Perennials in a Pot

Do you hit the garden season at the beginning of every season to purchase annuals for all of your pots?  You can save money by investing in more expensive perennials once and enjoy the benefits of their return year after year. 

Not only is the decision to plant perennial gardens more economical, but there are more selections to choose from in terms of color, size and sun requirements. One thing to remember when planting perennials in a container is that you need to use larger containers.  This will ensure your perennials have room to grow and they will also be most likely to return each year when planted in large containers.  You also want to be certain your containers have drainage holes.

We've selected some of our favorite container garden perennials (recommended for over-wintering) and hopefully we can inspire you to plant perennials the next time you create a new container garden.    

Hosta is a perfect choice for a perennial container.  They are bright, easy and will almost certainly return each year.  Planted in a very large pot will mean they will make a bigger, bolder statement each year.

Scabiosa or Pincushion Flower is a great flowering choice for container gardens and combines well with other plants.  It comes in a variety of colors ranging from pink to blue to purple to red.  The bonus is its long bloom season.

Campanula or Bellflower.  It flowers in shades of blue, purple and pink, and white varieties are also available.  Because it can reach a height of 36 inches, it's a great way to add height to a container garden.  

Echinacea or Coneflower.  This one is a favorite perennial in the ground, but it's just as splendid in a container.  There's more available than the well known Purple Coneflower.  Mix it up assorted varieties for a real stunner.

Dianthus or Pinks are a lovely addition to a mixed perennial container or as a stand alone.  They are pretty and welcoming.

These are just a few of our favorites.  The possibilities are endless.  Next time you plant a container, skip the annuals and move toward the perennials.  

A Stone's Throw

Love the look of stone and rock in landscaping?  There are many different types of stone that can be incorporated into your landscape, and an infinite number of ways to use stone.  New ideas pop up all the time, and some of the traditional uses will never go out of vogue.  Our favorites?  You certainly don't have to ask twice.

I love this idea of creating a dry creek to channel rainwater to a certain area, while decreasing erosion.  I found the idea at Fine Gardening and the project completely performs a double duty, offering function and beauty.

Flagstone creates an informal walkway, and is perfect for cottage gardeners.  Naturalized placement, combined with a whimsical plant design conjures up feelings of fairies and fantasy.

Stone fountains add a peaceful, natural addition to your landscape. The tranquil sound of trickling or flowing water over natural rock or stone completes an exterior retreat.  There are endless design opportunities for building a water feature out of rock or stone.  The size of your yard isn't a real consideration on whether or not to add a water element, but it is a determinant on the design.

There are times when the somewhat simple addition of a large rock or two can be just enough natural appeal to complete your final look.  Large rocks and boulders are very heavy and if that's an issue, you may want to consider some of the artificial rock accents currently available on the market.  (Yes, this rock is an artificial alternative.)

If your landscaping style leans toward an Asian or Zen style landscape, then rocks, stones and boulders are an integral part of your design.  Stones are used for foot paths, walls and simple water features in this particular style of garden.

When we think of a walkway, many of us think of stone.  But we can also think of going outside the proverbial box and using the idea a little differently.  One of the most creative walkway ideas I've seen involves carving a walkway into your lawn with river rock or pebbles and creating round stepping stones using the grass.  It's unique and will definitely make the statement that  you are, as well.   I found this idea at Sunset, and I think it's nothing short of amazing.

Using stone as art, is a perfect way to let your creativity shine.  A mosaic walkway created from a variety of stones isn't just a walkway.  It's a piece of art.  Garden Molds tells you how to do it, and I thank them...from the bottom of my creative heart.

I adore natural stone in the garden.  I'm always searching for new ideas to incorporate stone into my personal landscape, as well as for the homeowners I design for.

Late Summer Color Fixes for your Fading Landscape

Like many people, you may not have planned your garden to accommodate the fading color palette that often happens in the last summer.  There are several plants you can plant to fill  your landscape with color through early fall.  If you missed planting them in the late spring then you might be able to find them in your garden center now.  If you do, then strategically place them where you need to brighten up things and bring the color back to your landscape.  

Coleus.  A plant with amazing foliage color.  New varieties arrive each season, and the bright color combos will fill your yard with sunshiny happiness until frost.  Many of the new varieties don't flower, so the care is easy and most love the full sun and heat.

