Incredibles among your edibles

School and community gardens are famous for growing all manner of fruit and vegetables, but not all the plants grown on these plots are for eating.

Many save spaces for incrediblelooking ornamental flowering plants as an uplifting addition to work spaces.

From astilbes to zinnias, there are so many choice blooms to add colour and fragrance. Not only do these varieties contribute sensory interest to the arena but can also be a valuable source of funds for a community garden.

The Wonky Garden, in Cheshire, has taken this colourful idea a step further by setting up their own florist garden. Co-founder said: “For us, growing cut flowers was a natural progression. Our idea was to provide competitively priced floral arrangements from bouquets, bridal corsages and buttonholes.”

Brides now line up to have the local freshly cut flowers on their special day.

Sue encourages all other school or community gardens to dedicate a space to growing cut flowers, even amongst edible crops. She said: “Don’t be afraid to cut your blooms – with flowers like sweet peas regular cutting will encourage fresh growth.

“The profits of planting flowers you can cut is that they brighten up your indoor spaces and make every room smell amazing with their presence.”

When it comes to community gardens, there’s always an opportunity to better your garden, the local community and wildlife too.

If you want more information about the Cultivation Street competition sponsored by Calliope, visit cultivationstreet.com to sign up now.