Gardener’s Recipe for Planting Summer Annuals

 My Gardener’s Recipe for planting is one I follow every year:

One Part Soil

Two Parts Water

Three Parts Wishful Thinking.

I’m always thrilled to see blooms return in the spring, a mini miracle after our drought and long hot summer last year!

We planted three oakleaf hydrangeas last spring, all receiving the same amount of planting TLC, sun and water. One is thriving, one you can see in the top of the photo is struggling and one gave up the ghost.

Note to self: Add four parts wishful thinking next time ;)

I was anxious to get my window boxes planted so they can fill in and grow. They can be removed from their brackets for easy planting so I don’t have to stand and lean over on a ladder to add my summer annuals.

My potting shed windows face west so a vinyl/ polyethylene material helps them tolerate the UV rays here in the sunny South without splitting or cracking and more fade resistant than a painted wood window box. They also have a double wall design with a water reservoir so they’re one of the few things I don’t have to water everyday in the heat of the summer. They came from windowbox.com.

I filled them with a mixture of sun-loving annuals~ angelonia and pentas. . .

The pentas will provide some additional color from the hummers and butterflies they will attract.

Along with petunias and verbena.

Pots on the back of my shed get morning sun and a reprieve from the afternoon’s rays. I filled a pair of pots on the back porch with a combination of the colorful foliage of coleus, varigated ivy and a tricolor geranium.

 I don’t have much luck with geraniums, but hope springs eternal! Coleus are easy and fast growing and will cover the spot where the geranium is if it doesn’t make it.

I was thrilled to find more “Hot” Lobelia from Monrovia this spring at Lowe’s.

This heat-tolerant variety of lobelia last year bloomed all summer long last year.

And I found a new-to-me flowering tree to plant this year~ Duranta.

Duranta is a tropical plant and hardy in zones 8 – 11.  I planted it as annual to enjoy the pretty purple blooms until frost. You can read more about growing Duranta, here.

I added some calibrachoa or million bells and asparagus fern to fill in and spill over the edge of the barrel.

 After seeing these floriferous Knock Out Roses last year,

I had to plant a shrub!

They’re fast-growing, long-blooming and drought tolerant. . .

no wishful thinking required ;)

The winner of my Flowers and Garden Giveaway is Sandi Allen.

Sandi, I’ll be in touch with you by email and get your garden goodies to you.

Thanks to all who entered!

How does your garden grow…do you have a gardener’s recipe?

Gardener’s Recipe sign / Primitives by Kathy

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 Metamorphosis Monday