While I love that flowers have different meaning. Instead of textbook meanings, I prefer to use flowers to remind me of people who have been in my life. I also use them to remind me of my past and places that I have visited or even places I have lived.

I love dark red, perfumed roses as these were my Dad’s favourite flower.

Likewise, I always have a Cecile Brunner rose in every garden I have ever planted, from the cold climate gardens to the tropics. This is because we had an arbour of Cecile Brunner roses in my first ever garden when I was growing up.

In this light, I have really enjoyed the beautiful flowers of the penstemon in my garden this year. The penstemon reminds me of a lovely neighbour, Monica who I lived next door to in Canberra and who first introduced me to this hardy, underutilised cottage garden plant.

I have several in my current garden (see photo) and they bloom almost constantly from spring to autumn.

Although not part of the edible garden, they are great for attracting bees.  They also provide food for bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects.

Happy gardening

Rohanne, your Personal Garden Expert