Abundance is the word, June is when things really start kicking in, the autumn sown annuals have been flowering their socks off and the spring sown annuals are really starting to get going. The biennials are still producing too and what a show they have been. Its just glorious. It was a very dry start to the month even here in the North-west (it doesn’t always rain in Manchester!!) and very hot but thankfully we are back to sunshine and showers here again and things are back on track.
Talking of biennials I’ve just been so happy with them this year I’ve had the first wallflowers in mid-April, honesty, sweet rocket in May and June has been all about Sweet William and Canterbury bells. This has by far been my favourite bouquet of the year.
My first time growing Canterbury bells and they have been fabulous, bigger than I expected so they really needed plenty of support and maybe needed pinching out better but I’ve picked lots of stems and since then have had lots of side shoots which are much shorter but still look great. They are also very long lasting in a vase. Here I’ve mixed them with Alchemilla mollis, Cornflowers ‘Black Ball’ and ‘Mauve Ball’ and Silene vulgaris. I think we are hoping to stock Canterbury Bells at Higgledy next year. Well I’ll keep pushing for it anyway!
The Sweet william cutting bed has been fabulous too. I’ve got all of the Higgledy varieties in here.
Sweet William ‘Higgledy Mix’ includes this lovely pale pink which is so beautiful up close.
Sweet William ‘Auricula eyed’ which is in all sorts of shades of pink including this beauty.
But you can’t beat a big bunch of all varieties, here mixed with added zing with the fabulously frothy Alchemilla mollis again and Echium ‘White Bedder’.
But I think the ones I’ve used most have been Sweet William ‘Alba’ and Sweet William ‘Nigricans’ which both combine so well with other flowers and colours.
The Cornflowers have been amazing filler flowers in lots of bouquets in June, they have been fabulous. These were sown in the autumn and were one of the plants that survived the heavy freeze and have been really robust. I will definitely sow them at that time again. Here’s a monochrome posy, the dark side provided by Cornflower ‘Black ball’ looking great with Sweet William ‘Nigricans’, Sanguisorba and Physocarpus foliage. The light provided by Sweet William ‘Alba’, Orlaya, Allium ‘Graceful beauty’ and Echium ‘White Bedder’,
Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ also contrasts well with orange Calendulas, including Calendula ‘Sherbert Fizz’, ‘Snow Princess’ and ‘Indian Prince’. Here with Cerinthe and Orlaya.
A cooler combination of blues, purples and white also highlights Cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ here with the first of the vibrant blue of Larkspur ‘ Imperials’ (my first time having success with these), Cynoglossum, Nigella, Ammi majus and the still productive Hesperis White!
I’ve had lots of fun in June playing with lots of different combinations and things are only just starting, Cosmos are just starting to flower, I’ve got Phlox, Rudbeckias, sunflowers and Zinnias to come. Sweet peas are flowering madly you have to just keep picking them. Happy summer days.
There is still time to sow biennials for next year. Ben has a sale on for most biennials and also the wonderful Biennial Bundle, which is such good value.
Higgledy Anne
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