July 2025 - A Seasonal Diary
A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments
“July is hollyhocks and hammocks, fireworks and vacations, hot and steamy weather, cool and refreshing swims, beach picnics, and vegetables all out of the garden.”
-Jean Hersey
Hello July
Toby turned 2, how is my angry little potato now a fully walking, gobbledy gook talking little person with favourite toys and the most magical giggle? Where has 2 years gone? We’re fast approaching the age Ted was when Toby was born and I can’t equate the time. It feels like he’s always been here, yet, it feels like he’s my baby and I still have my Teddy toddler - but of course I don’t. Ted is a fully fledged pre-schooler with only 2 months left before he starts school. I’m not a baby mum anymore, soon they’ll have creepy little moustaches and will grunt instead of chatter away and I’m not ready for how fleeting this time is. I don’t make the most of it, I whinge, I whine, I moan about having no help and how messy the house is. It’s a slap in the face when I look back at how small they were. I feel I’ve not savoured every moment, especially these moments because 18 months to 3 is my absolute favourite. Here’s to more moments, more photos and more paintings of them. They’re just magical and I hope they know I love them, I hope they know I try my best, but my best can often be far from what they deserve.
To celebrate the turning of the 1 year old into a 2 year old we had a family garden party complete with one young cousin, one auntie, a pair of grandfolks, a bouncy castle, pizza and a edible flower jelly. Quite good fun for a low key easy birthday actually, the grownups got to play on the bouncy castle and the children we’re suitably EXHAUSTED by the end, which is surely the main aim of these things.
Driffield Show
I can show you zero pictures because that’s how many I took, but, WHAT A DAY. It was the busiest day this little business has ever had and to say I was on a high is an understatement. Mugs, tea towels, prints, all the things I’ve put time and effort into creating and had so many sleepless nights worrying about, they flew out and I have never been so relieved. I also paid double the stand fee, a risk and cost I was so anxious about but turned out the extra space was well worth it. If you came to say hello, thank you so much!
Nature Notes
Wild cherry ripe and ready for picking. Didn’t get time to make any Jam but next year Wild Cherry Jam is on the menu.
Baby robin hopping around the garden
Grasshoppers - Heard not seen, I CAN NEVER FIND THEM!
Rain - needed desperately. Where do the slugs hide? They appeared like a black slimy army in the evening having seen so few all summer.
Red admiral landed on Toby
Fawn trapped in the field - thinks it’s a sheep.
Wayfaring tree fruiting
Blackberries ripening so early
Bindweed flowers full of bees
Rose Bay Willow herb - tall, pink,scruffy looking, a signal summer has peaked and is on the downward slope.
The Commas, Red admirals, Speckled woods, small tortoishelles in abundance
I miss the bird song
IN THE GARDEN
I wish In March I thought longer and harder about the amount of space our garden has to accommodate the 20 squash and pumpkin seeds I felt the need to sew. I feel July has mainly been spent tip toeing over a maze of ankle wrapping vines and balloon like vegetables. Both Squash and Pigeons actually, it seems no matter where my eye rests within our boundary, it will most certainly land on a squash plant or a pigeon. They adorn every fence post and path. Both plant and bird claim an apocalyptic hold on the garden, like an Alfred hitchcock film, Brooke Marie will have to cease trading because time needs to be focussed on the battle aagainst invading winter vegetables and fence pests.
But ahh July, what a too hot and stuffy but abundant and wonderful month you have been. The days need more hours for there is too much to achieve and too much to eat. Courgettes are courgette-ing away, the carrots are purple. “Why do have we purple carrots mummy? They should be orange!” Onions and garlic were forgotten about and saved from the rot just in time.
July In Watercolour
Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…
What has July been like for you? Have you seen anything out in nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...
