Many tropical plants are finding their way into gardens in northern states as potted plants. Place a banana or olive tree on your balcony. Though these cannot stand the harsh winters of the northern hemisphere, they can be brought inside during the winter and placed in the garden when spring arrives the following year. Just be sure to wash the plants well before bringing them into the house to rid them of all insects.
Plant fig trees, kumquat, lemon and lime trees in terra cotta plants to give your balcony or veranda a Caribbean look. Tropical plant and trees are also being planted in gardens in the northern hemisphere. Researchers and horticulturists are practicing “garden denial,” as are gardeners in the northern states and Canada. It is not unusual to see banana trees, caladium and papyrus in gardens right next to a focal point of a garden ponds and waterfalls to create a tropical look.
If you’d like a little added atmosphere in your garden, hang lanterns, or place solar lights along a path. Hurricane lights and candles are also hot for outdoor gardens, patios and porches. They add enchantment and magic to the garden’s atmosphere. This is a great place to entertain with the soothing trickle of water coming from a nearby fountain, container water feature or pond.
Hot Plants
What’s hot in plants this season? Big Sky coneflower, also known as Big Sky Echinacea, in both Sunrise and Sunset shades is very popular. These hail from the state of Georgia and are an extreme change from the traditional pink Echinacea varieties. These plants are stunning and make a profound impact on all who visit your garden. Sunset is glorious in vibrant shades of orange with the chocolate brown center, while Sunrise grows approximately three feet high and has creamy yellow blossoms with a lime green cone.
Another popular plant this year is the “Magellan Coral” zinnia, which won the 2005 All American Selections Award. It grows approximately sixteen inches in height and produces coral-rose blossoms between four and seven inches in diameter. These zinnias are far different from the traditional zinnia and love rich soil, full sun and slight watering. If you chose to plant these, be sure to dead-head them to encourage blooming for an extended period of time.
Add wooden chairs, old wooden wheelbarrows, statuary or a metal bed frame painted with rust proof paint to your garden as a focal point and then plant flowers in shades of blues, purples and sun yellow to give your garden impact. Whimsical items bring fun and laughter into your garden, while antiques bring memories of childhood. Use your imagination to bring life, peace and tranquility into the garden and make it a stress-free environment.