Alternanthera.  Another plant with amazingly lush foliage is the Calico Plant.  This easy to grow plant produces leaves in purple, bronze, orange, red and yellow to make it a rich color addition to your beds or containers.  Planted in the spring, the color will continue to produce until frost.  Although it's a tropical, it's tough enough to handle some rough weather and will often return the next season in some subtropical areas.

Salvia.  Varieties include both annuals and perennials and many varieties bloom through frost.  Salvia plants need good drainage and grow rather quickly.  Quite a few varieties will invite hummingbirds to your garden and the colors range from purple to blue to pink and white.
 

Scabiosa.  The Pincushion Flower blooms from spring and into fall.  It will come back each year, and during particularly mild winters, you may even see a bloom from time to time.  Varieties include Butterfly Blue, Pink Mist, Samantha's Pink, Mars Midget and Vivid Violet.

Dwarf Crape Myrtle.  During the hot, hot heat of August, a crape myrtle may be the only bright color you'll see.  If space is a consideration, then consider planting some dwarf crape myrtles.  They will give you color through the month.  Varieties include Red Filli, Cherry Dazzle, Diamond Dazzle, Strawberry Dazzle and Sweetheart Dazzle.

Coreopsis.  This plant has one of the longest blooming seasons.  If you didn't plant it in the spring, then most garden centers come out with a new group for the late summer, early fall season.  Colors vary and the daisy like flowers are always a welcoming sight.

If you missed the late summer color planting in the spring or can't find them in your favorite garden center in August, then there's always next spring!

Feasting on Flowers

One of the best ways to add color in interest to your menu is with the addition of fresh flowers.  There are many blooms that look beautiful on the side of a plate, but are also perfectly safe to use in recipes.  

Pansies are a flower that can gently float in a cocktail, or add a mild, slightly minty flavor to salads and other dishes.  

Begonias have a somewhat sour taste and is another salad addition.  Pretty to garnish with, delicious to munch on.

Marigold blossoms can be sprinkled on soups, pasta, rice and salads to add a bright touch of color.  

Dandelion flowers have a sweet, almost honey-like flavor when young.  If you wait too long to pick them, the mature flowers become bitter.  The dandelion has multiple uses.  Flowers are edible, can be made into wine and the greens, when young, are delicious steamed or tossed into salad.

Edible flowers are beautiful when frozen into ice cubes and added to summer drinks.

There are many edible flowers, with a wide array of flavors. It's always fun to discover ways to bring the garden to your table. 

 

Bird Watching 101

Your summer flowers may be attracting a lot of birds right now, but do you know what kinds they are.  If your garden is anything like mine, these might be some of the flowers you have growing and the birds that will visit them.

Aster.    All asters attract birds.  These birds include cardinals, goldfinches, chickadees, goldfinches, indigo buntings, nuthatches, sparrows and towhees.  Pictured below is the towhee.

Black-Eyed Susan.  If you leave your black-eyed Susans standing through the winter you can continue to feed certain types of birds.  Birds that will visit at different times during the year include American goldfinches, chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, sparrows and towhees.  Pictured below is an American goldfinch.

Coneflower.  Like Black-Eyed Susan, the coneflower can remain standing in a snowy garden.  It attracts both the American Goldfinch and the pine siskin, pictured below.

A large variety of songbirds are attracting the seeds of the coreopsis flower.  These birds include finches and sparrows, as seen below.

Goldenrod.  Birds love Goldenrod.  If you've got it in your yard, you'll see finches, pine siskins, yellow-rumped warblers, and indigo buntings feasting on their seeds.  A Yellow Warbler enjoys s

Sedum.  Sedum attract almost any type of seed eating bird, even hummingbirds.  Leave them around all winter to continue feeding the winter birds.  Along with sedum, several other flowers attract hummingbirds and these include

What birds have you seen in your garden this summer?

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It's been a hot summer, and if you didn't anticipate such extreme high temperatures then it's quite possible the flowers you chose for your yard aren't looking too great right now.  There are several flower selections that you might consider for next year's planting.  Or you may want to add them this year if your landscape is desperate for a little summer color.

Hopefully our list of high heat tolerant flowers will help you find the perfect color addition for your beds and containers.


Blanket Flower (Annual Gaillardia) is a low growing, brightly colored choice.  It does amazing in high temperatures, will bloom into fall and can even handle a light frost.  Varieties of blanket flower include Fanfare, Firewheel, Arizona Sun and Grape Sensation.

