Summer flower garden

Summer is the most colorful of all seasons, with all the plants that bloom now: perennials, annuals and bulbs. So to have a beautiful garden over the summer is the most easiest thing of all. But you still can work on planing your summer garden to make sure the display is perfect the entire season from early to late summer. Make sure you reserve a few pots of annuals to fill the gaps in your borders after the midsummer overhaul.

Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is a herbaceous perennial that start the early summer flowering season with their voluptuous display. They are used as specimens in borders or herbaceous hedges and are excellent cut flowers too. They like a good soil enriched with organic matter from autumn to spring. Propagate them by division in autumn.

Foxtail lily (Eremurus robustus) is a tuberous perennial that have small, sugar-pink flowers with yellow pollen that appear in early summer. They are a bold statement towards the back of a sunny border. The leaves die back as the flowers fade. They will grow well in a warm, sheltered place in a well-drained soil. Plant the tubers in autumn in well-drained but nourishing soil. Every 3 to 5 years carefully lift and divide congested clumps in early autumn.

Tickseeds (Coreopsis verticillata Zagreb) are rhizomatous perennials that bear dainty, golden-yellow flowerheads in early to mid summer and are mostly used for borders but are also effective in naturalized areas, wild gardens or cottage gardens. They grow easily in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in a place in full sun, but can also thrive in poor, sandy or rocky soils with good drainage. They are tolerant of heat, humidity and drought. If you want to propagate them just lift, divide and replant in spring.

Knautia macedonica is an upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennial that wears deep purplish-red, scabiosa-like flower heads from early summer until autumn. Grows well in average, medium, well-drained soil in a place in full sun. you can propagate this plant easily from spring-sown seed or from basal cuttings taken in spring.

Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) is a beautiful, tall, tender annual that is grown for its palmate leaves topped by elegant racemes of scented flowers that can vary in color from white to pink or purple. The flowers appear from mid-summer. It prefers light, fertile, well-drained soils and a bright sunny place. Sow under glass in spring and plant it out when all danger of frost have passed. Keep the soil moist by watering the plant when the weather is dry.

Bergamot or Bee balm (Monarda Cambridge Scarlet) is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial that wears mop-like heads of scarlet petals from mid summer to early autumn. They like moist, well-drained soil or regular watering during droughts. To propagate it just lift and divide the rhizomes in spring.

Golden marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria E. C. Buxton) is a clump-forming, free-flowering perennial with lemon-yellow daisy blooms with deep yellow centers that appear from mid summer to early autumn. After established it proves to be drought-tolerant. Grows easy in well-drained, sandy soils in a place in full sun. Cut down the fading flowers to encourage more to develop. If you want to propagate it this can be done by division during autumn on sandy soils or in spring on clay.

Milky bellflower (Campanula lactiflora Prichard's Variety) is a beautiful perennial that bears clusters of dark violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers that appear from mid summer to early autumn. Being a tall plant it needs support from late spring before the flowers appear. It likes a fertile, moist but well-drained, natural to alkaline soil and a place in full sun or partial shade. Trim back after flowering to encourage a second flush. Propagate by division in spring or autumn.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea Magnus) is a herbaceous perennial that bears large pink daisy-like flowers, with orange centers opening form late summer to autumn. They grow well in average, medium, well-drained soil in a place with full sun to part shade but will grow best in full sun. This plant is tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor, dry soils. Propagation of this plant is easy as that grow well from spring-sown seed but you can also divide the plant in spring or autumn. Also divide clumps when they become overcrowded, about every 4 years.

Inula hookeri is a perennial that bears soft, hairy buds that open to reveal daisy-like yellow flowers in late summer. If gown in light shade and in a place with moist but well-drained soil the plant will quickly form large clumps. You can propagate it by division in spring or autumn.