The Queens Platinum Jubilee on 2nd June 2022 seems to have got us all in a regal mood! With a host of street parties and other celebrations planned across the UK, you may be wondering how you can decorate your home and garden for the occasion? Fear not, there will not be a string of bunting or flag mentioned, instead we are going to stick with what we know and focus on how you can pay homage to the longest ruling Monarch in British history via beautiful plants befitting to your windowsills, front doors, porches, and garden. A display that your whole street will enjoy!
A subtle approach
If you are not one for bold displays, you may decide a more subtle nod to The Queen would be more fitting for your home and garden. It is well known that the favourite flower of Queen Elizabeth II is Lily of the Valley. Her majesty famously carried a bouquet with Lily of the Valley during her 1953 coronation and are a permanent feature of the impressive floral displays at Buckingham Palace. They obviously have a special place in the monarch’s heart, maybe because they symbolise trustworthiness.
Although these beautiful blooms look delicate with their tiny white, nodding bell-shaped flowers, they are tougher than you might think. They are super easy to grow and offer a sweet perfume when in flower. They are a great fit for cottage or naturalist gardens and if want to control their spread, plant Lily of the Valley in outdoor containers. The only downside is that the plant is poisonous so take care when planting and avoid if you have children or pets in your household.
The red, white, and blue patriotic approac
A great way to make a statement is to fill your pots, window boxes, and beds with red, white and blue plants. It is simple to do an but creates an impressive display. It will entail a lot of watering though if you want them to last summer long.
Combinations we love:
In pots and boxes:
A large red geranium in the centre, surrounded by white petunias and trailing blue lobelia.
Verbena is perfect and will flower all summer long. Grown in all three colours and is loved by pollinators too.
In beds:
Try red dahlias surrounded by blue salvia and white cosmos or busy lizzies. White hellebores are pretty too.
In baskets:
Fill your hanging baskets with beautiful red trailing geraniums or red, white, and blue trailing petunias that will not only fill the basket but spill down the sides too for a great visual
Want to go wild?
If you are more into wildflowers, why not sow some seeds in a bed in your garden? Mix white cosmos or daisies with red poppies and add a sprinkle of blue cornflower from mid-March onwards to bring your garden to life as bees, butterflies and birds will feed of these nectar rich beauties while they are in flower.
Long lasting tributes to the Platinum Jubilee
If you are keen to plant flowers to mark the Queen’s astonishing 70-year reign that will last for years to come, you will want to choose plants that offer timeless style – a bit like the queen herself!
Get involved in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative
Why not follow in her Majesty’s footsteps and plant your own tree for the Platinum Jubilee? The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the UK to plant a tree for the Jubilee.Everyone can take part, from individuals, businesses, schools, and community groups. Why not play your part to enhance our environment by planting trees during the official planting season between October to March. Don’t worry if you’ve missed the boat this year, tree planning will commence again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year.
In a nutshell, you need to purchase a tree, plant it in an appropriate place and pin your Jubilee tree to The Queen’s Green Canopy map. Full details on The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative can be found here.
Is there a rose for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
Yes, according to Horticulture Week a beautiful new bush rose has been bred exclusively by Harness Roses. The Queen Elizabeth II Rose will be introduced at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, so make sure you look out for it.
The ’Platinum Jubilee’ rose is gentle pink in colour and is sure to suit any garden regardless of its style and size. It can be grown in pots or in beds and its sweet, strong fragrance makes it a great choice for planting near to the porch or on the patio.
World leading breeder of fine English Roses, David Austin had been busy breeding for the occasion too, launching a new shrub rose variety this year named ‘Elizabeth’ (Ausmajesty) to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. ‘Elizabeth’ boasts a strong, sweet, fresh fragrance with hints of lemon sherbet and Old Rose and the pretty blooms feature a neat button eye at the centre, embellished with a gentle touch of golden apricot. The blooms gently change colour from crisp apple blossom pink to the gentlest blush white. Beautiful. Plus, its notable repeat flowering will command attention in any garden.
If ‘Elizabeth’ proves hard to get hold of, try David Austin’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’ floribunda rose. It is a great fit if you are after a rose for the back of a border. Beautiful, clear pink, repeat-flowering, pink blooms will come back year after year.
Say it with a shrub
Why not fill your pots with Lavandula angustifolia ‘Elizabeth’ and display them proudly on your porch and window boxes, or other sunny spot, for your friends and neighbours to enjoy too – you could even attach a plaque to the pot to mark the Queen’s 70-year achievement? This pretty and fragrant English lavender is one of the most popular garden shrubs, particularly in old English, period properties. Its dense spikes of violet flowers, in contrast to with the silvery green leaves make excellent cut flowers too – in both fresh and dried arrangements. Plus, its compact nature works well when grown at the front of borders, in pots or as an informal flowering hedge.
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