summer garden flowers

In the second week of June I spent time exploring some of the areas around the North coast of Scotland.

Although the weather was quite moody, I gained immense pleasure from poking around a number of walled gardens in the area.
I was mesmerised with the kaleidoscope of colours from numerous flowers that bloom at this time of the year.

We have waited with great anticipation for the arrival of warmer days, especially for the summer garden flowers, that this time of the year allows us to experience.

Summer in a garden is quickly associated with colours and the variety of floral displays in all shapes and forms. The flowers are often very big, blousy, the petals pronounced, the flower stems strong and sturdy. Summer garden flowers are difficult to ignore, they are often shouting at us, with their strong presence, their vivid colours and distinctive scents.

Inspired by the gardens that I visited recently, I have created a little list of summer garden flowers for a bit of an inspiration.

Peonies at Gordon Castle walled garden

Here I will focus mainly on describing the blooms of these plants and why it is worth considering them in your green space.

Peony, is a favourite of many cottage style plantings, often featured in numerous historic walled gardens. They have bowl-shaped flowers, that can range in colour: from white, cream, pink and red to yellow tones. If you are looking for a bit of a wow effect, this is definitely a plant to consider. Their big blooms will add a bold statement into any planting. Moreover, these summer garden flowers are also admired for their beautiful scent.

I have planted Elders, like for example Sambucus nigra, in numerous planting schemes that I have designed. It is not only appreciated for fantastic foliage, but also for blooms, which are a real stand-out feature.

Creamy white or pinkish flowers are arranged in small clusters in an umbel shape. The flowers,  which can reach up to 20cm in a diameter, are frothy in appearance that together create a cloud like effect. This summer garden flower is also fragrant and is known for attracting pollinators.

Another addition to our summer garden flowers collection is Aquilegia, common name Columbine.

There are so many varieties of Aquilegia plant, with blooms range in colour from white, cream, yellow, orange, blue, to a very dark plum-purple. The shape of a flower also changes depending on the variety. It is a plant that is often planted in cottage style gardens, bringing a more traditional vibe. It is worth being aware that this plant self-seeds easily, making it a great addition for more naturalistic, less formal garden.

Aquilegia plants at Gordon Castle walled garden

Lastly, let’s not forget about a vibrant collection of summer flowers that adorn the road verges and the sides of paths.

In these spaces we can often find poppies, yarrow, foxgloves, and red campions, just to give a few examples. These pockets of beauty can inspire colour and flower form combinations for our private garden spaces.

Calton Hill, Edinburgh

As flowers are the main and most pronounced feature in our summer gardens, we should all soak in all the beauty and joy they bring. It is also a fantastic time of the year to visit numerous public gardens and dive into their garden borders to examine and learn about new varieties, admire their colour, scents and sophisticated structures.

If you’re looking for the best way to utilise your summer plants, I would love to help. Take a look at all of our design services and get in contact if you’d like a chat.

Happy Summer Solstice!