Summer at Jekka's: Herbs, Bees and Garden Inspiration

Summer at Jekka's: Herbs, Bees and Garden Inspiration

Newsletter: 21st June 2026

Summer at Jekka's: Herbs, Bees and Garden Inspiration

The arrival of summer brings one of the most exciting periods in the herb garden. Borders are filled with colour, fragrance and movement as herbs come into flower and pollinators make the most of the season's abundance.

Whether you grow herbs for cooking, scent, wildlife or simply their beauty, this is the season when many are at their very best. As we look ahead to our July Open Days, we're celebrating some of our favourite summer herbs and the important role they play in supporting pollinators.

Jekka's Top Herbs for Summer

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy herbs at their peak. From aromatic foliage and colourful flowers to culinary harvests and pollinator-friendly blooms, herbs bring interest to every corner of the garden.

Among Jekka's favourite herbs for summer are Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Jekka’s™ Buddleia Mint (Mentha longifolia 'Jekka’s™') and Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Each offers its own unique combination of flavour, fragrance and seasonal beauty.

If you're looking for inspiration for your own herb garden this season, explore Jekka's blog, where she hares some of her favourite herbs for summer colour, flavour and wildlife value, together with practical growing tips.

 

 

Jekka's Gravel Garden




Five Herbs Every Pollinator Loves


If you are looking to support pollinators in your own garden, consider growing herbs that provide a reliable source of nectar and pollen throughout the summer months.

Many flowering herbs are rich in nectar and attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Some of our favourites include Creeping Thymes (Thymus), Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare), Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii), Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and Lavenders (Lavandula).

These herbs not only provide valuable food for pollinators, but also bring colour, fragrance and movement to the garden throughout the summer. The relationship between herbs and pollinators is a fascinating one. Many herb flowers have evolved to attract bees through their shape, colour and scent, while pollinators help ensure the plants can reproduce and thrive.

For a deeper look at the herbs that bees return to throughout the season, we recommend reading our blog through the link below. Written by beekeeper, author and lecturer Richard Rickitt, the article explores some of the best herbs for supporting pollinators and explains why flowering herbs are such valuable additions to any garden.


 


Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare)



Join Us for Our July Open Days

We're delighted to be opening the herb farm on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July when the garden is at its summer best.

Available as morning or afternoon sessions, each ticket includes:

  • A seasonal herb talk with Jekka McVicar
  • A guided Herbetum Tour with Hannah McVicar and Richard Rickitt
  • Time to explore Jekka's Herb Garden and Herbetum
  • The opportunity to meet representatives from the Woodland Trust at their information stand
  • Access to our herb farm, with plants, seeds and gardening products available to purchase

Jekka's talks will focus on the herbs thriving in the garden during midsummer, sharing practical growing advice, favourite seasonal varieties and inspiration for gardeners of all levels.

Richard Rickitt and Hannah McVicar's Herbetum Tours will explore the fascinating relationship between herbs and pollinators, highlighting the plants that bees return to throughout the growing season.

We are also pleased to welcome the Woodland Trust, whose work to protect, restore and create native woodland helps support biodiversity, wildlife and pollinators across the UK.

Whether you are an experienced gardener, a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a relaxing summer visit surrounded by beautiful herbs, our July Open Days offer inspiration, learning and the chance to discover one of the UK's most extensive collections of culinary and medicinal herbs.

Book your July Open Day tickets today!


 


Jekka's Herb Garden


Cultivating flavour, creating experiences.

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