Sweet Peas and Summer Flowers Perfect for Cutting

Come see the “before and after” sweet pea flower bed at the time they were planted and after they were established, along with other blooming Summer flowers perfect for cut flower arrangements.

This Spring I ventured into a little front patio makeover.  One of the goals of the whole process was to plant flowers so that we could have some pops of color in our yard  in summer time.  Since that time would be now, I thought I’d show you how things went.

Sweet Pea Flower Bed

Sweet pea flowers, also known as lathyrus odoratus, are a hardy annual flower plant. Like their name depicts, they smell absolutely delicious and come in so many beautiful colors.

Sweet peas can be planted by sweet pea seeds directly into the ground between February and June (in mild Winter climates), or they can be started in a greenhouse from seed.

We purchased ours as small plants at a local greenhouse.

Here was the “Sweet Pea Bed” in Spring:

sweet pea lattice

We built a very simple sweet pea flower trellis using branches and jute twine in a zig zag pattern for the Sweet peas to climb up.

And, here it are the established sweet pea flowers now…

sweet peas

This is the first time I planted sweet peas, and I admit that for a while, I thought they might not make it.  I’m so glad they hung in there…

blooming sweet pea flowers climbing a trellis

I love the smell of them, and they last about a week cut and in a vase on my kitchen table.

It’s amazing to me that just a few short months could turn this:

sweet pea flowers right after they were planted in a cut flower bed

Into the wild and crazy mass of this:

whole sweet pea flower bed in summer

My mom commented years ago that, “We back home [in Montana] try to get things to grow.  You have to be careful that things don’t take over the whole yard!”

I guess that’s the case sometimes.

Or not.

Coleus

See those cute little flowers with the hint of pink and red beside the Japanese Maple tree?

They are called coleus. With vibrant colors and variations on their leaves, they can add gorgeous color to a flower bed.

small flower bed right after flowers were planted

Unfortunately, they thrive best in dappled sunlight or shade, and they died.

Rudbekia

However, the other ones went a little crazy.  I think they’re trying to take over the tree…

rudbekia flowers beside a small weeping willow tree

“Rudbekia”, they are.  I find them to be a delightfully happy flower.

rudbekia flower in yellow

Rudbekia, or coneflowers, thrive in the sunlight and were super happy in their location.

 I’ve always dreamed of having a “cut flower garden”.  In fact, I’ve even spent time researching plants to make one.  But, it dawned on me as I prepared this post that it has just sort of happened on its own.  Here’s the list of the current flowers I’m cutting for bouquets in the house:

summer flowers with names
  • pansies
  • hydrangeas
  • sweet peas
  • phlox
  • rudbekia

 In fact, I think I want to go cut some right now!

Have a happy day~

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2 Comments

  1. I wish I knew what the heck you were talking about…sigh….gardening is so out of my league, but I’d LOVE to have some flowers to put in the house!

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