The photo above truly depicts a cottage garden with a mix of annual, perennial plants interspersed with shrubs.
As we reach the end of July I would say my garden is at its best. Long gone are the early blooming bulbs and flowers. In their place now are the annuals that I started from seed including calendula, sweet peas, cosmos, nigella and blue cornflowers. The rudbeckias start to flower now (both annual and perennial varieties). These will bloom well into fall. The hydrangea paniculata (limelight) is true to its form as the early flowers are lime green. It will not be long now before the sunflowers bloom.
Annuals Grown From Seed
With the annuals shown above some were directly sown in the garden and others earlier in the year in the greenhouse. Poppies seem to self seed and pop up everywhere (no pun intended).
I would say the highlight of the summer garden are the roses. Sadly I am unable to name them all as they were already growing when we first bought our house. I have since replaced and added some new varieties in particular the arbour roses.
My Rose Selection
I am very happy too this year with the way my plant combinations have worked out. For example, the white shasta daisy works well with the purple lavender. The blue campanula against the silver leaves of the perennial alyssum and the yellow coreopsis. Even some of the plant groupings in my hangings baskets have worked out well.
Blue campanula, Coreopsis, Silver Leaves 
White Shasta Daisy/Purple Lavender 
White Shasta Daisy, Blue Cornflower, Pink Roses 
Calibrachoa, Purple & White Lobelia
Most of the plants and shrubs I grow endure the high summer temperatures although they do struggle at times. It is at this time of the year I do appreciate the shade provided by my feature trees. With a little help from my patio umbrellas too. I am waiting for the heat to burn off the mosquitoes as they have been particularly bad this year.
As I finish off my post today I did want to mention that in a garden design fun decor comes into play. I particularly like my lamppost in the front and the welcome greeting on the garden gate along with my owl bell.
Hope everyone is staying safe and making the most of these summer days even though we are more limited this year. Until next time…..