created to make it easy to wander through and just enjoy the atmosphere of insects flitting to and for and supping the nectar. We have lots of bees, lacewings, ladybirds, grasshoppers and moths enjoying the feast. I have never known the show to be as pretty as it is right now!

The summer containers are beginning to get into their full stride with begonias and fuchsias teraming up with the succulents. Elsewhere grasses, herbaceous plants, hostas and ferns all make a wonderful display in various pots and troughs and baskets..

***On July 21st Bee Day Beekeeper Chris Lewis will be on hand to explain the business of keeping and caring for bees. He will show the workings of a hive and offer honey to taste. He regularly sells honey from our hives both in pure form, mixed with mustard and to flavour marmalade.


***On July 21st you can book a Flower Photography Workshop with Dan Evans, Botany graduate from Durham under tutorship of David Bellamy – now busy social and commercial photographer specialising in landscapes and flowers 

·         2-5pm participative workshop to learn how to capture beautiful flower photographs

·         For all levels from beginners with pocket cameras to DSLR enthusiasts   

·         £45 to include entrance, tea & cake

·         Max group size – 12

·         Topics: composition, light & camera techniques

·         Agenda – best practice (digital) slide show, hands on in garden with help, review work  

         Please pre-book workshop by contacting Kathy via email initially and then sending a cheque



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Special edible flower demonstration 2.15pm on Sunday July 7th (open day).