geranium flower

I love Geraniums they flower all summer long and then again if you cut them to the ground once the first flush is over ........

cut each flower stem right back, do you mean, Amy? not the whole bush?? I tend to leave flowers to do what they want, started dead-heading the rose shrub and the pansies in the trough, but don't want to over exert them,.

the bees love them, though - had a bout a dozen reound the nearest three bushes this morning

This looks ever so much like Geranium magnificum to me Fran. Its a stunning flower isn't it?! I love it. You could cut the whole thing back to the ground as Amy says...it will recover and give you a second flush. At any rate, if you just cut back the flowering stems you will prevent it going to seed and spreading all over your garden, but it's easier and quicker to just chop the whole lot back.

thanks, Karen. It could do with a bit of suppressing; I've gor four very large shrubs in th eback, and a few smaller ones. I wasn't sure abotu splitting them while they were in flower, but as they flowers fade I'll trim them back, and seriously cut them back at the end of the flowering season.

The bees love them - there were at least a dozen on one bush alone, but htey wouldn't pose for a group shot!