Hitchin Cemetery August-September 2026 The extremely dry conditions made the cemetery look very brown for most of August, and insects and native plants were not greatly in evidence so it was interesting to note some of the ornamental plants that performed well in the drought. A couple of Cordelines thrived... Many of the native plants in the meadow areas looked brown, but mostly they are perennial and will have living roots and be back again next year, fingers crossed. A few plants managed to flower despite the conditions, like this blue Echinops, and many spring-flowering plants maintained a healthy look and will happily flower again in spring, like the Ceanothus that is draped over a tombstone (although we have now cut this back a little to make the stone more legible). Two plants which do seem to have succumbed are a Dogwood and a Hydrangea, this latter is known for liking plenty of water. It seems reasonable to encourage only drought-tolerant plants in the cemetery...