In the Garden in June….

Still mostly staying at home at the moment so I thought I would share some of my favourite plants in the garden just now……..

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is one of my favourite Salvias with a long season of interest, loved by bees and works really well in so many planting combinations. Hemerocallis are wonderfully fragrant perennials - this yellow variety is an existing plant in a Client’s garden which I think might be Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’. Iris sibirica (another one we planted in a Client’s garden) is a really great Iris for growing in most borders and has lovely violet blue flowers in early summer. Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ loves a sunny spot and has fabulous thistle like flowers which are absolutely adored by bees!

There are so many wonderful Geraniums to choose from, to suit pretty much every position. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a great one for a border but does need a bit of space and combines really well with so many plants, is loved by bees and has an impressively long flowering season from May to October. I’ve also included a couple of shrubs which have been looking great in June. Weigela florida ‘Wine & Roses’ (also known as ‘Alexandra’) has lovely purple foliage and pink flowers in late Spring / early Summer and Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ has really beautiful, finely cut, really dark purple foliage. It is best cut back in the Spring and makes a wonderful backdrop to colourful perennials such as Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ or Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’. The final picture in this group of 4 shows Eryngium x zabelii ‘Jos Eijking’ which is a striking thistle like perennial with long lasting flowers. It is happy in a sunny position with free draining soil and works well as a cut flower. In fact I have a particular soft spot for this one as it was in my wedding bouquet…..

Another wonderful garden stalwart with a beautiful range of flower colour is Astrantia. In my garden I have Astrantia major ‘Claret’, ‘Roma’ and ‘alba’. They flower for weeks and are also loved by bees - moist but well drained soils are ideal.

And for some fabulous foliage! Acers are some of my favourites with lovely variations in foliage colour and texture. And I couldn’t resist including the emerging leaves of this beautiful wee Hosta - Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’.

Even when they’ve finished flowering, these Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ look wonderful - even in the rain! …….and a reminder what they were like in their full glory!

Also really exciting to anticipate the delicious peas and beans that are on their way………….

Stay safe and well and Happy Gardening!