Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue!

By Stephanie Cohen

Note: This story was taken from an e-mail sent to us.

The author encouraged recipients to pass her thoughts along, so we are!

Gardeners are patriotic and have always done their share for the good ol' U.S.A. Right now I am taking you on a trip down memory lane. During World War II, the government asked all gardeners to grow as much food as they could so that food would not be in short supply for our fighting men.

My parents were transplanted New Yorkers who didn't even know how to grow grass. With sage advice from others who were doing the same thing, they became proud possessors of a plot of land known as the "Victory Garden." They planted too many plants and eventually supplied the neighbors with a bumper crop of vegetables.

My rows were taken up with flowers - Cosmos, Marigolds, Zinnias and Geraniums. As a seven-year old, I got to play and garden with flowers. I picked bunches for those people who had family in the service. The smiles and thank yous are still a part of my dearest memories. Later on, the sick and elderly were beneficiaries of my small bouquets. Somehow flowers are good for the soul . As a youngster, this made quite an impression on me. I never dreamed that over twenty-five years later being a horticulturist would become my career.

September 11, 2001 was a sad day for all Americans. It became a time of frazzled nerves, emotional upheavals and fear for our future. Somehow those of us who garden sought solace working with our plants.

This summer, regardless of the horticultural gurus who tell us what colors are trendy or what we should be planting, I propose all gardeners show support for our service men and women and our country by planting a patch of red, white and blue flowers. Let's show how we feel. I'll offer a few suggestions, but I am sure you too can come up with your own eye-appealing combinations.

RED...

My new favorite is Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' . The beautiful red petals with yellow centers make this long-blooming daisy a delight. The green feathery foliage contributes to the delicacy of the overall plant. Just plant in sun and average soil and you are in business. For a great ground cover or hanging basket plant try Fragaria 'Red Ruby' , which flowers in late spring until frost and offers up the occasional edible fruit. And then there are the ever-popular Daylilies , one of the toughest, easy-care perennials around. Try Hemerocallis 'Lady Scarlet' with its large 6-inch blooms of bright scarlet red set off by yellow-green throats.

...WHITE...

Dianthus 'Artic Star' is a beautiful double white flower superimposed on leaves of blue-green. For summer interest, add Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners' , the Obedient Plant, a clump former with striking tall spikes. It is an asset to the late summer season. Shasta Daisies are wonderful for summer, too. Leucanthemum superbum 'Snowcap' , a beautiful white daisy with yellow centers, and 'Summer Snowball', with its double white flowers, bloom from early to late summer. All they require is good drainage and average garden soil. For a grand finale in fall, try some beautiful white Chrysanthemums (Garden Mums), which comes in many different shapes and sizes. There are so many wonderful cultivars to choose from. 'Stephanie', a snow-white daisy, blooms in early fall; 'Allison', a white decorative, blooms in mid-fall; and 'Corrine', a novel spoon-tipped daisy, blooms in late fall.

...& BLUE!

Everyone's favorite garden color! Try Lavandula 'Blue Cushion' which has a spectacular dwarf cushion plant habit and fragrant, deep blue flowers from early to late summer. Do not stop there... try Salvia 'May Night' , featuring deep indigo-blue flowers or 'Blue Hill', a true light blue. These easy-care, full-sun perennials give you spectacular late spring to early summer bloom and, if deadheaded, repeat bloom again in the fall. For another blue you could try Campanula poscharskyana 'Blue Waterfall' , the Serbian Bellflower. The deep blue, bell-shaped flowers with a dainty white center absolutely cover the plant. The name 'Blue Waterfall' aptly describes how the flowers flow so freely from the center of the plant. This June bloomer flowers profusely for several weeks and can flower sporadically into the fall. If you want a blue that is better than the Energizer Bunny, try Geranium 'Rozanne' . This hardy Crane's Bill has large violet-blue flowers and produces copious blooms from June to October. It is free flowering and perfect for hanging baskets or as a ground cover. For another ground cover in blue, try Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Leadwort) . This is the plant that really gets patriotic in fall. The leaves turn a reddish bronze and the flowers are a gentian blue, which lasts from late summer into fall.

So what I'm suggesting is you grow red, white and blue combinations in the garden, in containers and in baskets. Share plants and flowers with friends, neighbors and family. Patriotism is an individualistic form of self-expression but tells people in our community that we share and care. The Society of American Florists recently ran a survey and found that flowers cheered those who are upset, depressed or need comfort. Older adults particularly respond very well to a gift of flowers. Patriotism can also be shown by flying our flags, making fashion statements and giving to worthy causes. As gardeners who are used to adversity and who complain about the weather, pests, plant diseases and the neighbors' cats and dogs, this year we are going to put all our complaints on hold. As gardeners, we are going to celebrate the joys of the red, white and blue right in our yards!

NOTE: Ms. Cohen is Adjunct Professor at Temple University, Dept. of Landscape Architecture & Horticulture, Ambler Campus, 22 years; former Mid-Atlantic representative of the Perennial Plant Association; and her articles have been featured in leading consumer and gardening publications. She received the Garden Communicator Award of the Year in 2000 from the American Nursery Landscape Association.