Summer Containers in Connecticut

New color combinations and “backbone plants” create sensational summer annual containers

Hey GPODers !

Today ’s submission is extra limited for me because they get from the person that instilled my love for plants , my mammy ! Every twelvemonth she eagerly look to the last remnant of cold conditions that roll through the northeast in spring , and the day she can last head to the greenhouse for summertime container selection . She has what she calls her “ anchor plants ” that she buys twelvemonth after twelvemonth , and then creates new combination and colour palettes base on the particular yearly that draw her center .

Usually I ’m heavily involved in this industrial plant - picking process ( helping her make those last determination when she has to narrow down her selections ) , but this year I was move around during the week she was shop and planting so I got a wonderful floral surprise when I returned to Connecticut . After weeks of me beg to showcase her creations , she at last allowed me to get some exposure last calendar week , “ now that they ’ve full filled out . ”

In the past , my mom has been known to be drawn to warm , undimmed colors — think spicy garden pink , sunshine jaundiced , tangerine tree and chartreuse . This year , she was inspired by cooler shades to create a color palette of light purples , various shades of blue , and pastel pinks . In this first container she coalesce :

Of of course , she had to add some promising daddy into the mix , and this bright ivy geranium ( Pelargoniumpeltatum , Zones 10–11 or as an annual ) did the deception . Paired with ‘ Diamond Frost ’ euphorbia ( Euphorbia hypericifolia‘Diamond Frost ’ , Zones 10–11 or as an annual ) , this simple pot becomes a squeamish accent without clashing with other combinations .

This next planting is a fabulous relative to the first container , include many of the same plants as well as one of her “ backbone ” plants , variegated vinca vine ( Vinca major‘Variegata ’ , Zones 7–9 ) . The rest of the flora are :

Though she has n’t get much angelonia in the past , it is a contender to become one of her unexampled staples . Coming in a wonderful array of colors and shades , very heating resistant and with no pauperization for regular deadheading , this downcast - maintenance lulu is first-class for containers in the peak of summer .

Another one of my mother ’s staple plant , the Chinese hibiscus . Not often line up in colors that matched her coolheaded people of colour palette , but this variety—’Starry steer ’ hibiscus ( Hibiscus rosa - sinensis‘Starry Wind ’ , annual)—had such a fabulous plait that she could n’t stand firm adding it to the mixture . A pretty Graeco-Roman looking coral - red colouring material from the front …

But an absolutely moony swirl of pink and orange from behind . I ’m not sure if I ’ve ever seen a flush that is more or less more interesting from behind than it is from the front !

These small window box on her garden shed always get planted with rieger begonias and usually vinca vine . This year she fetch some more purpleness to the company with a Summer Wave ® Large Blue wishing bone flush ( Torenia‘Summer Wave ® magnanimous Blue ’ , one-year ) . The begonias in this intermixture are Solenia ® Light Pink rieger begonia ( Begoniaxhiemalis‘Solenia ® Light Pink ’ , yearly ) and ‘ Amstel Clara ’ rieger begonia ( Begoniaxhiemalis‘Amstel Clara ’ , annual ) .

desire you all enjoy this circuit of my mom ’s containers ! Too shy to resign herself , it was a treat to be able to showcase her creative activity . I also hope this breathe in some of you to divvy up your summer container ! Send phots and industrial plant IDs to[email protected]or tag me in your posts on Instagram@agirlherdogandtheroad

Have photos to share ? We ’d sleep together to see your garden , a special collection of plant you bang , or a wondrous garden you had the chance to inflict !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the exposure . We ’d love to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been garden , successes you are proud of , failures you learned from , hope for the future tense , favorite plant , or funny write up from your garden .

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