It’s summer - time for flowers in garden!

[littlepill]

I need advice for flowers for my garden I normally put a couple of pots of red geraniums by the door. Are they ok or considered naff? Not sure any more! In the back I wanted to create some mixed, colourful displays. Was thinking marigolds, petunias, gladioli...

Does anyone want to share their summery garden displays?

Watching with interest.

I too, just have pots around the front door and want to create something with a bit more wow factor!

If you like red geraniums, then go for it!!

My approach to gardening is pretty eclectic.. if I like it and it grows, and slugs don't eat it... Then I couldn't care less if anyone thinks it is a"naff"flower.

Hopefully picture will post. A planter from my old house a couple of years ago. In it is a peach patio rose, some petunias, a nasturtium, an osteospermum and some alyssum. It was a riot of colour.

Oops I forgot the red geranium!

Ooooh lovely, JT this is what I am hoping to put together. Gorgeous colours..

So I’m not alone!

Keep them coming!

I have cottage type borders, so delphies, dahlias, gladioli, clematis up trees, honeysuckle, the usual stuff. Also lots of cosmos, zinnias, ox eye daisies, clary, nasturtiums, dianthus in the gaps. Hardy geraniums, honesty, hollyhocks, black eyed susans, rudbeckia...and probably a ton of other stuff I've forgotten! I tie it all together by sticking to all the pinks in the spectrum and white wherever possible.

Gorgeous planter JT!

OOh Cary, I love that description! I need what you have listed - it all sounds beautiful, not too perfect but interesting to look at. I need all this.... Have added to my list! Will all be from a supermarket to start with but have a friend who has offered cuttings. Hurrah!

Keep sharing everyone. I'm going off to buy
geraniums
petunias
nasturtiums
dahlias
gladioli

Yay!

Thanks for the kind comments about the planter.😁
Go for the largest planter to fit the space and really fill it up. I’ve always found that a small permanent plant gives a planter structure to work round. Sometimes it’s a patio Rose, but I’ve also used small, cheap firs and small castor oil plants if it’s a really large planter.
Just thought, trailing Lobelia, Bicopa and any other small trailing plant would look nice. At this time of year you can often get cheap hanging basket trailing plants.

Silly question: do you buy them “in bud” or already flowered?

If I was buying anything now, I’d buy in bud. Later in the season, for instant impact, I’d buy in flower.

If you buy 'basket plants' in flower now (bacopia type things) it's a good idea to cut them pretty hard back. I hate doing it, but you'll get thicker, longer lasting plants.