Flower power brings new high to summer

The weather might be changeable but it’s all about the summer flowers in John’s garden this week

The long periods of lockdown have not really been a great hardship for the keen gardener. After nearly three months of dry, sunny weather then a fortnight of heavy rain the garden has never looked better. Weeds were slow to get started so plants had little competition and as long as the hose kept the plants watered in the dry months everything in the garden was rosy.

The spring display was brilliant and lasted a long time but now it is the summer flowers’ turn to brighten up the garden.

Roses all made an early start but the dry spell brought on some mildew as well as plagues of greenfly.

Then just as they were getting into the first flush the gales arrived and numerous heads on bush and climbers got broken off. However, they are now recovering and soon they will be getting their second flush.

Flowering shrubs seemed less affected by weather and Philadelphus, a mass of scented white flowers, has been amazing and very long lasting.

Yellow Senecio greyi and pink Cistus purpureus and Silver Pink as well as Genista and the golden broom Cytisus praecox all flowered well as the long dry spell really suited them.

I have several outdoor fuchsia Mrs Popple in borders and the less hardy fuchsia Swingtime in pots all enjoying this weather and all full of flowers.

In the herbaceous border the Oriental poppies, peonies and Bearded Iris are now over but Shasta daisies, delphiniums, day lilies, and Oriental

I have several outdoor fuchsia Mrs Popple in borders and the less hardy fuchsia Swingtime in pots all enjoying this weather

lilies are now taking over. They are all self-supporting except the delphiniums and the taller Oriental lilies, which all require to have supporting canes.

I use some Oriental lilies as dot plants in tubs to add height to the summer bedding plants and with their exotic perfume they are perfect near entrance doorways and on the patio.

The lockdown may confine us to be near home but this gives us plenty time for garden work to keep weeds under control, carry out essential watering, staking and as flowers fade, continual dead heading.

Spring flowering pansies removed from tubs and hanging baskets in May were carefully replanted in bare areas amongst other plants as they always continue to flower into mid-summer.

However, I identify the best white, yellow and blue colours and save seeds for growing on young plants for next year’s display. These will be sown at the end of this month.

I also have some very colourful Californian poppies as well as poppy Ladybird and Opium poppies, which have all naturalised in both my garden and allotment flower borders, so I again save some seed for sowing next year