July is gone and we are now into the month of August. Most gardeners probably have their pots full of blooming plants and with some general maintenance, they can enjoy the fruits of their work. At this time of year, a favorite past-time of mine is to visit other gardens and enjoy what others have planted and also to get ideas for my own garden. It is not that I am planning to plant up new pots at this time, but it is a time to get ideas for next year.
It is a bonus when we have plants that have bloomed throughout the summer and will continue to do so into the fall. Here are some of my favorites that fit into that category.
What is not to like about zinnias? They are often thought of as an old-fashioned flower but lately they seem to be making a revival, and they have many attributes. They are easy to start from seed indoors and will usually germinate in about a week. They will begin to set flower buds and can begin to bloom in 6-8 weeks. They can be planted in full sun and thrive in the heat. There is a wide range of flower color from white, pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, etc. They also make excellent cut flowers. By keeping the flowers picked, the bloom season can be extended well into the fall.
If I was starting this list in alphabetical order, I would probably begin with agastache. In previous years, I have planted an occasional agastache in a pot, but this spring I planted a grouping of seven plants in the ground and my choice was Agastache ‘Licorice Candy’. The plants started blooming in late June and have not stopped. The rosy-purple flowers are on long stems and have proven to be a good pollinator by attracting bees and hummingbirds. Like zinnias, this is another heat loving plant and does require good drainage.
While actually a shrub in frost-free areas, lantana is an excellent flowering plant, and it is often grown in the Pacific Northwest as a summer annual. Lantana is rarely without flowers and likes a full sun location. The multi-colored flowers are diverse in their color combination and are a good attractant for butterflies.
Plant combinations of both flowers and foliage can often provide some eye-catching color. This basket with red geraniums and ‘Margarita’ sweet potato vine is a good example of a ‘pop’ of color. Both plants like similar sunny locations and yet they will take some shade. Geranium flowers, of course, come in different colors and the sweet potato vine also does with its foliage which can be like the lime green as shown or it can also be very dark, almost black as well as several combinations of leaves that are variegated,
While fuchsias do not like the hot sunny locations as the above-mentioned plants, they are certainly a colorful summer annual. With a variety of colors and growth habits; some can hug the ground like a ground cover, others can be small bushes and others can reach eight feet or more. There are trailing types and these are often used for hanging baskets or in a large pot where they can trail down the side. There are some fuchsias that are called “hardy fuchsias” and these can usually withstand our Pacific Northwest winters with an adequate mulch. One of my favorites is the upright DebRon’s Smokey Blues.
At this time of year, many garden centers have large size blooming plants of those mentioned here. If you need to fill a pot or a vacant place in the garden, there is probably a plant for you. This is an excellent time to visit other gardens and see what plants are doing well. Take pictures and make notes and in the spring, you might be introducing a new plant into your garden.
About Mike Darcy