flowers all summer

Keep the beautiful blooms of hydrangeas in your garden all season by planting different types. Our native oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea querdfolia) offer some of the earliest blooms. Good selections include 'Snowflake, 'Snow Queen,' and 'Pee Wee.' The cool blues and pinks of French hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) are as Southern as sweet tea. Favorites include 'Nikko Blue' and 'All Summer Beauty.' Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens) offer white blossoms. Try the selection 'Annabelle' (pictured at left) mixed with ferns for a cooling combination. The peegee hydrangeas (H. paniculata) will finish the season. Great choices include 'Grandiflora' and Tardiva.' To order these selections and many more, try Hydrangeas Plus, toll-free 1-866-433-7896 or www.hydrangeasplus.com. -GENE B. BUSSELL

DILL AND BASIL

Now that the soil is warm, you can add these tasty herbs to your garden or containers. They can be grown from seeds or transplants. For lower-growing selections of dill, look for 'Bouquet' or 'Fernleaf.' There are many selections of basil available, each with its own unique flavor. Good ones to try include 'Genovese,' 'Red Rubin,' Thai,' and lemon basil.

DAYLILIES

Choose these easy perennials now, when they're in bloom, so you can select the color, size, and flower form you prefer. It is important to plant in a location that receives at least six hours of full sun a day. They prefer soil that has some organic matter, such as composted manure, but can adapt well to a range of soil conditions,"as long as it has good drainage. Once established, daylilies will provide beautiful blooms for years.

FERTILIZE

Feed peppers, tomatoes, squash, and tomatillos with composted manure, fish emulsion, or a granular fertilizer (10-12-12 or a similar formulation) to improve plant growth and vegetable production.

BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS

Sow Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) now for cut blooms later in the season. Richly colored flowers, 4 to 6 feet tall, love the heat and sunshine. Selections offer a range of beautiful orange hues. These include 'Aztec Sun' (golden apricot), 'Goldfinger' (deep orange), and 'Torch' (scarlet orange). Add 'Bright Lights' cosmos and 'Buddy' gomphrena to the mix for a summer full of vivid colors and quick arrangements.

STAKING

Gladioli, dahlias, and lilies are up and growing, so give them some support now before they begin to bloom. Bamboo sticks, wire tomato cages, or branches cut from your yard will all work well for the task. Tie stems with strips of old cloth or raffia.

FOR MORE INFO prepare your garden for the heat: southernliving.com/features

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2006
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