TV horticulturist Alan Titchmarsh has suggested that families should consider holidaying in their own gardens in the United Kingdom during August instead of traveling abroad. Titchmarsh stated that flowers in the UK during August can rival those found in Mediterranean locations.
He told BBC Gardeners' World magazine that many gardeners overlook the potential of August. Titchmarsh noted that while the peak blooming season of May and June might have passed, August offers a different kind of botanical pleasure. He believes that patient gardeners who stay home can find significant enjoyment in observing plants with more measured growth rates.
"After all, some of the best flowers of August can give the Med a run for its money when it comes to brilliance. Dahlias are a case in point," Titchmarsh said. He explained that dahlias, unlike some earlier blooming flowers, do not rush their display and offer their "unsubtle brilliance" later in the summer when conditions are right.
Titchmarsh suggested that for those whose holiday plans are disrupted, visiting a local nursery or garden center to add flowers that bloom later in the season can be a rewarding alternative. "Your spirits will rise and your bank balance will not sink by very much," he added.
Other flowers that typically bloom in August include coneflowers (echinacea), rose campions (Lychnis coronaria), and cape fuchsias (Phygelius).
Last year, Titchmarsh, 77, revealed he had downsized his property, moving from a four-acre plot in Hampshire to a home with a 1.5-acre garden. He had previously tended to the garden at his Holybourne home for 23 years.
Titchmarsh and his wife sold their Grade-II listed Georgian manor, which dates back to 1690, for £3.95 million in September of the previous year. Titchmarsh had undertaken significant renovations on the property during his ownership.