Summer gardens near you
With vibrant displays of flowers and long, warm days, summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore some beautiful gardens. Smell the fragrant flowers, take in the vibrant colours around you and listen to the bees buzzing by. Time seems to slow down when you stroll through a colourful summer garden we look after.
This is the time of year when many gardens are at their peak – full of spectacular displays of roses clambering up walls and across pergolas, or swathes of lavender bushes that release a heady scent as you brush past. We've rounded up some of the summer gardens to visit, so you can make the most of the season. You can also check out our gardeners' tips below for a few handy pointers to create your own slice of paradise.
Summer blooms to look out for







Sea Holly
These striking, spiky blue flowers make a real impact in a border, and are also great for attracting pollinators such as bees to your garden.
Lilies and waterlilies
With their large showy blooms in bright colours, lilies are a real summer showstopper. Don’t forget to look out for waterlilies blooming on ponds and lakes too.
Clematis
Clematis come in a huge range of colours and shapes, but they all look great climbing up a wall or sprawling over a pergola. Some can even be grown as shrubs.
Poppies
Poppies are easy to grow, so they’re a great option for kids to raise from seed. Instantly recognisable, they can be found throughout the whole of summer.
Lavender
Hardy and low-maintenance, lavender is a great option for borders, containers, or even lining pathways. For many people it’s also the real smell of summer.
Roses
It wouldn’t be a British summer without the scent of roses on the air. There are thousands of varieties to discover. How many will you find?
Buddleja
Buddleja is commonly known as the butterfly bush, because it’s a favourite source of nectar for the insects. It’s a great choice for a sunny spot in the garden.