BEST BETS FOR LONG-LASTING SUMMER COLOR

When it comes to planning and planting the summer
garden, some plants are "must haves". There are
hundreds of garden standards of summer favorites that
are sure to provide months of pleasure in the summer
garden. Some are perennials, some summer bulbs. In
gardening all can be started "from scratch" (such as
roots or bulbs) or purchased "store bought" (pre-grown
as nursery container plants). Winter-hardy plants will
come back year after year. Some flowers, such as lilies,
alliums and liatris are winter-hardy perennials. Many
summer-blooming flower bulbs originate in warm parts of
the world and cannot perennialize (come back) in the colder
parts of America. These "tender bulbs" can be treated as
annuals and let die back at summer's end --or they can be
saved for future summers by storing them indoors over
winter under protected conditions, for replanting the next summer.

Purple Cone Flowers (Echinacea), perennials

--An American prairie native, these garden favorites
can be counted on to provide non-stop color from July
through September. Though cone flowers come in white,
pink, purple and even yellow, it is the purple that is
most famous --and enduring! For a dynamic duo in the late
summer garden, plant purple cone flowers with golden
black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia). Both sport large
daisy-like flowers with robust appeal.

Liatris, cold-hardy summer-blooming bulbs

--Not as well known as it should be, this tall North
American native is also known as gayfeather and it's
easy to see why: Its four- to five-foot tall spikes
are coated with fuzzy-looking florets that appeal to
gardeners and butterflies alike. Liatris thrive in
sun or partial shade, blooming July through August.
Plant them in groups of 15 or more for best effect.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids), perennials

--For months of trouble-free color, one day at a
time, nothing beats the daylily. Daylilies, as
their name suggests, produce colorful flowers that
last only a day, but they seem to never stop blooming,
pumping out flower after flower, for months on end.
Daylily flowers come in endless colors including yellow,
pink, red, orange, purple, white, peach and bi-colors of
all descriptions. Plant in full sun and moist soil.

Lilies, cold-hardy summer-blooming bulbs

--These glamour gals of the garden are winter-hardy
bulbs that can be planted in either spring or fall.
Popular favorites, there are numerous types to choose
from, providing bloom from midsummer through late fall.
For different looks and bloom times, select an assortment
of Asiatic, Oriental, longiflorum, trumpet or hybrid species
types. Plant in full sun for best performance in the
garden or containers.

Gladioli, tender summer-blooming bulbs

--"Glads" are the latest "come-back kids" of garden
fashion, fast gaining a new following among gardeners
who've discovered their appeal as fanciful floral accents.
Too long relegated to cutting gardens, gladioli are suddenly
popping up in unexpected spots as American gardeners take
a second look at this glorious plant.

Your activity for July is to mew about how you achieve
summer color in your gardens. Send in your research or
personal gardening history by clicking on the mail
button below.

Please send in your pictures and biographies for our
"Getting To Know You" pages.

All of our former gardens are open for planting in.

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http://www.tendermoon.com/TenderMoon.htm

 

 

The midi playing is "Waltz of the Daisies" by Geoff with permission. Visit his site.