One of the South's most iconic plants, the Crepe Myrtle arrived in England from its native China in 1759. Few were impressed with the Crepe Myrtle, because it simply would not bloom - England just wasn't hot enough. However, in 1786, the plant was introduced to Charleston, South Carolina, and it finally found a home in the sizzling American South.
While some of 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 blooms looking fresh and colorful. Try these plants that tolerate the heat and give you that beautiful color until frost sets in. Tough Summer Annuals:
URBAN™ APPLE COLUMNAR APPLE TREESThere are apple trees that flourish in orchards with foxglove and clover at their feet, and then there are apples who stand all alone, trained on wire or string on the side of a house. Apple blossoms and juicy fruit can now captivate homeowners, apartment dwellers, condo owners, suburbanites and those short on space!
GOMPRENA Gomphrena is beautiful and long lasting either fresh or dried... and best of all, this annual thrives in heat and any soil conditions. What could be better than that? We think nothing!
When thinking of things to do in your garden in June you typically think about coneflowers, daylilies, coreopsis, hostas... and pumpkins. Yes, we did say pumpkins! Planting pumpkins in June is a great idea with the harvest timed just right for decorating for the holidays ahead. So, for any of you that enjoy a fun family tradition of carving pumpkins together, or if you like to have decorative pumpkins on display for Thanksgiving, take note. Now's the time to get those pumpkins & gourds in the ground!
Most of us wait all year for that first bite into a juicy peach, just one more reason we adore summer! If you love these juicy gems, we suggest growing your own. Peaches out of your own garden always taste the best. Here are some expert tips to get you started in the peach world:
Here it is... June 18th and you may be worried you haven't planted your tomatoes in the garden yet. Don't worry, it’s not too late to get a juicy summer harvest. So, relax, take a deep breath and plant away. For those of you who have planted tomatoes, now's the time to pop in a second crop to extend the harvesting season. Unlike the first planting, it is essential to get the second crop of tomatoes in before the end of July in order to harvest all the fruit before cold weather sets in come fall.
Hydrangeas are a wonderful garden shrub that are easy to grow and bloom through a long season. They're elegant, colorful, and versatile, suitable in the landscape, garden beds, flowerpots, and even that tricky spot right by the front door. Hydrangeas come in a variety of colors ranging from white to blue, pink, red, purple and shades in between. Hydrangeas are best known for their chameleon-like ability to change the color of its flowers, and, you don't have to be a magician to make this happen.
