Beautiful dahlias grace many a summer garden and last through the fall. But you might also enjoy blueberries, currants, or for fall arrangements, some hydrangeas.
Photo courtesy West Seattle Nursery
Mon, 07/18/2022
This is part of a series of columns prepared by the staff at the award winning West Seattle Nursery. The Nursery is open for shopping, offering an array of trees, shrubs, bedding plants, house plants, garden supplies, and thousands of decor and gift items. They are located at 5275 California Ave SW and you can find them online at https://www.westseattlenursery.com
Spring planting was disappointing for a lot of people this year. The weather was cold and unusually wet. Everything was late blooming. Some things just didn't survive. All is not lost, however. We are having a cool, pleasant summer and so much is in bloom that planting now provides instant gratification. No waiting for seeds to germinate or buds to open.
The abundance of summer has arrived. If you want shrubs with big flowers and a long season of enjoyment, add hydrangeas to your garden.
With adequate water, the blooms last a long time. They are beautiful in summer bouquets. Or leave them on the plant until they dry, then cut them for fall flower arrangements.
Currants are delicious in the garden
Hungry? Plant blueberries. Many varieties have clusters of fruit right now. Or consider adding currants to your garden. Their fruits are starting to ripen now. Those tiny, tart berries make great jams, jellies, sauces, and liqueur.
Hydrangeas come in blue, pink, green and shades in between.
Want drama? Dahlias are show-stoppers. Those brilliant reds, oranges and yellows will brighten up your garden. For romance in the garden, you need roses. Especially fragrant varieties, like Rugosas and David Austins. With plenty of water, sunshine, and a little fertilizer, they will reward you with weeks of color.
Remember that whatever vou plant this time of year needs to be watered a couple of times a week, or more often if we get a heat wave.
