Page 70 - Panama City Living Magazine

GARDENING BRINGING COLOR TO THE GARDENNumerous varieties of hydrangeas thrive in the beds beneath her trees. They bloom in the summer in cooling shades of pink, lavender, and blue. In 2017, she planted an additional 100 plants she started from cuttings of those already there. To brighten partially shady beds, repeat blooming azaleas are perfect as they bloom in shades of pink and orange throughout the year.In sunny beds throughout the yard, owers such as agapanthus, golden dewdrops, and the native powder blue stokes aster attract additional color to the garden in the form of butter ies. Numerous owering trees such as crepe myrtles bring lavender and pink to the garden.FOLIAGE, FRUIT, BERRIES, AND HARDSCAPEAnnette’s garden clearly demonstrates color is not limited to owers. She has successfully supplemented her beloved owers with plants possessing bold and colorful foliage that add a vibrancy of their own. Caladiums and bromeliads of green, red, and pink brighten shady areas throughout the garden. Also in the shade, split leaf philodendrons have large, shiny leaves thatgiveatropicalfeel. Variegatedgingers,crotons,andcordylineshighlight sunny locations.Farfugium japonicum, a spectacular perennial not commonly seen in Bay County, is located several in places throughout her garden. This plant brings a tropical look to shady areas even in the winter with large, bold, evergreen leaves. As a bonus, in the fall it sends up a bouquet of yellow daisy-like ow- ers thatattractthefallbutter ies.Native beautyberries add interest to the late summer garden, while in win- tertime, yaupons and a beautiful holly bring a visual treat of bright red ber- riesthatalsoattractbirds. Additionally,yardornamentsandpottedplants are located throughout the beds to provide color.FOCAL PLANTSSeveral special focal plants are located throughout the garden. A beautiful old red buckeye tree has brilliant red owers in the spring that attract but- ter ies and hummingbirds. This native tree was on the property when they bought it. The prior owner asked speci cally that they never cut down that tree.Annette has several citrus trees planted along the driveway but one in partic- ular is spectacular. A large Meyer’s lemon tree produces fragrant white blos- soms followed by large bright yellow fruit in such numbers that neighbors and friends look forward to the harvest each year.Another special plant is a Confederate Rose. In the fall, this large relative of the hibiscus has large double owers that initially open white and gradually change to pale pink and nally dark pink. One single plant can grow almost 15 feet tall and produce a spectacular mix of colors.CHALLENGESKeeping deer from eating plants in the garden has been a major challenge. They particularly seem to enjoy the delicate purplish-blue blossoms of the agapanthus. To protect the plants, Annette moved them close to the house and uses a deer deterrent spray. Even so, she says the deer sometimes nd them. Nonetheless, Annette enjoys seeing the deer in her garden but is hopeful that they will not nd all her favorite plants.Some of the plants such as the caladiums and hydrangeas require regular moisture to thrive. While the garden has an underground sprinkler system, keeping it running and covering the whole garden is a challenge taken on by Annette’s husband Jimmy.BRINGING COLOR TO YOUR GARDENHow color is incorporated into a garden is largely a matter of personal pref- erence. There is not a wrong way. Large splashes of a single color from a bed planted with one type of ower can be stunning, while the mixture of colors from a less formal wild ower garden is preferred by others. Foliage can come in many shades of green and in colors such as red, chartreuse, pink, and grey. Colorful foliage and berries can bring interest to the garden and complement owers not in bloom. If you do not enjoy experiments and wish to increase the odds of your plants thriving, research their preferred growing conditions and select those that will do well in the conditions found in your garden. Consider adding hardscape such as a painted pot, a colorful bench, or birdhouse. Whether it is from owers, foliage, berries, or hardscape, there are many great options that will bring color to your garden, too.70 • March - April 2018 • www.PanamaCityLiving.com