Matrix planting: This features quite a lot in this week's newsletter because that's what I am working on at the moment. Matrix planting is a type of planting design drawing on the theory of a good fruitcake; stoic and solid 'background' plants forming soft swathes in which the feature plants can be studded, like raisins. I like cherries and almonds in my fruitcake, so my matrix planting has some seriously big hitters (Stipa gigantea, Helianthus 'Lemon Queen') to make it truly memorable. All of my plants are also chosen for being good for both cutting and growing from seed. Expect to see lots more grasses on my website over the next season.

It is based on a design done for me by the wonderful ex-Sissinghurst now-Forde Abbey Joshua Sparkes. He is quite quite something. Now it is planted, I will leave it to mature and establish and it will get better year after year. It has been a leap of faith to embrace this sustainable and radically different form of growing and I will admit to moments of very wobbly doubt. No more. I hope it will be starting to hint at its full promise by August when the field will be visited by all sorts of terribly influential people.

Monday 1st July. Packed up camp and drove to Lost Gardens of Heligan. Coffee with H. Discussed reality and its alternatives, order and chaos, tolerating ground elder in vegetable gardens. Also, how other people react when you leave to meet up with someone you only know off of Instagram.

Wednesday 3th July. Planted final part of the matrix planting. Thought I had nearly finished but had blisters from digging by the end of the day. Very hot in the sun. Hugo insisted on being out in the field. Watches me from an upstairs window and barks unless involved. 

Thursday 4th July. Coffee with C. Admired her roses. Collected vegetable plugs for house garden. Cut and photographed Nimbus, Piggy Sue & Bristol sweet peas. Piggy Sue spectacularly prolific. Direct sowed biennials - sweet rocket, honesty and wild carrots. First fat hazelnuts in hedge. Felt like the beginning of the end of Summer.

Friday 5th July. Took up the marker-string from the matrix planting. Plants growing inches every day. Calendula ‘Sherbert Fizz’ set seed. First harvest collected and dried in paper bags.

Saturday 6th July. Sun high and strong. Hugo squashing grass under apple trees to keep in the shade. Evening - Lit oven in orchard for pizza to celebrate my & A's birthdays. Rained last thing. Glorious to hear it.

Sunday 7th July. Grey and still start. Turned hot mid-morning. Watered and staked everywhere. Rudbeckia triloba looking particularly fine. Pinched out the biggest. Cut Betty Maiden and Jilly sweet peas by the armful.

(If you are wondering what I did on Tuesday, we slept and did endless loads of washing. Because camping does that, and setters do not function without twenty hours sleep a day. Also, I tied in and picked sweet peas every single day. This is a given at this time of year. Please keep on top of them. If they are in pots, feed and water regularly.)