Summer Bulbs

Welcome to the May meeting.

Welcome back to Gilberg’s and thank you Cindy for hosting us gain this month and your sponsorship again this year. How many of you here today have those herbs we planted at the Home Show? They were compliments of Cindy and we thank you!

In the fall, we have discussed the bulbs you plant in the fall time to enjoy during the holidays and winter months and then to see them blooming in the spring.

Now we are going to learn about the bulbs that bloom throughout the summer. Cindy is going to go over summer bulbs in general and you will see how many selections there are. May is just the perfect time to get them into pots or into the ground for a great July, August, September array of color. Cindy will show us the difference in “Annual” summer bulbs and “Perennial” summer bulbs. Then we also have a special guest, Joe Meyer, with the St. Louis Dahlia Society. Joe is going, of course, feature everything you might want to know about Dahlias.

The name “bulb” has two meanings – in some sense only to the true bulbs are underground bud or fleshy underground parts, which include corms, tubers and rhizomes.

Bulbs are underground bulbs or buds – include Allium, Chionodoxa, Britillaria, Galanthus, Hyacinths, Iris (Dutch), Leucojum, Masacori, Narcissus, Ornithogalum, Oxalis, and Tulips.

Corms are solid fleshy underground stems, which radiate roots, and stems from nodes for such as Lily of the Valley, Iris (German Bearded).

Tubers are underground stems but have eyes (buds) as Dahlias, Tuberous Begonias, Anemone and Ernathis.

Bulbs to be used in the landscape require an amount of five (5) hours of sun during the day is best. The soil should contain as much organic material as possible, have a moist location but never wet and drainage is critical.

As you can see there is a wide selection on display and at your local garden center. With this wide selection to choose from gives you the ability to choose a wide range of bloom time, color, height, texture and fragrance.

Bulbs can highlight any garden. Small or large, with vivid colors from very early spring through summer into fall as the leaves fall.

Flower scents have long been an attraction of bulbs – from spring Hyacinths, Narcissus to the Rubrun – Stargazer – Lilium – Oriental Lilies.

The Alliums or ornamental onions I feel are under used. Alliums are a member of the Liaceae (Lily family) which consists of more than 500 species to choose from, most are native to the Northern Hemisphere. Their heights of flower range from 6” to 3-4 feet tall in normal growing conditions. Allium “Globemaster” is a purplish pink or a white. The Allium Cowani is a white bulb resembling a small snowball or snowflake. The Allium Rosenbachiaxium has violet purple flowers with white stamens. Allium Schoerocepholon is again a violet/pinkish purple onion flower. The Allium Drumstick is a brownish red late spring early summer addition. The yellow Allium, Molly Sundrop or yellow stars is great. A really neat, more exotic is Allium Schubertii – a spidery pink purplish bloom a great eye catcher, as with great cut flower Allium Gigatrum. Plan for a peak season of summer blooming bulbs.

One of the beauties/enjoyment of spring, summer and fall is the ability to go out in the garden and cut a bouquet of flowers or just a few for a bedside table. Bulbs can be a pretty fool-proof way of getting this accomplished. Beyond the spring flower festival of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, it is still not too late to guarantee summer and fall blooming Lilies, Liatris, Alliums along with Gladiolus. Glads are so easy to grow and harvest for a bouquet of upright spike flowers with tumults of single or double multi-color (white, shades of pink, rose, purple, yellow, orange, red and even a bright lime green). These bulbs (technically corms) generally bloom from the end of June to September.

There is a long season for cut lilies. A wide choice of varieties is available during the summer months, with prices that are most affordable. Beyond beauty in the garden, Lilies look stunning in a vase, whether just a single stem or a massive bouquet.

Sweet- or spice-scented cut lilies come in endless shapes and shades, lending an elegant air to any decor. Colors range from yellow, pale pink, white, cream, fiery red, orange, lavender, and many colors in between, often with interesting splotches or speckles.

As a special gift -- or treat for oneself! -- lilies are unsurpassed for ‘staying power.” With just a bit of attention, the flowers will stay fresh for 10 days and more. Following are easy-to-follow professional tips on how to enjoy the fullest rewards from this most luxurious of flowers, from the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.

