What plants besides annuals offer color in the garden during July?

Susan

Dear Susan,

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″]Annuals certainly serve a purpose in the garden since they bloom for six months, but they are not hardy. For variety, try hardy herbaceous perennials. The tops will die back in the winter, but the roots will provide new growth in the spring — a one-time purchase!  A few perennials  only bloom for two weeks which requires skill in coordinating bloom times over a long period.

Some of the hardy herbaceous perennials at Laurelwood Arboretum’s Native Plant Demonstration Garden are in the pollinator area, in front of our new educational greenhouse. Try blue star (Amsonia), butterfly weed (Asclepias), tickseed (Coreopsis), phlox, and sage (Salvia).

[/su_column][su_column size=”1/2″]The Sensory Garden has lavender, lambs ear (Stachys), more butterfly weed, hosta, catmint (Nepeta), astilbe, globe thistle (Echinops), ornamental onion (Alium), and clematis.

Walk up Home Hill. Sit on the bench in the Summer Garden (across from the greenhouse) and enjoy corydalis, more catmint, hostas and clematis, lilies, black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) and creeping Jenny (I).

There is never a dull, or empty floral moment at Laurelwood Arboretum.  Enjoy your visit!

—Elaine Fogerty
Executive Director

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