In less than 7 days I will hug my daughter, Mary, for the first time in 4 months. She has spent the last semester studying abroad in London. Over the course of those four long months, she has stood in awe among the rocks at Stonehenge, explored the Catacombs in Paris, eaten octopus from the city market in Barcelona, and walked along the shores of Sardinia, Italy.
While I am so looking forward to welcoming her home, I am a bit self-conscious. She has seen and experienced so much; will her childhood home still hold the same appeal? The tulips, magnolias, crabtrees, redbuds in our yard are in full bloom right now and look spectacular. I so desperately want them to hold onto that color so that they may help to greet her as she travels 3945 miles to come home.
Flowers have the potential to add so much brightness to our yards. Their color often brings happiness and adds a feeling of warmth. Annual flowers, while they do have to be replanted every year, are often a welcome addition to the front porch, patio or an open space in the ground. The following are a few annual flowers that you may want to consider planting this year.
Icicles Licorice Plant
The intensely silver foliage on this plant is very elegant. It is heat and drought resistant making it easy to care for. It is a great filler plant and looks good well into the fall. It can grow about 12-16” tall and does best in full sun.
Techno Blue Lobelia
This plant features dainty navy blue flowers with white eyes. It has narrow leaves that give the plant a wonderfully airy feel. The trailing habit makes it a perfect choice for hanging baskets and containers. It grows about 8” tall and does not require deadheading. It does best in part shade.
Rose Glow Lantana
The bright pink and yellow flowers bloom throughout the summer while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This native has incredible heat tolerance and fragrant foliage. If you are looking for a tough plant, it is hard to beat lantana. It does best in full sun.
Burgandy Wedding Trail Coleus
The petite foliage on this plant will add a tremendous amount of color and interest in any shade setting. As the name implies, the leaves are an intense burgundy color surrounded with a lime green edge. Does best in the shade.
Serenity Bronze Osteospermum
The iridescent peach petals on this daisy type flower are very distinctive. Osteospermum thrives in full sun and grows to about 10” in height.
Big White Falls Bacopa
This is a great flower to mix in containers or hanging baskets. This trailing plant has gorgeous white flowers. It does best in full sun.
Mrs. Pollock Geranium
The foliage on this geranium is unlike any foliage I have ever seen before! The colorful foliage ranges from reds to greens to yellows. If you are looking to add a flower to your planters that none of your guests will have ever seen before, this is it! The red flowers, while beautiful, are almost an afterthought. This plant is really known for its foliage.
Night Sky Petunia
The purple flowers on this petunia look like someone has splattered them with white paint. The result is that every flower is distinctive and different. It will give you summer long color with full sun and regularly watering and fertilizing.
Summer Wave Torenia
This low growing purple annual flower grows best in full to part shade. The dark green foliage is the perfect backdrop to show off the flowers. It will grow about 8” tall while filling up a shady spot.
Carolina Orange Dahlia
Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the bright orange flowers on this plant. The compact double flowers grow about 12-14” high. This plant is rabbit resistant which makes it an attractive option if you want to plant a few annuals in the ground.
While I want to greet Mary with a yard full of flowers, a hug and a kiss, all she wants is to do is go shopping at Aldi with me (and my credit card if we are being honest). The high grocery prices and unfamiliar food brands have made her yearn for home. Well, at least something has…
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at kathleen@thegrowingscene.com Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She will address it in an upcoming column.
