After the Spring flowers finished, I was slowly beginning to panic that nothing was going to flower. Every time I looked at the garden there was a mass of green. I love green, and there were many shades from light to dark, but an English Country Garden needs flowers. All of a sudden it has happened, the garden, whilst not a riot of colour, now has a gentle coloured hue.
Firstly the Johnsons, Plantsman’s Sweet Peas – Cupani – are flowering in abundance. I can’t cut them quick enough. I have not grown this variety before and they are supposed to have an amazing scent. I was hoping for that “blow you away” sweet pea perfume, but instead it is a delicate scent that you have to breath in deeply to appreciate.
Then there is the Gerbera. This plant is now 5 yeas old and has not flowered as prolifically as previous years, but it still produces wonderfully bright red flowers bordering on being orange.
Another flower I grew from seed this year is Larkspur. They were only cheap seeds from Wilkinsons in a selection packet so I didn’t know what color they would turn out to be. Some unfortunately died, but what is left have flowered into an eye watering violet/blue.
Further down the garden, the Phlox is in full flower and next to them are the blue Agapanthus.
I also grew Johnsons Cornflower called Double Black from seed. They look really good against the pink Cosmos.
I have a slim line water butt just outside my kitchen door, it is a not very aesthetic looking green, so a few years ago I decided to camouflage it. I put a Passion Flower in a pot next to it, and trained it over and around the butt. As I was coming back into the house after taking pics of the flowers in the garden, I suddenly noticed tucked in the far corner it has started to flower. I am sure they were not this color last year but I think it is a fabulous blue.
The Roses are still in full bloom, as are the Nasturtiums, Fuchsia and Montbretia.
Isn’t Summer color wonderful!