As July melts into August, the North Yorkshire countryside finds itself in that golden, drowsy pocket of late summer. The fields hum with life, the hedgerows are heavy with fruit, and there's a soft, amber light that seems to rest gently over everything from stone walls to sunflower heads. It's a time of quiet abundance and for those of us with a garden, both a reward and a reminder.
Wildflowers of North Yorkshire in Late Summer
A walk through the local villages reveals the subtle beauty of our local wildflowers still holding court.
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Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia): Often called the "bluebell of Scotland," these delicate, nodding blue flowers add a soft splash of colour to meadows and rocky outcrops.
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Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra): A pollinator’s favourite, its thistle-like purple heads attract bees and butterflies alike.
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Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca): Found climbing through hedges and grasses, its violet flowers bring texture and a touch of wildness.
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Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare): Not only beautiful, with clusters of purple-pink flowers, but also a culinary herb—dry a little for use in your kitchen.
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): With its flat-topped white or pink clusters, this resilient flower thrives on Yorkshire’s chalky soils and is a boon for beneficial insects.
These blooms remind us that the countryside, even in its slow, sleepy moments, is still very much alive.
Late Summer Gardening Tips
If you've got a vegetable patch or allotment, late summer is a crucial time, part maintenance, part preparation. Here's what to focus on:
1. Harvest with care
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Runner beans, courgettes, and tomatoes will be coming thick and fast. Pick regularly to encourage further cropping.
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Maincrop potatoes are often ready now—dig a few and check. If the skins rub off easily, leave them a little longer to mature.
2. Start sowing for autumn and winter
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Salad crops like rocket, mizuna, and lamb’s lettuce can be sown now for a fresh autumn harvest.
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Spring cabbages and overwintering onions (like ‘Radar’ or ‘Electric’) should be going in soon.
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Try pak choi and turnips for a fast-growing, late-season crop.
3. Keep feeding and watering
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Tomatoes and cucumbers still need regular feeding with a high-potash feed.
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Water deeply but less frequently to encourage strong root growth—especially important during any hot spells Yorkshire might throw your way.
4. Make space for what's next
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Clear spent crops and compost them. Consider sowing green manures (like mustard or phacelia) to enrich your soil over the colder months.
A Moment to Pause
Late summer can feel like the garden’s exhale lush, a bit overgrown, but full of reward. Take a moment in the early evening with a mug of tea or a glass of something local, and let the hum of bees and the smell of warm soil remind you of the quiet joy of growing things.
All the best, Jess x