See the sweet pea flower bed before and after establishment, along with other summer blooms that are ideal for cut flower arrangements.
I first wrote about this project when we still lived in our previous home with a very large yard and many flower beds. These days our small backyard patio only holds a few containers—like the hydrangeas I keep in pots—but I enjoy revisiting this post. It reminds me of the simple pleasure of a personal cutting garden.
I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane and maybe pause to imagine the scent of a handful of freshly cut blooms.
This spring I tackled a modest front patio makeover. One of the primary goals was to add flowers that would bring color and scent to the yard through summer. Now that summer has arrived, here’s how that plan turned out.
Sweet Pea Flower Bed
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are fragrant annuals known for their delicate blossoms and heady perfume. They come in a range of colors and are popular for both borders and cut flower bouquets.
In mild-winter regions sweet peas are commonly sown directly into the ground from late winter through early spring, or they can be started indoors and transplanted later. For this bed we chose to purchase small plants from a local greenhouse and set them out in the prepared soil.
Here is the sweet pea bed shortly after planting:
To give the vines something to climb, we built a simple trellis from branches and jute twine in a zigzag pattern. The structure is lightweight and rustic, but it provides plenty of support for the tendrils as they grow.
A few weeks later the bed filled in and the sweet peas established themselves:
This was my first time growing sweet peas, and at one point I worried they might not make it — but they persevered. Their fragrance is lovely, and when cut they keep well in a vase for about a week, filling the kitchen with scent.
It’s remarkable how quickly a planted bed can transform. What began as a neat line of small plants:
matured into a lush, exuberant mass of blossoms and foliage in just a few months:
As my mom once observed, sometimes plants try to take over the yard—sweet peas can definitely spread their charm quickly if conditions suit them.
Coleus
Beside the small Japanese maple you may notice compact plants with colorful foliage and small flowers. These are coleus. Their leaves add striking patterns and hues to a bed, and they usually prefer dappled sun or partial shade.
Unfortunately, in this spot the coleus didn’t thrive long-term; they prefer less direct sun than they received and eventually declined.
Rudbeckia
Other plants in the bed flourished. The rudbeckia (often called coneflower) really took off and seemed intent on surrounding the small tree. These sunny, daisy-like flowers are cheerful and hardy, and they performed well in a sunny location.
Rudbeckia’s bright yellow petals and dark centers make them a favorite for casual bouquets and they hold up well as cut flowers.
I’ve always wanted a cut flower garden, and in creating this patio bed it feels as though the garden happened a little by accident. The result, though, is exactly what I hoped for: fresh flowers to bring indoors throughout the season.
- Pansies
- Hydrangeas
- Sweet peas
- Phlox
- Rudbeckia
There’s something restorative about cutting a small bouquet from the garden and bringing it inside. I’m tempted to go pick a few stems right now.
Have a happy day!
For more flower tips
- Hydrangea care in pots — practical tips for container-grown hydrangeas
- How to create simple, rustic flower arrangements at home
- Ideas for spring flower arrangements that feel effortless
- How to enjoy mid-summer flowers on a small patio
- Easy daffodil arrangements for a fresh spring look
