Twigs from my garden

In previous columns, I've written about moonlit gardens - gardens planted with all white or silver plants that can literally "glow in the dark." Recently, I wrote about "mellow yellow" flowers. I recall reading many years ago that an all-white garden is monotonous and simply should not be. Obviously, in today's thoroughly modern garden, this idea is passe and all colors of flowers are appropriate and acceptable, although some might be more dramatic. I have never seen an all red garden, but it would certainly be eye-catching! Don't you just love red flowers planted with bright purple? Well, I now offer my latest color scheme to consider - all shades of blue.

Wayside Gardens says that "Blue is a welcome, and rare, color in any garden ... (and) adds a sense of depth to the landscape ... making small spaces appear larger." Here are a few plants to look for when planting a shades of blue flowerbed.

First, Campanula poscharskyana is a great-looking and prolifically blooming ground cover. It spreads into a bright green mat of foliage and, according to Wayside, "produces tons of blooms over a very long season." Recommended for a mild summer climate, I would plant this where it receives the softer sun of the morning and not the hot, hot sun of late afternoon. Wayside suggests this blue-flowering groundcover will look dramatic draped over a vertical wall, added as a low border of a flowerbed, or planted in a rock garden. Watch for this new variety next spring.

Except for Agapanthus "Storm Cloud," with florets of blue flowers perfect for borders or large containers, all the rest of these blue flowers are hardy in our Zone 5 - some right down to Zone 3, which make them "super hardy" for growing in our area.

Did you know there is a true blue lilac bush? It is called Syringa "President Lincoln" and is the bluest of any lilac yet. What a way to highlight spring!

Another bush is Vibernum "Blue Muffin" which is one-third the size of other arrowroots and covered with bird-eyeing brightest blue berries in early to late spring following a show of white five-inch clusters of blossoms. Then it finishes off with red and gold foliage in fall. Remaining berries continue into winter attracting songbirds. "Blue Muffin" grows in light shade to full sun.

Then, for a climbing vine, try Clematis "Frankie," an early bloomer promised to produce many large bell-shaped and very blue flowers.

Malva Blue Fountain is long blooming and said to be "very floriferous." It is a compact plant with cup-shaped, striated blue flowers which will grow in part shade to full sun from early summer to early fall. This plant would do well in the second row or front row for a higher border of a flowerbed. A new arrival on the gardening scene is Corydalis "Ex Dufu" Temple." It is said to be easier to grow and longer blooming that other blue-flowered Corydalis.

I think my favorite of the newer blues has to be Sisyrinchium "Lucerne" - easy to grow and effortless to maintain, says Wayside. It grows in compact, grassy clumps, its small blue-petaled flowers accented by yellow centers.

Then, you can always lean toward the lavender-blues, such as Geranium Orion. A true hardy geranium with large lavender petals it will not disappoint you, but will come up year after year.

In addition, don't forget about past perennial of the year, Nepeta "Walker's Low" catmint, which should be grown in full sun, has gray-green foliage with a wonderful scent. I have found this variety to be very hardy, very reliable - and not bothered by my cats!

So, just what is your own favorite color? Emphasize that color. And, if you feel it is a little too much of one color, blend in some compatible, complementary or contrasting shade from an artist's color wheel. You can't really go wrong in your own garden when you love the color!

What is the next popular color in the garden? You'll just have to wait until next year. (Only my hairdresser - or rather my nurseryman - knows for sure!)

Event

From 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, master gardener Rex Maurer will talk about "Colors for All Seasons" in the gazebo of the Children's Garden behind the Allen County Museum on West Market Street, Lima. Bring along a lawn chair and lunch and spend a little time in this award-winning garden planted and maintained by Allen County master gardeners.

Master Gardener Tip of the Week

Heat proof annuals, especially those in containers, by topping with a two- to four-inch layer of bark chips or other organic mulch to conserve moisture and protect the soil from the hot mid-summer sun and drying winds and by watering deeply, making sure the water penetrates to the depth of the roots. Provide shade or place container-grown plants in filtered sunlight during the hottest part of the day.