Southern Gardening - Potpourri for July

With flags flying, festive bunting hanging, and balloons floating, all of this red, white, and blue screams the Fourth of July. And next year we will be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the birth of our nation. So we can start this year and cheer for our country's birthday for a whole year. In honor of this celebration, I have a pot garden in my backyard with red, white and blue flowers. Several of the pots have bright red geraniums, others with blue salvia, and white vinca. Now that all of these flowers have matured, they are a stunning sight. And they will be the show case for the outdoor July 4th barbeque.

PLANT OF THE MONTH--TRUMPET VINE

Campsis radicans, trumpet vine,is also known as trumpet creeper, hummingbird vine, is a species of flowering vines native to Eastern North America. Known as a fast growing climber prized for its profusely red, pink, orange or yellow tubular flowers. It is well suited for zone 8 and is found in zones 5-9. Its popularity is found in its ability to cover trellises, garden gates, fences, and even trees QUICKLY. They are easy to grow and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Another attribute is that they drop their dead heads. In my wanderings through the plants at the Big Box stores, I have not run across trumpet vine. However nurseries such as Green Thumb and Little Mountain Growers may be a resource. One caution is that trumpet vines are mildly toxic for humans and animals, so if you are handling the stems or flowers of this vine, wash your hands afterwards.

I am a big fan of planting trees, shrubs and other flowers that I term in "a sequence of bloom". This technique ensures that there is something blooming in your yard at all times. Now it is not rocket science to keep annuals and perennials blooming in spring and summer and into the fall. But many times, that is it until next spring. I went through my yard recently and wrote down by the month what I have blooming all year.

1. December-January.....Camellias and Sasanquas

2. February...................Kiss- me- at -the -Gate

3. March........................Forsythia, Dogwood, Redbud, Japanese Magnolia

4. April............................Spiraea, Cherry Trees

5. May............................Magnolia grandiflora, Catalpa, roses

6. June.through frost........................Crepe Myrtle, Vitex

And then there are a variety of vines, bulbs, and corms blooming through most of the year.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AND GOOD GARDENING.