Do you love the heat of summer? Maybe you prefer freshness of spring? But what about those crisp, clear, colourful days of autumn? Or you could be one of the crazy few that loves the winter when snow blankets the landscape in white magic. There are huge climatic changes between the four seasons and our flora and fauna, including our flowers, change accordingly.
Nowadays we want to have tropical flowers in vases in our homes and give our favourite flowers at any time of year, regardless of season, so florists end up importing flowers from across the globe. But throughout the year, in every season there are plenty of beautiful seasonal flowers to choose from. Not only will buying these in-season flowers help farmers in the UK, but you will usually pay a lot less for them.
Many people have no idea what flowers are in season. There were times when picking wild flowers was common, but now what with the increase in housing developments, expanding city limits and pollution this simply isn't possible.
Despite this summer being particularly warm and dry, flowers are still flourishing. Summer is one of the main growing seasons so there are plenty of flower breeds to choose from. Summer is the best time for sheer colour variety: deep oranges and vivid pinks to luminous purples and sunset reds. Summer blooming flowers include amaranthus, Calla lily, carnation, chrysanthemum, dahlia, foxglove, freesia, iris, gladiolus and lilac.
With its long nights and cool days, autumn may have you thinking it's bad time for flowers. However, despite the loss of fire-coloured leaves from giant trees, there are plenty of flowering plants that are blossoming into life.
Colours are deeper and less varied but just as vivid. Amaranthus, chrysanthemums and carnations are still going strong, but add to this China berry, gerbera daisy, juniper, orchids, water lilies, Queen Ann's lace and cockcomb.
Winter with its cold frosts, killing off garden life and short days leaving little time for growth, is a tough time for flowering plants. But there is still life remaining in the garden, and much of it only comes out to show off during the winter. Holly berries are vibrant pinpricks of red in an otherwise sea of green and herbs and fragrant flowers like witch hazel, winter jasmine and honeysuckle add subtle colours and smells to the more muted winter tones.
Spring is the season of new beginnings. A return of the sunshine and plenty of thirst-quenching rain means flowers burst into life after a long hibernation. The countryside is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour with yellows, whites and mauves dominating the landscape. Spring flowers include cherry blossom, apple blossom, delphinium, heather, poppies, tulips, sweat peas, daffodils, roses and gardenia.
Maricruz Tennill is a horticulturaist and freelance writer. They recommend Interflora for flower delivery Leeds.
