With summer warming up, it's time to turn those containers from ordinary to exraordinary! Have you noticed how a variety of interesting foliage really holds a design together? By combining smaller sized trees, shrubs and perennials with a few annuals, you can create something truly unique. For a different look consider adding some of my tropical favorites shown below. |
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Touch of the Tropics!
Try something new! Explore the indoor plant section of your favorite nurseries to add some drama to your designs this year.
Bromeliads |
Bromeliads - in red, orange, yellow and shocking pink! They add ZING to shade combinations.
Hibiscus - either as a short bushy plant or grown as a standard, with their dinner plate sized blooms these are show stoppers for sunny spots.
Hibiscus | Aeonium 'Zwartkop' - a succulent with dark rosette foliage. Looks like a Dr.Suess plant!
Aeonium 'Zwartkop' |
Caladium - marbled papery leaves in white, pink and green. They look delicate yet last well into fall. A beautiful bold foliage amidst finer textures. Shade.
Kangaroo Apple (Solanum laciniatum)- blue flowers all summer followed by yellow fruit. Can grow up to 6'.
Kangaroo Apple |
Porcupine Tomato (Solanum pyracanthum) - unique plant with lavender flowers and blue green leaves which have orange spikes down the midrib. Full sun. A plant with serious attitude!
Porcupine Tomato |
Colocasia - the variety 'Black Magic' is readily available. More dramatic but harder to find is the variety 'Diamond Head'. This was my favorite plant of 2010, with leaves over 20" long and 12" across and taller than me! Colocasia prefer afternoon shade.
Colocasia 'Diamond Head' |
Crotons - large, rubbery leaves in a medley of orange, yellow, red and green add fiery color to the shade.
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Garden Tours
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Saturday 12 June, 10:00am-4:00pm Snohomish Master Gardeners Garden Tour. The theme this year is 'gardens for all seasons'. Details here.
- Saturday 19 June, 10:00am-4:00pm The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour. Unique NW gardens. Tickets $12/14. Details here.
- Saturday 26 & Sunday 27th June, 10:00am-5:00pm Vashon Island 20th Annual Garden Tour $25. Details here
- Sunday 27 June,11:00am-4:00pm Symphony of Gardens 10th Annual Tour. Five private gardens in Bellevue and Mercer Island. Benefits the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra. $25. Details here
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Inspiration
Tuck a small container into the border, mimic the surrounding color palette and VOILA! A fun combination is born.
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Garden Events
June 5th 10-12noon. Church of the Holy Cross, Redmond. Green Elephant Victory Garden Vegi-Swap. Exchange & share vegetable seeds & plant starts. No sales, just exchanges & freebies.
June 5th, 9.30-11am, Molbaks. Seminar; Growing
Organic Tomatoes. Featuring Steve Goto of Gotomato, a third generation nurseryman
June 12th 9.30-10.30, Molbaks. Seminar and book signing; 50 Top Plants for the PNW, featuring Tom Fischer, Editor and Chief of Timberpress
June 19th 10-11am, Molbaks. Seminar; How to Turn a Container into a Fountain by my good friend from AW pottery Chris Jacobs.
June 22nd, 7-8pm, Molbaks. Seminar and book signing; Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses. A unique opportunity to hear British author Adrian Bloom, president of Blooms of Bressingham and renowned nurseryman. $15. Sign up online.
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Tip of the Month
Alliums (ornamental onions) started to bloom last month but still have lots of color.  Snip off the seed heads and nestle them into other perennials or shrubs. Their strong shape will add an unexpected punch. I particularly like them peeking out of a sea of hardy geraniums.
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Try something new in your garden and containers this year! Call or email to set up an appointment.
Sincerely,
Karen Chapman CPH
Le Jardinet
425 765 3574 |
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 PLANT OF THE MONTH
Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue' |
Electric blue flowers of this Sea Holly make the honeybees dizzy with excitment! Likes full sun and well drained soil. Drought tolerant.
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Imagination goes here
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