Saying Goodbye to Summer Annuals

It’s time to say goodbye to my summer annuals despite the temperate weather. In central Indiana, weather turns on a dime and procrastinating will only lead to a very chilly or wet time-consuming task. It’s hard to say goodbye after all the hard work that has gone into designing and caring for the containers. On a recent Sunday morning, I took a close look at the patio containers near the pool deck. I thought it would be fun to build the composition through video. So many times, I photograph individual pots and details never giving a sense of scale or composition. Though my video techniques are lacking finesse, I think you’ll get the idea of what the small poolside patio was like this season.

Click on the thumbnails below to find out more details. I’m starting to document my work with annuals more closely so I can reference the silhouettes and plant growing habits for future projects. Up to now, annuals were not a big deal to me, but as my role at the garden center advances, I am beginning to understand and appreciate their function in the landscape a bit more.

Question: Do annuals play a big role in your garden? 

White Bacopa spills over matching urns. The center plant is Dusty Miller ‘New Look’. It’s been fun watching the Bacopa grow and cover the entire urn bowl. In hindisght, I would not include the Dusty Miller.

The containers have filled out beautifully. Now would be a great time to mention that I am inspired and influence by the work of Deborah Silverman. If I ever get that good, I will be dangerous. ;)

I designed the entire patio and this container around White Mandevilla. New obelisks and pots were purchased specifically for this arrangement. As time goes on, I find that I keep utilizing larger pots for my designs.

The Mandevilla vines stretch out in hopes of grabbing onto something.

Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’ flowers were a nice compliment to all the other green foliage. The hue is light enough that I consider it a ‘shade’ of white.

Perhaps the most exhuberant of all the containers, this Alocasia is underplanted with White Scaevola. It’s high drama and high contrast pairing a tall large leaf plant with a shorter one. The Scaevola spills out around the entire pot creating a tutu effect.

This little guy looks like Cousin Itt from the Adams Family. This is Sedum ‘Lemon Coral.’ Since I use so many containers, I keep the combos simple, often times using only one type of plant per container. This allows me to create a larger and controlled effect. In other words, instead of cramming lots of different plants into one pot, I cram the uncomplicated pots together.

This combo was meant to be SunPatiens ‘Compact White Improved’ and Petite Licorice Plant, but the SunPatiens really dominated. They grew to 24” tall and were sturdy with large showy flowers. After all the hubbub about Downy Mildew on Impatiens, I had to try SunPatiens. Simply put, they performed– in sun! 

A detail of the SunPatiens container. Not to be overshadowed, the Licorice Plant did climb its way through the tall SunPatiens. Love SunPatiens– and my number one recommendation for annuals in the landscape!

In the end, it’s all about contrast. For the most dynamic effect, pair tiny foliage and blooms against large ones, dark colors against light, and vary heights to keep your eye dazzled and moving. The white blooms are Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ and the variegated leaf is Plectranthus ‘Aurea Marginata.’

Even in a dynamic display of annuals, it’s important to have repitition. It creates a rythmn and a place for your eye to pause while your mind’s eye catches its breath. These Boston Ferns called ‘Tiger Fern’ are arranged to take up a large space and visually create a calm moment.

When containers peter out, pop in a new annual. These mums adhere to the color scheme and will take the show into fall.

Classic Annuals, Surprising Foliage Accents

It’s been quite some time since my last post. I’m still here. Just tired, and on plant overload, the side effect of working at a garden center and nursery. I’d like to say that working in the nursery business has changed my gardening perspective, but it hasn’t really. Perhaps it’s a bit more refined though. No matter what new plants or colors come in, I’m still attracted to the classics, or good ‘ole standbys if you will. This goes for annuals too.

When I started working at Sundown Gardens, I was giddy with excitement about all the annuals I would have at my disposal for my own containers. Little did I know that customers would show up to the store with their empty containers in tow wanting custom potting jobs. I never expected that it would become part of my job(s) either. The orders span the gamut. Some containers are manageable, others require a big truck and crew to deliver and place on site. I love doing it, but even with an overabundance of annuals and perennials to choose from, it’s never easy. I try very hard to create something unique for each customer. I often wonder how those designs hold up after they’ve gone home to their rightful owners.

Speaking of home, this potting business has given me cause to scrutinize my own container designs more carefully. The patio and front porch have become a laboratory or sorts, where I experiment with foliage and bloom combinations and put light levels to the test. There are so many choices to pick from that I impose constraints to keep myself in check. This season, I chose the color white for all the pots near the pool. In the end, I weave many of the classics into the mix. If you can master composition with these, then everything else is icing on the cake. In years past, I have relied heavily on coleus. This year I used none. I traded them in for Scented Geranium, Licorice Plants, Alocasia, Abutilon, and Plectranthus. For blooms, I am relying heavily on Mandavilla Vine, Calibrachoa, Dahlias and of course, Marigolds (Vanilla Marigold shown above). Here’s a peak at my palette this year with an emphasis on the foliage accents.

Abutilon savitzii

I love the maple-leaf shaped foliage with creamy white edges of this Abutilon. I keep the moisture level of this plant very consistent. It receives direct sun in the morning hours and is completely shaded by noon. Many of my pots are not combos, but single plants nestled against other pots. This creates a more pronounced effect.

Nephrolepis exaltata Boston Fern ‘Tiger Fern’

I love Boston Ferns and forewent the classic solid green for a variegated variety call ‘Tiger Fern.’ Situated in bright shade, they receive no direct sunlight. Since they are in a shady area, its easy to keep the soil evenly moist. The chartruese highlights really brighten this otherwise dark spot.

Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘odora’

Commonly known as Elephant Ears, this tall tropical is the main attraction in a large pot. Positioned in the center, the large leaves are dramatic and arch out gracefully over the white Scavoila tutu that outlines the rim. Scale is so important when designing plantings. You can create instant drama by combining bold large plants against smaller delicate ones.

