Romance is back. As the new spring/summer season heralds the return of pretty, vintage florals in both fashion and interiors, gardens are set to get the shabby-chic treatment too, with romantic spring flowers taking centre stage.
"Gardening trends often mirror what's happening in the fashion world," says Awapuni gardening guru Tod Palenski. "And this spring we'll see a return of more traditional flowers, like your grandmother may have had."
Get in touch with your feminine side in the garden by planting a mixture of sweetpeas and pansies. Tod says it's also a great way to add some spring colour without breaking the bank.
"Sweetpeas are really inexpensive and easy to grow. If you plant at the start of spring you can expect them to flower by November."
He recommends choosing a well-drained spot in full sun. Poor growing conditions will mean flowers drop prematurely.
"Ideally you want to ensure your plants get a lot of light and that you're using a rich soil with a high PH," he says. "You can measure the PH by buying a test kit at a garden centre."
If your soil has a low PH you can either add lime to the soil and dig in a fertilizer that has an equal balance of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Sweetpeas are climbers so grow them up bean frames or bamboo stakes tied at the top in the style of a wigwam.
They can be grown from seeds, but Tod suggests using seedlings, such as Awapuni's traditional value range, which come wrapped in newspaper, or their Pop'n'Grow range which have their own individual root systems. This will help them to flower faster.
"Sweetpeas look gorgeous in the garden, but they're also great for brightening up the inside of your house. Once they've flowered, cut small bunches to put in glass jars and small vases."
Plants are usually sold as a mix of colours, ranging from white or pastels blues to vibrant pinks and violets.
"Over the years, to encourage the strong colours, sweetpeas have lost a lot of their scent, but you can now choose traditional, fragrant and dwarf varieties."
They usually grow to between 120 and 180 centimeters, but the dwarf varieties will get to just 30 or 40 centimeters, which Tod says makes them perfect for hanging baskets.
Because they're annual plants you need to pick off the flowers once they're spent and you should remove the whole plant when it's stopped flowering.
For a true romantic look, Tod recommends planting them in a small area with a mixture of lavender, iceberg roses and delphiniums.
"To add a whimsical touch, whether in your garden or in tubs or hanging baskets, you can't go past traditional pansies," he says. "They're one of the easiest annuals to grow and they'll flower within a couple of weeks of planting."
And how's this for romantic? Pansies are descended from violets, Napoleon's favourite flower. When he died they found a locket round his neck which held violets picked from Josephine's grave.
Tod says the new seed strains mean pansies now come in very exciting colours. Choose pale blues and lilacs for a soft pastel look or go for a riot of colour and select varieties like the orange and purple jolly joker.
Pansies like a moist, well-drained situation. They prefer sun, but can handle part shade. Be careful of planting in too much shade or they'll go leggy.
Unfortunately, they make a delicious snack for slugs and snails. Tod's favourite trick is to fill an empty can with beer and bury it in the garden so the top sits flush with the soil. Beer-loving slimy creatures prefer drinking to eating.
So satisfy your inner fashionista this spring and transform your garden into a romantic, floral dream your grandmother would be proud of.
