Favorite summer flowers: Fleur du jour in Victorian England with a link to Princess Diana

Stunning Mixed Flowers Mothers Day Bouquet Royal Radiance

What makes a great summer flower? Color and scent are key, as is a blossom that grows easily in the garden and makes a super cut flower. A classic example: Sweet pea. On its own or as an accent piece (as shown in the bouquet), this annual with a talent for climbing conjures the sunshine and good times of the season.

The sweet pea likes full sun and, in cooler climates, it can bloom through fall. For more growing tips, go to: http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofiles/p/SweetPea.htm.

Like other pea plants, the flower can self-pollinate, which makes it a logical choice for scientific experimentation, especially in the field of genetics. But unlike its pea relatives, the sweet pea is not edible.

Native to the Mediterranean, the sweet pea’s story begins in 17th century Italy with a Sicilian monk who sent the flower’s seeds to England.

Next chapter: A Scottish nurseryman named Henry Eckford (1823-1905) experimented with the seeds to create a more vivid and fragrant flower. With Eckford’s tweaking, the sweet pea became fleur du jour in Victorian England.

His varieties include pink, lavender and scarlet; today it’s also available in blue and white.

The Countess Spencer sweet pea, popular with exhibitors, was first developed around 1900 by the gardener at Althorp, the estate of Earl Spencer in Northamptonshire, England, and childhood home of Princess Diana. If you’re growing Spencer sweet peas for fragrance, choose the right variety. Lighter colors usually have a stronger scent than darker colors. To read more, visit: plantsmiths.co.uk/home/sweet-peas.

Flower Fact of the Day: “Toadflax” and “tufted vetch” top the list of native English wildflowers with zany names. :) See the full roster and find out how a former journalist and author has turned her attention to selling English roses she grows in her own garden – to celebrities like Victoria Beckham, no less! Go to The Independent at: independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/blooming-marvellous-how-one-farmer-is-leading-a-revival-of-the-true-english-rose-869595.html.

Jacqueline - Editor

July 24, 2008

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Comments (4)

Comments

So do these count as royal flowers?

Gisele Phipps

I would imagine Princess Di would have loved those flowers.

amy

Hi, great article, I have a question: are there any roses or beautiful flowers that have no scent - I know they mess with flowers to get certain atributes. I lve flowers but get a headache when I receive them!

I do love sunflwers but would love to get REAL beautiful roses or flowers.

brenda martin

Summertime Lavender is a superb plant just outside the entry to my house. It is very hardy, heat tolerant, with a beautiful fragrance that takes me right back to my childhood. The purple floral stems are perfect in arrangements, and excellent saches dried for the wintertime. Enjoy

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