Red, White, and Blue in my Garden for Independence Day

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Before I show you the red, white and blue in my garden for this July 4th I’d like to take a moment to thank all the veterans and serviceman who have made our freedoms possible (Thanks Dad!). While Independence Day is a celebration of our declaration of freedom from Great Britain many have given their time and their lives to maintain those freedoms. Without the sacrifices of those people our lives would not be as they are today. We are really fortunate to live and garden where we do!

Into the Garden!

The Red

The red stems of a ‘Palace Purple’ heuchera in our corner shade garden. They almost look like fireworks!

A red flowering annual verbena.

The red foliage of coleus.


A red zinnia. Zinnias are very easy plants to care for in the garden. If they wilt give them water. If they go to seed deadhead them. I didn’t buy any zinnias this year since I saved the seed from last year’s bunch.


The White

A white caladium. Caladiums are annuals here in Tennessee. I wish they could overwinter better, but you can dig up the bulbs and save them for the following spring. I didn’t do that last year and just bought new ones. (They were discount plants.) They are great foliage plants and look stunning with variegated hostas and heucheras, at least I think so!

A white impatien. This little flower has seen a little too much of the sun and not quite enough water but it is still flowering white. I had quite a few more but apparently rabbits like impatiens.


The Blue

Unfortunately I don’t have much of blue in the garden so you will have to settle for bluish. I’ve found that true blue isn’t here in my garden yet but I’ll definitely add some in the future.

Here is one Salvia nemorosa that I propagated this spring. I’m happy with the growth it’s shown in just a couple months. I could have shown another more mature salvia but I wanted to show you how quickly the cuttings are coming along. By fall they should look like any other salvia in my garden, just slightly smaller!


This is another kind of blue flower, Nepeta faassenii or ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint. I really like this plant! Catmint has some pest resistant properties that are quite interesting. Catmint roots very easily from cuttings.


I wish I had more blue in the garden. At least on sunny days I can look up and see those blue skies!

I hope everyone, everywhere has a great July 4th!

8 thoughts on “Red, White, and Blue in my Garden for Independence Day”

  3. I wish I had thought of that…first. LOL…how stupid I am. I have never saved the seed,,,I just go out and buy new ones each year. I am going to make sure I save them this year.

    We always have a outside karoke sing, dinner on the ground, fireworks,,type of day. It is always fun. People love to sing, even if they can’t and like American Idol…the ones that can’t are usually the most fun. : )

  5. I’m glad you all liked the idea. I’ll try it again next July when hopefully I have more blue. I need to write that down so I don’t forget it “Get more blue!”

    Eve,

    Even though I’m a musician and band director on sabbatical (to be a stay-at-home-dad), I’d rather not get up in front to display my vocal abilities! Playing in the band is a whole lot less embarrassing, but still I can see where watching the others might be amusing! My daughter would love it!

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