While some of you may be wishing for cooler temperatures to set in, there are plenty of plants that love the heat and humidity we are experiencing! The dog days of summer can turn your garden into a crispy mess if you're not careful. But we have the tough stuff to keep your summer landscape looking fresh and colorful. Here's a few of our favorite annuals that tolerate Hampton Roads heat and give you that beautiful color until frost sets in. Heat & Sun-Loving Summer Annuals:

The Crepe Myrtle offers beauty to the southern landscape in all seasons with summer flowers, fall color, winter bark and attractive foliage in spring.Did you know Crepe Myrtles have been around for more than one thousand years? Now that's a tree that has certainly proven itself.

It's July and you know what that means... Crepe Myrtles! Now is the time of year that we get to sit back and enjoy their 100 days of summer blooms. With these local beauties in full bloom, we get lots of questions... especially on when and how to prune them. We recommend waiting until February or while they are dormant. Though pruning a crepe myrtle tree isn't necessary to the health of the plant, many people do like to prune them in order to neaten the look of the tree or to encourage new growth.

BUTTERFLY BUSHButterflies are some of the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on Earth, and nothing adds to the beauty of a flowering garden than butterflies fluttering about it on a warm summer day. Butterfly bushes are carefree deciduous shrubs that are colorful, fragrant, and easy to grow. We’ve provided a few butterfly bush varieties that will entice these beautiful creatures to your yard and offer bold color all through the summer.

ACOMA CREPE MYRTLEThis spectacular summer tree offers cascading clusters of pure white crinkled flowers. With an exceptionally long bloom period, this tree adds stunning summer color to the landscape and attractive fall foliage. And, with striking cinnamon colored peeling bark, you will have visual interest in the winter.

CANNA AUSTRALIACanna is a must-have for the summer landscape. Their bright tropical blooms are a real attention-getters and they keep going all through the summer heat and humidity. Canna or sometimes called Canna Lily is not a true lily, are a tropical perennial that brings the party each summer and really packs a punch in the landscape!

You won't find a more rewarding or easier-to-grow plant than the daylily! Daylilies, (Hemerocallis), are perennials that produce an amazing assortment of color and sizes. The name Hemerocallis comes from the Greek language and means 'beauty for a day' hence we get daylily since each flower only lasts for 1 day.

With the first official day of summer arriving this week, June 21st to be exact... we've listed a few sizzlin' summer tips for gardening in the 757. From watering to lawn care, here's what you should be doing now to keep your garden going through the summer. Remember if you need help, our three year-round locations are here to answer any questions.

Prized for its beauty, the Japanese maple is amazingly hearty and versatile and is one tree every dad should have in his landscape. There are hundreds of varieties of Japanese maples from the cascading dwarf or semi dwarf shrubs to the 30-foot version of this stately tree. With and endless assortment of leaf and color options, there’s truly a Japanese Maple for every taste and space. Check out some of our favorites and many more in stores... and many more and help make dad’s day ‘tree’mendous!

SEA THRIFT (Ameria)