June / July 2009 | Home Magazine Article

- For the Virtual Magazine Click Here | June / July 2009 article in Home Magazine.

- To download the magazine Click Here (PDF) - our article is on page 32

- Jon George is the writer of these articles and the owner of Cottage Gardens Inc., a Gainesville based landscape design and installation firm. He has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff for questions at cottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.

June / July Article

Outdoor living in North Central Florida means splashing in the pool, soaking up the sun and planning the Fourth of July picnic. Landscapes, lush from summer rains, are experiencing tremendous growth. Vibrant color from shrubs and perennials spills out of beds and containers. If you are thinking of planting, this is a great time to renew worn out vegetation as new transplants root in quickly in response to the warm weather. Tropical cannas and dahlias take center stage at this Alachua residence where French doors open to a garden view of the patio and pool deck. Canna lilies, with their bold foliage and flowers, are actually related to the banana plant and have underground tubers that multiply every year. These heat-tolerant dahlias are from a new series from Proven Winners. They provide contrast in the garden with burgundy foliage and dark pink flowers with a dark eye. Nothing says summer like blue hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are wonderful shrubs that thrive in part shade and morning sun. Soil pH determines the color of these beauties, so put your coffee grounds around the base of the plants to turn them from pink to blue. Many people buy florist hydrangeas and plant them out after they bloom and then wonder why they fail. Many of the florist types are bred for greenhouse conditions and cannot take the heat of summer. Try Endless Summer, a hydrangea that re-blooms and stays a compact two and a half feet with large heads. Bush Daisies have sunny yellow flowers that open in sprays for many months. We use these shrubby perennials as a backdrop or mid-level plant reaching up to three feet. The foliage on these daisies will stay nearly evergreen in winter if planted in a protected location. Many disease-resistant roses have been introduced in the last few years, changing the way roses are used in the garden. Not too long ago, roses were relegated to special beds and given special treatment, but now we use them as almost any other shrub, mixing them freely with annuals and perennials for stunning combinations. One such rose, Oso Easy Paprika, has bright coral-orange blooms that fade to a light peach. Each single flower has yellow stamens that resemble a poppy and is held above disease free evergreen foliage for a good ten months out of the year. Try adding a picket fence or trellis to the front of your home. Cottage charm can be achieved with just a few well-chosen elements. Last June, we gave this older Gainesville residence a face lift with a new circular driveway and new bed lines carved out of overgrown foundational plants that once hid the house. A classic St. Augustine lawn was placed out front providing additional parking for visitors. We created a path under the trellis leading to a patio bordered by native grasses and hummingbird plants. A well-designed landscape with layers of height and texture will add value to your home. With the right selection and placement of plant material, you can have low-maintenance color in your garden all year long.

Jon George is the owner of Cottage Gardens Inc., a Gainesville based landscape design and installation firm. He has been gardening in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff for questions at cottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.