Midsummer Magic
July was buzzing with activity at the community garden, as the heat warmed the air, crops were popping up, and everybody got into the full summer swing.
July The air without has taken fever; Fast I feel the beating of its pulse. The leaves are twisted on the maple, In the corn the autumn's premature; The weary butterfly hangs waiting For a breath to waft him thither at The touch, but falls, like truth unheeded, into dust-blown grass and hollyhocks. The air without is blinding dusty; Cool I feel the breezes blow; I see The sunlight, crowded on the porch, grow Smaller till absorbed in shadow; and The far blue hills are changed to gray, and Twilight lingers in the woods between; And now I hear the shower dancing In the cornfield and the thirsty grass. - Alexander Lawrence Posey, circa 1900
Leyton Arts Festival 2025
On the weekend of 26th and 26th July, Leyton Boundary Garden played proud host to the inaugural Leyton Arts Festival. The community garden was transformed into a vibrant hub of workshops, music, and nature-inspired fun. Organised by the Leyton Midland Collective — a brilliant team of hardworking, local volunteers, business owners, artists and facilitators — the event brought families, creatives, and curious locals together to celebrate art, community, and the great outdoors.
Saturday’s line-up began with a burst of earthy colour and creativity at the Family Craft Workshop with Castle Play Space CIC—a gorgeous art session full of tiny hands (and grown-up ones too) making artful pieces and bee-waterers from clay and natural materials.
Nearby, local ace photographer Kate Peters ran a full-day Photography Studio Pop-Up, capturing portraits and candid moments with a London-anarchic vibe.
In the afternoon, Hannah Althea Kay led an inspiring Arts & Making Workshop. A wonderful end to the day’s festivities.
Sunday kicked off with joyful splashes, squishy dough and colourful playscapes, as Shadia Hossain led a Sensory & Water Play session for little ones aged 6 months to 8 years. Her stunning Tuff Tray play areas were gorgeously laid out, and super inspiring for kids and grown-ups alike! A massive hit that drew in a large crowd.
In the afternoon, the focus turned to the future with Creating Art for Future Parks, a collaborative workshop run by Nathan Miller, ELWP Artists, and live illustrator Brook Morgan. Participants of all ages helped envision greener, more creative urban spaces through collective art-making.
To finish off the weekend, festival-goers joined the Artist Takeover Drop-Ins, where Emma guided nature drawing sessions, and Jack & Emily introduced the magic of Cyanotype and Monoprinting.
We’re so proud to be a part of the Leyton Midland Collective, and we were thrilled to host such an inspiring weekend at Leyton Boundary Garden. A huge thanks to the incredible artists, organisers, and everyone who came along and made it special. It was clearly a massive success for the local community and wider-Leyton area. We’re already looking forward to the next one.
Sunny Side-Up
Who doesn’t love a sunflower? And we’ve got them! Including some huge ones all from the same stem, a veritable geyser of golden summery goodness.
Sunflowers are more than just beautiful bursts of yellow in a summer field — they’re full of charm, usefulness, and even a bit of magic. Here's a closer look at what makes these sunny blooms so special:
Sun-Seekers: Young sunflowers have a fascinating trait called heliotropism — they gently follow the sun’s path across the sky from morning to evening. As they grow older, they usually settle facing east, ready to soak up the morning light.
More Than Meets the Eye: What looks like one big flower is actually made up of thousands of tiny ones! The bright yellow “petals” around the edge are called ray florets, while the center is packed with disc florets where the seeds form.
Homegrown History: Sunflowers are native to North America and have been cultivated for thousands of years — long before they became popular garden favorites around the world.
Surprisingly Handy: From tasty seeds to healthy cooking oil, sunflowers are incredibly versatile. Their oil has anti-inflammatory benefits and may help lower cholesterol. Even more amazing? Sunflowers can absorb harmful toxins from the soil and have been used to help clean up places affected by nuclear disasters, like Chernobyl.
Symbols of Sunshine: With their bright faces and strong stems, sunflowers often represent happiness, positivity, and good luck. In some cultures, they also symbolize faith, devotion, and spiritual growth.
Record-Breakers: The tallest sunflower ever recorded reached over 30 feet tall — that’s about the height of a three-storey building.
Sunflowers in Space: Believe it or not, sunflowers have even made it to space! Astronauts have grown them on the International Space Station.
With 70+ species, and literally countless varieties, the Sunflower is a pretty special plant and for many good reasons. Do you have a favourite?
Read All About It
We’re excited to share that Leyton Boundary Garden now has its very own Little Free Library! Resting against the railings just inside the main gates, this beautiful wooden cabinet (thank you for the donation, Jon!) is a free book-sharing spot where everyone is welcome to take a book or leave one for others to enjoy.
Whether you're passing by on a walk, visiting the garden with friends, or just in need of a new read, stop by and see what’s on the shelf. From children’s stories to novels, poetry, and more — you never know what treasures you might find.
It’s a simple way to share stories, build community, and celebrate the joy of reading.
Community Wildlife
August brings a buzz of activity to the community garden — not just from people and plants, but from a whole world of wildlife quietly sharing the space with us.
Among the flowers and vegetables, rose chafers glint in the sun with their metallic green sheen, while inquisitive hoverflies and graceful damselflies whizz through the air. Grasshoppers chirp from the long grass in the wildflower meadow, surprising visitors every now and then when they hop past.
Bees of all kinds are hard at work — honeybees, bumblebees, and even the wasps, each playing their part in pollination. Parasitic wasps, though harder to spot, are also doing important ecological work. Ladybirds still patrol the leaves, helping to keep pests in check, and butterflies dance across the garden — from the flutter of Small and Large Whites to the bold patterns of Red Admirals, Gatekeepers (also called Hedge Browns), Commas, and more.
Look closely and you might notice a garden spider resting in its web, or a crab spider camouflaged on a flower, waiting patiently for a passing meal.
Foxes make regular visits, weaving through the garden in the early morning or evening light — and making massive holes underneath the tomatoes... And in nearby shady corners, some fungi have begun to appear again.
Summer Abundance
The community garden is bursting with life this season! Thanks to the sunshine (and some TLC), a whole variety of crops are growing beautifully.
Bright pink and yellow chard is thriving in the beds, while fruit trees are heavy with ripening apples, plums, pears, apricots, figs, medlars, and quinces. Among the leaves, squash are quietly swelling, corn stalks are reaching skyward, and beans are climbing happily up their supports. Tomatoes are ripening on the vine, bringing pops of red, orange, and green stripes(!) to the garden.
The sheltered space of the polytunnel has become a mini jungle of greenery, where heat-loving plants are flourishing.
Cucumbers dangle from the vines, and tiny cucamelons — like miniature watermelons with a zesty crunch — are peeking through the leaves. Fiery chillies add a splash of colour and spice, and the ginger is quietly sprouting below the surface, its leafy tops reaching higher every day.
It’s a lovely reminder of what can grow when a community comes together. The next couple of months are painted with the promise of one of the most bountiful harvests we might have ever had to date.
From us to you, dear reader: we hope you’re enjoying the summer, and staying safe in the heat. See you in August!
