Instagram acts as a visual and creative diary for its users, so it’s no surprise that flowers form a key feature throughout the year. I love seeing the seas of bluebells pop up in April, and giving way to peonies and then lavender. If you want to be prepared for the floral trends as the seasons change, here is a little prompt that should help (snappy calendar image at the end of this post), and perhaps give you some inspiration during those trickier months.

January & February

The first two months of the year are all about the snowdrops for me. They’re the first sign that spring is on its way, and such a welcome sight after a long winter. The start coming through at the end of January, but peak in February. The best display I’ve ever seen is at Welford Park in Berkshire (you can read our post from last year’s visit), but there are numerous other places to spot them - I recommend Gatton Park, RHS Wisley, and Polesden Lacey.

Other February finds include crocuses and witchhazel.

March

Daffodils are the highlight of March for me, and one of the easiest to spot, as nearly every formal garden will have a display somewhere.

April

April is where the florals start to come alive, with bluebells, blossom, and tulips blooming all across the UK. Bluebells have to be one of my favourite finds, and I love a stroll through the woods and finding that sea of blue-purple popping up in front of you. Read my favourite bluebell spots in the South East.

May

May and June are Peony months and it’s such a short lived blooming season that you need to make the most of it! Those pink fluffy heads are so pretty that they make perfect Instagram inspiration.

Wisteria hysteria is rife in May! You’ll find beautiful examples on the fronts of houses, but if you’re looking for a beautiful display, Greys Court near Henley is the place to go. If you’re in London, Peckham Rye Park has a lovely wisteria pergola, as well as Hampstead Hill Garden.

Magnolias will also be in bloom - if you can, head to Kew Gardens for a wonderful magnolia display.

Rapeseed fields will be in bloom across the UK, giving you fields of gold. I can’t contemplate doing this one, as I’m highly allergic, but if you do, be mindful of private land and keep to public footpaths.

June

June and July are peak rose season. I love a visit to a rose garden at this time of year - they’re always busy, but the heady sweet scent of the roses makes it well worth it. I love Mottisfont in Hampshire, Polesden Lacey in Surrey, and Cliveden in Berkshire, all of which have beautiful rose gardens.

Poppies will start to bloom in June, and a poppy field is always something that makes me do a little happy dance! They can be particularly difficult to track down, as they tend to move each year. Speak to local friends (particularly photographer ones), who might be in the know. Peak poppy season is usually July, but certainly last year I found it was much earlier than usual, so it’s worth keeping an eye out as you’re driving around.

July

July and August see lavender at its best. Head to one of the UK’s numerous lavender fields to see the stunning rows of purple. Not sure if there’s a lavender field near you? Check out my post and find out.

Don’t forget that fruit is a flower too! Strawberry picking makes for some fantastic Instagram photos.

Delphiniums bloom in July, and if you’re anywhere near the Confetti Fields in Wick, Warwickshire, make sure you head there for their annual open week. It’s a stunning field of pastel flowers, and absolutely filled with Instagrammers all trying to get their perfect photo. We visited last year.

August

Sunflowers will always be August for me! They’re shortlived, but beautiful, and I love how they tower over children. I’ve listed all of the sunflower fields I know of in the UK in this post.

Lavender will still be going strong too, if you didn’t manage to make it to the fields in July.

Hydrangeas will be looking fabulous in August too, and their range of pinks and purples, moving to blue, are always one of my favourites.

September

Japanese anemones are the late summer bloomers that keep on going well into September. If you’re looking to hang onto summer, their pinky-purple shade will give you that much needed colour.

Autumn colours will be starting to come through, depending on how early the autumn is setting in.

October

Pumpkins are the obvious choice for October. We love visiting a pumpkin field to choose our best pumpkins, and I think the rest of Instagram agree! The change from summer pastels to the burnt orange and red of autumn is one of my favourite seasonal shifts, and nothing captures it more perfectly than pumpkins.

Autumn colours are in full swing in October, and there are so many places to visit across the UK that showcase the changing leaves beautifully. We love Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey, and Stourhead, but you can just as easily find beautiful colours in your local park.

Conkers! Conkers are one of my favourite things to find in October. I love their spiky shell, and the glossy brown treasure hiding inside.

November

November can be a tough month but if you’re lucky, the autumn colours will hang on in there. I like a walk in the woods at this time of year in the afternoon, to catch the golden light streaming through the trees.

December

Why not visit a Christmas tree farm? We did this last Christmas, and I’ll admit we just did it for the ‘gram and came back empty handed apart from the photos we took! But Max loved playing hide and seek in between the trees, and next year we’ve vowed that we’ll go back and cut our own tree.

A beautiful wreath hung on a pretty coloured front door is an Instagram cliche that’s a cliche for a reason. Head to the wealthier parts of London for some lovely examples, or make your own.

Look for winter berries - holly and mistletoe are the classic Christmas berries, but skimmia and callicarpa provide some beautiful colours too.