Country style rose posy from the garden...

A bouquet from the garden....

Late spring, beautiful ivory ruffled 'Margaret Merril' roses and pale apricot pink 'Chandos beauty' roses are coming into bloom in our garden.

I gather the roses, together with nepeta, sage buds and some silvery grey foliage, arranging the cut flowers into a posy vase to add a dreamy, romantic feel to our home.

Vase: LSA International posy vase 

Summer Posy of cut flowers from the garden

In the garden, pretty summer blooms are waiting to be picked at every corner of the garden.

Lavender blue Scabious with their pin cushion centres and delicate, frilly petals are one of my favourite cut flower. Small white rose buds brought into the house, gently release their fragrance, as they open into full bloom. 

I also pick hot pink Antirrhinum (snap dragons as they are commonly called), the daisy-like Cosmos, intense purple clusters of tiny flowers from the Verbena bonariensis, coriander which has begun to flower, bright blue corn flowers and spiky balls of blue Eryngium sea holly. 

The flowers are casually arranged in this handcrafted posy vase, a perfect little vase to display cut flowers from the garden. 

There aren't any formulas here, just follow your heart.

'Margaret Merril' rose, 'Clive Greaves' scabiosa, Verbena bonariensis, Antirrhinum 'pink'

'Posy Vase' available from : LSA International, £16

Also seen here is 'Elements' coffee table by Camerich

Simple idea for cut flowers in a jam jar

Sometimes the simplest ideas can be so beautiful.

Take an old jam jar and fill it with cut flowers from the garden to brighten up a lonely corner of the room.

Pick whatever flowers you have in the garden like Scabiosa, lavender, carnation Pinks, cornflowers, verbena bonariensis, alchemilla mollis, which are all seen here. For it's bright green leaves and minty scent, I've added some apple mint. The soft, spiky balls are Eryngium - which will turn blue.

Add some twine for a decorative touch.

Looking for Alliums to buy for your flower garden?

(L-R) Allium 'His Excellency', Allium 'Pinball wizard', Allium 'Purple sensation' and Allium 'multibolbosum'

Trying to decide which alliums to buy for your garden?
Alliums look magnificent in the garden and are stunning as a cut flower. Looking through the catalogues, I always find it difficult to visualise the height and size of the blooms and especially which varieties work together.

At the BBC Gardeners' World Live event this year, Warmenhoven, a specialist in alliums and bulbs put on this incredible display at their outdoor stand. 

Here are some of the incredible Alliums that were on display.

Growing Zinnia on the Big Allotment Challenge (Ep. 1)

Zinnia garden in August - masses of blooms (shown at the front is Zinnia Sprite, Zinnia Giant Dahlia mix)

While working on the Big Allotment Challenge last year, the gardeners were tasked with growing Zinnia for the Week 1 Floral challenge.