Coryline terminalis ‘Miss Andrea’

In shades of cream, purple, red and green, I found this Cordyline hard to resist. It has a nice relationship to the creamy shades of the other plants, yet refuses to completely blend in. You need at least one plant with this temperment in your collection.

Dahlia ‘XXL Mayo’

This is one of the bloomers set amongst the many accent plants. Extra extra large blooms and deep dark green foliage make this classic a showstopper. As its name suggests, the off white tone resembles the creamy condiment mayonnaise. This Dahlia receives direct sun till about 1PM. Very sturdy 24” tall stems. Has been blooming constantly since early May. 

Pelargonium graveolens variegata ‘Mint Scented Rose Geranium’

Love this! A very textural plant that rarely blooms. I was lucky enough to see a few flowers earlier this season. The deeply cut leaves add much visual interest to my collection of plants. Scented geraniums were widely grown in the Victorian era and used for perfume and potpourri. They were occasionally used for cooking too. I’ve noticed scented/fragrant plants making a bit of a comeback. 

Helichrysum petiolare Petite Licorice

I’m a big fan of licorice plants and found this silver petite variety very charming. I used it with bright white SunPatiens (the full sun version of Impatiens). Avoid overwatering licorice plants as it makes the foliage quite unattractive. Proven Winners offers a wide selection in a variety of colors.

Plectranthus aurea marginata

This is a beauty! Don’t let the delicate scalloped edges and velvety texture of this plant fool you. It’s as rugged as it is beautiful. I think it goes head-to-head with any coleus. My Plectranthus recieve sun till 1PM and shade the rest of the day. The chartreuse edges echo the Lemon Licorice hues from the neigboring pot. Very easy to grow.

Sun Parasol® White Mandevilla

A very common tropical sold all over the US in spring. I fell in love with the white one and made it the centerpiece of my annual container scheme. A true vine that will climb terllises or flow out of hanging baskets. The foliage is deep dark green and glossy. This plant (like most tropicals) requires regular watering and does not like to go dry. The intesity of the yellow center makes the white petals appear extremely bright white.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer in the garden. I will post more on my annuals and container designs in future posts. 

In With The New!

Every year the National Garden Bureau announces many of the gardening industry’s newest varieties. The flowers below are just a sampling of what’s in store for 2012. My observation is that color is being amped up and cleaned up (less subdued hues) across the board.

The National Garden Bureau was born in 1920 and was the inspiration of James H. Burdett. He lead the charge of promoting gardening and beautification to the masses by enlisting horticultural writers and broadcasters to further education of everyday citizens and creating a population of gardeners. The Bureau came into age during World War II when the victory garden movement was in force. Today, the mission of the Bureau is the same as it was then, to improve the quality of life and the environment through increased use of seeds and plants.

There are many organizations with a similar purpose, but I look to the Bureau this time of year to get a glimpse of what to expect at nurseries and garden centers this coming season. Hopefully, some of these sensational introductions will find their way to a retail outlet near you. You may also find them in catalogs or online. For detailed plant characteristics and growing needs, visit the National Garden Bureau’s website and click on New Varieties.

Osteospermum ‘3D™ Pink’  |  Osteospermum ecklonis

Ball Horticultural Company

Agastache ‘Summer Sunset’  |  Agastache hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Angelonia ‘Serena Blue’  |  Angelonia angustifolia

Harris Seeds

Angelonia ‘Archangel Purple’  |  Angelonia angustifolia

PanAmerican Seed

Marigold ‘Bonanza Deep Orange’  |  Tagetes patula

Ball Horticultural Company

Kale, flowering ‘Song Bird™’ F1  |  Brassica oleracea

American Takii

Cistus ‘Mickie’  |  Cistus x hybridus

Terra Nova Nurseries

Cosmos ‘Double Click Bicolor Pink’  |  Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus

Burpee

Cyclamen ‘Sweetheart™ Sensation’  |  Cyclamen hederifolium

Terra Nova Nurseries

Echinacea ‘Aloha’  |  Echinacea hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Echinacea ‘Double Scoop Bubble Gum’  |  Echinacea purpurea

Ball Horticultural Company

Geum ‘Fire Storm’  |  Geum hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Alstroemeria ‘Butterfly Hybrids’  |  Alstroemeria var.

Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd.

Begonia ‘Santa Cruz Sunset’  |  Begonia boliviensis

Ernst Benary of America Inc.

Hibiscus ‘Mahogany Splendor’  |  Hibiscus acetosella

Burpee

Gerbera ‘Jaguar™ Tangerine Dark Center’  |  Gerbera jamesonii

Syngenta Flowers

Heuchera ‘Apple Crisp’  |  Heuchera hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’  |  Heucherella

Terra Nova Nurseries

Impatiens ‘Accent™ Premium Red’  |  Impatiens walleriana

Syngenta Flowers

Begonia ‘Amour’  |  Begonia boliviensis

Ball Horticultural Company

Pansy ‘Iona™ Frosty Blue Improved’ F1  |  Viola wittrockiana

American Takii

Pansy ‘Nature™ Rose Picotee’ F1  |  Viola wittrockiana

American Takii

Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red  |  Echinacea purpurea

Ball Horticultural Company

Tiarella ‘Sunset Ridge’  |  Tiarella hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Viola ‘Gem™ Scarlet’ F1  |  Viola cornuta

American Takii

Coleus ‘Wasabi’  |  Coleus Solenostemon scutellarioides

Ball Horticultural Company

Begonia ‘Whopper Red with Bronze Leaf’  |  Begonia hybrid

Ball Horticultural Company

​ All images courtesy of the National Garden Bureau Inc.