We had such a beautiful spring (pandemic excepted)! After a few unseasonably hot days, we all know what’s coming. Summer in Sacramento. Days so hot your flip flops melt the moment you step outside. Days so hot that you try to shift your activities to early mornings and evenings, while seeking shelter during the heat of the day if you can. Gardening is still happening, but by all means plant early or if you have to, in the evenings. The goal is to turn our backyards into a lush, colorful oasis. Apartment dwellers can do this on a smaller scale, on patios or indoors, jungalow style.
But here’s something you might not know about hot summer… it grows the coolest plants. The annuals and perennials of summer offer some of the most exciting colors and textures you’ll see all year. Take Agapanthus ‘Twister’, for instance. It takes the ubiquitous but fabulous agapanthus, and gives it a modern twist by turning its petals white except for their deep indigo throats. These are nature’s fireworks right here.
You can also broaden your plant palette with CA natives. We have options for sun or “dry shade”, many of which are still water-wise choices. For instance, native CA ferns and coral bells will wow you with their drought tolerance (once established) and their lush, refined appearance will make you rethink the old notion of Ca native plants being scrubby looking.
The pansies of fall, winter and spring are fading, but guess what? The petunia party is just getting started. And these days, we’re spoiled with a wide selection of petunias, supertunias, petchoas, and Calibrachoas, which are in the same family and look like a tiny petunia that blooms its little head off if it’s in a happy spot.
Last but not least are the perennial superstars of the summer garden– Lantana, Gaillardia, Lavender, Coreopsis, Helenium, Daylily, and more… Many of these beauties were born with a tolerance for heat, so when many other plants are looking stressed on the hottest days, plants like Lantana and Gaillardia are totally crushin’ it. Now that veggie planting season is winding down… look for cool perennials to advance to center stage so they can put on a show!
