Garden Inspirations
June 21, the first day of summer, is right around the corner. It’s time to energize your garden for the season. Ian Hydoski, vice president of operations at Armstrong Garden Centers, provides the following ideas to help you discover new inspirations for your garden.
- Red, White, and Blue: Looking for more color? Paint a wall, planter, chair or bench. Set if off with strong, contrasting colors. Add interesting accessories to give it charm and personality.
- Hot Colors: Hot colors are perfect choices for summer borders, since strong sun can wash out pastels. Alstroemeria and gaillardia provide punch, with salvias providing complementary contrast.
- Heat Lovers: Daylilies thrive in even the most brutal heat. Pair them with other heat lovers, like Jerusalem sage and salvias.
- Textural Contrast: Ornamental grasses provide wonderful textural contrast with shrub roses and perennials.
- Color Pop: No summer garden should be without black-eyed Susans or Rudbeckia. Make colors pop by contrasting them with various red New Zealand flaxes, large and small.
- Wildflower Effect: Plant a hot-colored summer border of Verbena bonariensis, Salvia clevelandii, yellow verbascum and red penstemon. The airy quality of these plants creates a stunning wildflower effect.
- Calming Effect: When plants are massed, they give a calming effect. Clump together silvery artemesia to set off hot pink shrub roses, catmint and other low-growing herbs.
Ian Hydoski, Vice President of Operations
Armstrong Garden Centers
Armstronggarden.com