Cockscomb (Celosia Cristata)  comes in a variety of colors and can handle the full sun.  Few flowers create such a show in the garden.  Varieties include Amigo Red, Armor Yellow, Flamingo Feather, Fresh Look Yellow, Fresh Look Red and New Look.  Plant them in the ground or in a pot where you need some dramatic impact!

A native of Mexico and Central America, Mexican Sunflower gives amazing height and color to your landscape.  It grows very quickly and thrives in the heat and sun.  It can reach heights of five feet, but its blooms are much smaller than the Sunflowers you normally think of.  It's bright and colorful and will bring the butterflies to your  garden.

Look around.  If there's a big swath of color you see thriving in someone else's yard right now, then there's a good chance it's Annual Vinca.  With so many colors to choose from and its love for hot, dry and humid climates, the question to ask yourself is "why did I overlook this one?"

Moss Verbena may end up being your favorite groundcover.  It grows between 6 to 12 inches tall, but has a spreading capability of up to 5 feet.  It's easy to grow, is drought and heat tolerant, attracts butterflies and comes in blue, purple and white flowers.

Dakota Gold Helenium can withstand extreme heat, while producing an amazing abundance of bright blooms.

Cosmos can handle hottest heat and the heaviest drought period.  They bloom and bloom, and will also reseed themselves.  Lots of color and size choices means there is bound to be one that will work for you.  Varieties include Cosmic Orange, Cosmic Yellow, Sensation, Sonata White and Versailles,

Now that you have an arsenal of possibilities to survive the hot, hot summer,  pick a few to plant and add some color to your less than bright landscape.

Keep It Cool With Summer Recipes

When the temperatures start reaching the mid to high 90s, the thought of a hot meal doesn't sound too appealing, does it? With the abundance of fresh vegetables, ripening fruits and just caught seafood choices available in our area, trying a new drink, salad, main course or dessert recipe makes meal time a bit easier to handle on a hot day.  Whether your vegetable or fruit harvest comes from your own garden or the local vegetable stand, if you're like me, finding new recipes that are light, cool and often healthier always makes summer a great time for satisfying culinary curiosity.

From Southern Living, I found this yummy twist on a caprese salad, Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad.

My family loves fresh corn, but sometimes I feel a little uninspired by corn on the cob three nights in a row.  I looked for a corn salad recipe that I thought would tempt all my family members and found this one on Tatertos & Jello.  Fresh Summer Corn Salad will probably be a hit in your home, too.

Make your own salsa!  Salsa is so much better when made with fresh ingredients.  Whether you serve it as a summer appetizer with tortillas or use it as an accompaniment to grilled chicken or seafood, the myriad of flavors in a fresh salsa will definitely delight your palette.

This recipe for Fresh Tomato Salsa is from Epicurious, one of my favorite cooking websites.

If you're looking for a great fruit salsa, using seasonal fruit then this Peach Salsa, makes a perfect match for grilled tuna.  Julia's Kitchen has the perfect Grilled Tuna and Peach Salsa recipe, that also works well with grilled chicken.

For me, nothing says "Summer" like a softshell sandwich with a thick slice of homegrown tomato.  Even better?  A softshell crab BLT, like the one found at Wine, Bread, Cheese.

Tired of the same old potato salad?  Try this French Style Potato Salad from Martha Stewart.

Summer Squash is my favorite summer vegetable.  It's so versatile and sometimes I think I have probably tried every variation possible.  When I do find a new recipe, like this Squash Ribbon Salad from TheKitchn, I'm thrilled.

Cantaloupe season is in full throttle right now.  How can you not love a delicious, slice of cold melon on a hot day?  But cantaloupe also dresses up quite nicely and makes for a perfect summer appetizer when hosting a dinner on a hot, summer night.  This Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon recipe from Fine Cooking makes a delicious, yet different presentation for your summer guests.

Whether you call them Butter Beans or Lima Beans, when you find them fresh, they are incredible.  They evoke memories of summers on your grandmother's front porch, spent shelling butter beans and snapping beans.  This recipe for Summer Lima Beans from Organic Spark is a far cry from the typical Southern Butter Bean recipe, but  it's a keeper.

Do you have a favorite summer recipe? Share it with us!