These gorgeous Aquilegias (aka columbines, Granny’s bonnets) seemed to have exuberantly increased since last year (all on their own), and post spring bulbs, have joyfully created the next wave of interest in my back garden. These are the common Aquilegia vulgaris, readily morphing into all shades of pink, purples and whites, and although you can find many fancy and rather tempting hybrids to buy, these cottage garden favourites retain their appeal partly due to their simplicity and also to the fact that they can pop up in cracks in paving and in spots all over the garden. 
Giant red Mustard leaf is another welcome self-seeder and its deep purple leaf and bright yellow flowers have added a zing to an otherwise tasteful but rather pastel colour palette right now in this border. The groovy Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) just to the right of the mustard leaf has also plonked itself right at the front of the bed, but it’s an airy plant with a wonderful texture and a wild upside down alien-like tripod structure which always adds a richness to the planting. I think I dug one up from my parents garden over 15 years ago and it appears all over the garden in different positions every year. In summer I can actually hear the seed casings popping as another seed is ejected and flung into the garden. I love it! 
Umbel-like Sweet Cicely flowers have joined the throng of pinks and purples, alongside globes of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’, 
and I’m pleased to see Phloxes, Roses, Geranium psilostemon (above) and Sisyrinchium coming along too so that they’ll be continued colour in the border once the Aquilegias have gone over. 
In a shadier spot, Astrantia (‘Shaggy’ I think) looks great with the self-seeded (and a tad thuggish if you let it) Arum italicum as a backdrop, and I can see a couple of teasels (Dipsacus fullonum) popping up too to give height and drama to these areas for summer. 
Just one noticeable gap in the bed where I divided a Verbena ‘Bampton’ , left it kicking around in an old compost bag for weeks before replanting a bit later in the year and not surprisingly, (but disappointingly) it’s not returned this spring. Bit of a shame as it was a lovely mid-height variety with pink flowers, but it looks like the raspberries will colonise this spot as the season moves on, again, without much interference on my behalf. Not quite what I’d planned, but great when nature will fill in the gaps for you.
P.s. If you’re having problems with your Aquilegias this year, you’re not alone. Read this Telegraph article from earlier in the year about a killer Aquilegia mildew and how best to deal with it.
Can I send you some yellow Welsh poppy seeds? I always love to read your posts and today’s strikes a chord because my garden is lit up by these yellow poppies amongst the Columbines and geraniums.
Sally
Sent from my iPad
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Yes please! Sally, I’ll drop you an email. Many thanks Naomi
Sally-Huge thanks for the seeds. Will try a few now (although I know it’s a bit late) and save the rest for next year. Thanks again. Naomi x
Lovely to celebrate self-seeders. It feels like such a gift when things spread or pop up and flower where you didn’t plant them. Love the pink/purple/while/yellow colour scheme too.
Hi Nicolette, Purple and yellow, softened with pink and white very pleasing at the moment indeed. Looking forward to pink Geranium psilostemon with my yellow Sisyrichiums for a snappy combo! Nx
After many years of “formal” gardening, thankfully now I have been converted to “self seeding”!!
I have MANY Aquilegia, every year along with other survivor xx
Hi Andrew, may is good, but now feel I may have to do some judicious thinning!
I love how acquilegias sport themselves around the garden. They’re on my allotment too – I have a gorgeous double white form up there – I must save the seed this year and see if I get any seedlings which come true.
Hi Michelle, sorry for tardy reply-been visiting French Gardens-post on the delightful Jardins Agapanthe coming soon….Interested to hear how your seeds come up next year. N x
We have some pretty self seded aquuilegias in our West London garden square. I wish our one g.psilostemon would do the same. smyrnium perfoliatum isa welcome self seeder in May and June among sweet cecily,brunnera and persicaria red dragon. I am emailing a photo though I am sure you know it.
Susan
Hi Susan, sounds like you’ve got some great self-seeders. keep on meaning to sow Smyrnium. Ah, there’s always next year….
Our garden is awash with Herb Robert with its red stems and pretty pink flowers some weeds are better than propagated flowers
Hi Joan, Yes, I love Herb Robert too. Perfect for some very awkward spots where it just pops up of its own accord.
I will have some new raspberries for you to try next year if you fancy any- along with normal red summer and autumn ones i’m growing yellow (Fall Gold), purple (Glen Coe) and black (Black Jewel) raspberries on my allotment now. And waiting on some apricot ones (Valentina) which are apparently in the post still- not actually sure whats happened to them! Also trying some Rubus tricolor cuttings at the moment. Hope your well!
H Owen, New raspberries sound great. If they taste as good as they sound, yes please! Yes all good here. Just back from a trip to France visiting some fab gardens and enjoying lots of delicious food and drink. Nothing better! N x
Your garden is looking lovely 🙂 especially the aquilegias – I’ve got lots of self seeded ones in my garden esp purple and pink. Yes I just leave them to get on with it too xx
Hi Bec, Think I may to intervene a little next year as though they looked great this spring, roses and some other plants getting a little over-run by these enthusiastic growers.
I have lots of self-seeders, when there are too many in a border its irresistible to pot them up and give away.
Hi Julie, you sound like patient woman. Have ripped a few out this year, but maybe next year I’ll get to potting some up for friends and neighbours!
I see something similar to that Euphorbia growing on the road side , when I walk around my neighborhood. I’m always tempted to pull a bit and bring it home. I’ll have to investigate this more. Probably invasive here !
Hi Linda, I don’t find this Euphorbia to be invasive here and it’s really easy to identify seedlings in spring and pull them out if they appear in the wrong space. Do let me know how you get on..N x
Aquilegias are one of the very first few plants that I grew from seed almost thirty years ago.The garden has never been without them since! Yours are looking most attractive Naomi. I can see ‘Jacob’s Ladders’ (another self-seeder) blending in with them most happily 🙂 Will have seed to spare later this summer s if you would like some.
Hi Anna, apologies for tardy response-been away visiting French gardens and indulging in too much fine French food (and drink). By Jacobs Ladder, do you mean Polemonium caeruleum? If so, yes please to seeds. Many thanks Naomi x
My geraniums thrive this year. My cute little garden, in fact, has beautifully turned to purple. We’re so happy to see it. So, I think about giving some seeds to the neighbors. Wouldn’t it be crazy good to see your neighborhood full of blooming geraniums? Oh, well, that’s just me. 🙂 Anyway, great post!
Can you provide a source for the giant red mustard leaf? I would like to try some in my long borders.
Thanks a bunch,
Cat Rowe
Hi Cat, Should be fairly easy to come by. Try Mustard ‘Red Giant’ at Sarah Raven or ‘Mustard Red Garner Giant’ from Nicky’s seeds.