Late Summer Color & Beauty

Now’s a nice time to step back and see how your garden is bearing up in the summer heat. You may have lost a few annuals when you went on vacation. Or perhaps you’re looking for an easy way to spruce the place up a bit in advance of a weekend garden party. Here are some suggestions.

An easy solution is to put in a few premium quality 1 gallon annuals. You’ll find a good selection at garden centers right now, including lantana, zinnia, verbena, and heliotrope among others.

Now’s also a good time to plant perennial varieties that offer beautiful late-summer foliage and blooms. Astilbe (available in several great colors), canna and echinacea (purple coneflower) are a few favorites.

Here’s to vibrant color continuing to flourish in your garden…

While much of the information in these tips is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.