As summer begins to make its presence felt, there's something magical about stepping into a garden that's bursting into life. The days are longer, the borders are fuller and every corner seems to reveal something new. With the season just getting underway, we recently headed to RHS Wisley Gardens with a simple mission: to see how many purple plants we could find.
Armed with our phones, complete with a selection of our purple phone cases for the occasion, we set off to explore the gardens and immerse ourselves in one of nature's most majestic colours.
It didn't take long before we started spotting purple treasures everywhere. The magnificent rhododendrons were putting on a spectacular show, their vibrant blooms creating pockets of rich colour throughout the Oakwood. Elegant irises stood proudly among the borders, while towering alliums added their distinctive globe-shaped flowers above the surrounding planting.
One of the joys of visiting Wisley at this time of year is seeing how the garden evolves as summer approaches. Salvia plants were beginning to flourish, bringing deep purple spikes that swayed gently in the breeze, while hardy geraniums spread carpets of delicate violet blooms across beds and borders.
Of course, we weren't the only ones attracted to these colourful displays. The purple flowers were alive with pollinators. Bees buzzed busily from bloom to bloom, collecting nectar and pollen, while butterflies fluttered gracefully through the gardens, adding even more colour and movement to the scene. Watching these little visitors at work was a wonderful reminder of the important role gardens play in supporting wildlife.
As we wandered through the gardens, our purple phone cases seemed perfectly at home among the blooms.
The start of summer is one of the most exciting times to visit a garden. New plants are emerging, flowers are reaching their peak and pollinators are making the most of the abundance of nectar-rich blooms. Our purple-themed walk around RHS Wisley Gardens offered not only plenty of photographic inspiration but also a chance to slow down, appreciate the season and celebrate one of nature's most captivating colours.
If you're planning a visit to Wisley this summer, why not choose a colour and see where it takes you? You might be surprised by just how much beauty you discover along the way.
