by Amanda Rose Newton
The official summer season kicks off with Memorial day, with the opening of pools everywhere that isn’t blessed with Florida’s subtropical climate year-round.
Patriotic Gardening
June brings us Flag Day and warm days filled with nature and picnics. July isn’t July without the ceremonious fireworks and barbeques that illuminate summer evenings. While not directly meaning to, summer offers many opportunities for us to feel patriotic pride and reflect on how fortunate we are to reside here in the United States.
The colors of our flag — red, white, and blue — also lend themselves beautifully to the garden. Primary colors play off each other so well and the dynamic is a powerful one! Those who seek novelty, bold patterns, or like themes to carry over into the yard can delight in designing a truly American landscape display!
Need tips on what to plant? See below for plants that reflect each of the three color choices you can find at any nursery center throughout the summer months.
Before diving into red, white, and blue gardening, history buffs are probably already aware of the importance gardening has held for all those who have been in office.
Gardens at the White House
The gardens of the White House have been changed to reflect trends of the time, stand as important reminders of challenging themes such as war and loss, as well as spread joy to visitors and loved ones.
George Washington was famous for planting so many roses, which his wife distilled into rosewater, that it took 12 days in June to pick the petals! If you are interested in learning the time-honored tradition of distilling oils, check out our collab with Miss Mango and our own Victoria later this month!
James Madison started the first vegetable garden and John Quincy Adams filled the lot with trees. Wilson managed to keep sheep on the property to manage the invasive grass and recently Obama added beehives to the roof! In many ways, presidents (and their wives) contributed to our reflected current trends in gardening in America throughout the years.
Patriotic Plants By Color:
Ravishing Reds
- Caladiums: Many feature red centers and heart-shaped leaves, reflecting love for our country.
- Roses: Take after George Washington and fill your yard with these beauties!
- Lantana: Firecracker effect of bright red, orange, and yellow!
- Salvia: Our tropical red salvia reflects the pride of country and county!
Winning Whites
- Angelonia: Angelic, pure, and a compliment to the powerful red
- Impatiens: A winner anytime of the year, impatiens make an easy addition to both containers and the landscape.
- Scorpion’s Tail: This native beauty features puffs of white blooms complimenting all color choices.
- Begonias: White or red, you can’t go wrong here, especially if you have a shaded yard.
Blue Botanicals
So, here is the deal with blue: there really aren’t many TRUE blue flowers out there, but purple can trick the eye into thinking you are seeing blue! Purple also happens to be a standout color choice when paired with red and white!
- Blue My Mind: You knew this one would be on the list! It also happens to be a hardy plant that doubles as a ground cover.
- Salvia: Several purple varieties cast a blue hue.
- Stoke’s Aster: Another native with a showy center and an almost true-blue appearance!
- Plumbago: The blue classic! A lovely low-growing shrub that gives height to a display
After the year we had, this summer gives reasons to provide even more to be thankful and proud of. Have your yard reflect this sentiment by including the colors of our country in your next landscape design. Here is hoping it gives a reason for twice as many barbeques, picnics, and fireworks displays!
