Summer flowering bulbs

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I didn't get my act together for autumn bulb planting so fully aware I've kissed the spring bulb boat.

But what can I plant in my (relatively) virgin sunny flower beds for summer? Am in London, v hot south east facing garden with fairly rubbish soil (I am trying to build it up with manure etc but spent last summer digging out the crazy paving and enormous lumps of concrete that had been left under the flower beds 🙄)

And what's the best way to plant? Clumps? Scattered? I don't have much space for shrubs - very narrow beds only about 40cm in places but I do have one large quarter circle bed. Which has some lavender, buddliea and sedums in it

I think aliums can still go in.

And dahlias, and crocosmia.

DM went to Aldi today and came back with loads of cheap summer flowering bulbs. I'm going tomorrow .

What about perennials to go with the bulbs?? Something like hardy geraniums (not pelargoniums) - easy, bombproof and colourful! It's worth thinking about how it looks in winter too! So maybe evergreen shrubs that you can keep small?

Wilkinsons have got Bags of Iris for £1. I bought 3 bags and 3 gypsophelia.. 60 plants for under £10. I love a bargain.

Are these bulbs suitable for large pots ?

I planted some spring bulbs and they are starting to come through. Would love to have more of an impact in the garden this summer.

I also bought edible flower seeds so hopefully good for salads etc !

I have been looking at the packets of summer bulbs in my nearby garden centre - on the back they all say 'not for naturalising'. Does this mean that they are a one-year-only display? Or will some come back next year?

Agapanthus would love your garden. They do well in pots as they like to be restricted. I would wait and buy them in bud already, they can be temperamental to get started.