CUT FLOWERS

There are lots of flowers around at the moment - lilies are a wonderful sight and scent in the garden this month.  I like Lilium regale best, as it’s very robust, with several blooms on each stem. It will grow from seed very readily and bulk up to flower within a couple of years.

I've been picking flowers quite a bit this week - for end of term and for the pleasure of picking - most perennials benefit from having their blooms snipped off as it saves them from the bother of making seed, a process that saps their strength (like having children).  Annuals need picking regularly or they will consider that their job is done and stop flowering.  If you don’t want to deplete your border of blooms while it’s in full swing, pick off the flowers as they fade - dead-heading will help the plant, either by encouraging more flowers, or directing energy to other parts.