By Thea Hegland

June is often considered an “in between” season in terms of garden flowers. The spring bulbs have been replaced with the summer annuals and they just need a little sunshine and time to fill out. This time between the profusion of colour has a more subtle allure; attention is drawn from the mass plantings to the shrub and perennial borders where gorgeous Deutzia and fragrant Philadelphus (Mock orange) shrubs gracefully arch amongst the stars of the June garden.

Peaonia

Highly regarded, the Peaonia is lush with riches; the classic embodiment of romance and love, a symbol of wealth, good fortune and honour. These fragrant beauties have soft silky petals, ranging in many shades of pink, red and white. Over 35 varieties are grown here including the striking Japanese-form, ‘Sword Dance ‘which bears bright pinkish-red flowers with yellow petaloids as well as many old classics including ‘Red Charm’, ‘Bowl of Beauty’ and ‘Festiva Maxima’. Our collection also includes the rare ‘Sarah Bernhardt’- steeped in poise and elegance with layers of ruffled pink petals atop sturdy stems. These iconic blossoms are drenched in a sumptuous fragrance that attracts a host of pollinators.

Pollinators

Alongside the beauty of the Peonies is the complementary collection of Iris. More than 70 different varieties are found amongst the perennial borders. Some noteworthy varieties are the deep dark purple, almost black bearded Iris ‘Superstition’ featured along the border near the Rose Garden and the spectacular ‘Edith Wolford’ with blue – violet falls crowned by yellow standards.

Iris ‘Superstition’

Also noteworthy along the borders are the Digitalis (Foxglove) and everyone’s favourite, the simple Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet pea) which have been grown on Bamboo teepees here for years along the Rose Garden border.

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Other highlights at this time are the Cornus kousa (Kousa dogwood) which is full of attractive greenish white flowers and of course, our most famous flower of all; Meconopsis betonicifolia (Himalayan blue poppy) with the rare blue blossoms.

Meconopsis betonicifolia (Himalayan blue poppy)

Plants that are currently blooming

• Abutilon
• Alocasia (Elephant’s ear)
• Alyssum
• Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’
• Aquilegia (Columbine)
• Baptisia (False indigo)
• Begonia
• Brugmansia (Angel’s trumpets)
• Centaurea montana
• Clematis
• Cornus kousa (Korean dogwood)
• Crataegus (Hawthorn)
• Davidia involucrata (Dove tree)
• Delphinium
• Deutzia
• Dianthus
• Dicentra (Bleeding heart)
• Digitalis (Foxglove)
• Disporum (Fairy bells)
• Doronicum (Leopard’s bane)
• Epimedium (Barren wort)
• Eremurus (Foxtail lily)
• Fuchsia
• Fraxinus ornus (Flowering ash)
• Heliotropium (Cherry pie plant)
• Hemerocallis (Daylily)
• Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea)
• Illicium
• Impatiens
• Iris
• Kolkwitzia (Beauty bush)
• Laburnum (Golden chain tree)
• Lantana
• Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet pea)
• Lobelia
• Matthiola (Stock)
• Meconopsis (Blue poppy)
• Nectaroscordum
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Paeonia (Peony)
• Paeonia lutea (Tree peony)
• Papaver (Poppy)
• Pelargonium (Geranium)
• Pericallis (Painted daisy)
• Petasites
• Polemonium (Jacob’s ladder)
• Podophyllum (Mayapple)
• Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)
• Primula (Primrose)
• Prostanthera rotundifolia (Mint bush)
• Rheum
• Rhododendron
• Rosa (Rose)
• Salvia
• Schizanthus (Butterfly flower)
• Skimmia japonica
• Spiraea (Spirea)
• Smilacina (False Solomon’s seal)
• Stachys marcantha
• Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)
• Syringa (Lilac)
• Thalictrum (Meadow rue)
• Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
• Viburnum
• Viola
• Weigela
• Wisteria