Five classic cottage garden flowers – Achillea, Agapanthus, Agastache, Digitalis (foxglove) and Helenium – looked fresh and modern in this floral mix-up of fun, froth and fireworks. Every angle I viewed from had a slightly different story to tell.
I was so taken by the Agastache that I tried to buy some shortly afterwards. Todd’s Botanics, who created the design for the Hampton Court Flower Show, weren’t offering those cultivars online. After a little searching, I managed to place an order elsewhere but as sometimes happens when handling live plant material, when the delivery time came, I had an apologetic e-mail to explain that the Agastache could not be supplied.
I still look back fondly at the colours and moods in this series of images and have already shared different angles / colour combinations together with the cultivar names in this earlier post. And while I didn’t manage to get the flowers in my tiny garden, those of you visiting my website may recognise that I’m using a crop of them as my website header.
Shared for Becky’s SquareUp Challenge.
Susan Rushton 
oh these are just gorgeous – a wonderful summer display. Can’t wait for summer!
Let’s hope for a happy one!
oh yes, happy one is much needed xx
Beautiful.
I’m glad you liked it.
I love these, they are so colourful and pretty 🙂
It was my favourite bit of the show that year – I felt like my luck was in as soon as I saw it.
Beautiful mix-up of flowers.
I could have said jamboree but I needed an up for the challenge.
Oh wow, those agastache are marvellous! As a point of interest, what are these cultivars please?
They’re Agastache ‘Kudos Coral’ from the Kudos series and the creamy one is Agastache ‘Summer Glow’ from the Summer series. I note there’s hardly any trace of the Summer ones online. Perhaps they were too popular for the stock levels or they proved not to be as bullet-proof as first thought.
Thanks Susan… I have kudos gold, which is a good performer. I hope you are wrong abt the summer series endurance, cos that creamy one is beautiful
Beautiful photographs all
I was fortunate to have some great models.
You were indeed ❤️🌹
Wonderful blend of shapes and colors!
I could happily be taken right back to that moment to snap a few more angles (and to send some warning letters to a good number of scientists and officials).
Stunning!
Thank you!
To be plunged into summer like this is the ultimate Unexpected! I’ve just come in from an errand and I am freezing, so finding myself suddenly knee-deep in this lush color is a delightful shock. How beautiful!
I hope your neighbourhood birds accorded you some sympathy, to which I will add my own and hope you have made a mug of hot chocolate or similar to help you warm up.
Stunning combinations.
Something to lift our spirits.
Oh, these are so gloriously summery.
Yes, they are (sigh)
Jewel brights! I love them 🙂 🙂
It’s funny how they seem bright and soft at the same time.