Lily Care and Cutting:

• Buy lilies when the lowest flowers on the stems have just opened, the upper flowers will open one by one.
• Handle the flowers carefully on the way home, protect them from direct sunlight.
• Once home, cut the stem end with clean shears or sharp knife and place stems into a container with six-inches of warm water.
• Best cutting technique: hold the stem underwater while cutting it to minimize air bubble uptake; cut at a 45° angle to increase water uptake.
• After selecting a vase (and cleaning it), “prep” the stems by removing any lower leaves that will stand below that vase’s water line and cause bacteria growth.
• Add “cut flower food” to the vase (available at florists or grocery floral departments). For lilies, use only about half the recommended dosage.
• Cut lilies should be handled with care: the pollen on the stamens easily rubs off onto clothes leaving a stain that’s difficult to remove. Clipping off the small pollen-laden anthers is one way to avoid this problem. Any pollen that does get onto fabric should be removed by lightly dabbing at the spot with adhesive tape to which the pollen will cling, or brushing the area cautiously with a very soft brush.
• Lily flowers themselves need gentle handling for they tend to bruise easily, affecting appearance and vase life.
• Don’ crowd lilies in an arrangement. Part of their appeal is their bold, individual appearance. While many flower arrangements benefit from a surfeit of flowers, for lily arrangements, the simpler the more elegant.
• To “upgrade” the look of a mixed bouquet of less showy summer flowers, add two stems of spectacular lily flowers. The effect is luxurious, the actual expense much less!
• Lilies have tall stems; choose a vase proportionally matched.
• For longest life, lily arrangements should be placed in a shaded spot away from direct sunlight. Be watchful of placing lilies (or any bulb flowers) near bowls of fruit. Fruit, as it ripens, gives off ethylene gas which can damage cut flowers.
• As leaves yellow, remove them, plus any foliage that has fallen in the water.
• Change water frequently, ideally every few days.

Following are top selections for summer fun in the garden. Each thrives either in the garden, landscape or in containers.

Maria! What Callas -- The calla lily comes as close to perfection as one flower can. Its flower boasts a texture so smooth and velvety that one suspects that it’s unreal! Officially known as the Zantedeschia, the calla has sheath-like flowers in pink, yellow or white, or one of the newer shades of bronze, gold or deep rose. When we think of callas we can recall the 1937 movie “Stage Door’ featuring the young Katherine Hepburn. “The calla lilies are in bloom again,” she said in her pay-within-the-film entrance. And so, the calla goes down in movie history. Plant sumptuous callas in full sun, sheltered from the wind.

Enormous Elephant’s Ear -- Even Dumbo would stare, so outsized are the ear-shaped leaves of Colocasia esculenta. The green, leafy Elephant’s Ear plant hails from the South Seas islands where its gargantuan proportions fit right in. With leaves two-feet long and an overall height of five feet, Elephant’s Ears make terrific screen plants or dramatic “fillers.” Add a hammock and cool drink, you’re transported to Tahiti! Best in partial shade or full shade; keep soil moist in hot weather.

New to St. Louis this year is Elephant Ears - Colocasi Aesculenta “Metallic” with deep purple leaves.

Canna Do It! -- For a foliage favorite with a can-do attitude, plant canna in full sun. Hot-weather-loving canna has distinctive tropical foliage of large brown, bronzed, green or variegated leaves and red, orange, pink or yellow flowers that look like wildly-plumed tropical birds clinging to airy perches. Grows to an impressive three to five feet in height. Staunch and upright, requires no staking. Terrific in the garden or container. Remember the Canna - “Tropicanna, vars. “Phosion”.

Cool as a Cuke Caladium -- Jumbo-leafed caladiums thrive in the shade. With caladiums, its Leaves you get, not flowers. And what leaves they are! In soft sophisticated shades of muted green and white, or hot and soft shades of green, pink and white, caladiums deliver an unbeatable luxuriance of lushness and tropical color. Place in partial or full shade, keep soil moist in hottest weather. Also excellent in containers.

Lilies Galore -- Queens of the summer garden! Plant different types of lilies to enjoy flowers all season: Asiatics bloom first, followed by Trumpets, then Orientals. Full sun is preferred, light shade tolerated. Lilies like their heads in the sun, their feet in the shade. Plant amidst hostas, coral bells (heucheras) or other low-growing leafy plants to provide a lower tier of shade. Grow extras to provide cut flowers!

The summer Lilies flower parade is full of choices. I would personally like to recommend the bright orange petals flecked with red in “Asiatic-hybrids”, the “Enchantment”, the brilliant yellow by name “Connecticut yellow”. The Star Gazer Lily well known for its fragrance and long lasting deep pink edged in white also a great 6" potted gift plant that many plant in the yard for years to come. The Oriental lily with red, pink and white blooms also fragrant. Some consider the most fragrant. Beyond the lilies grace our garden but make a great cut flower.

The exotic-looking Trigridia, or tiger flower.

Bugle Lily - Walsoniabeatricis, also a corm - a pinkish to violet, purple skinny spike flower similar to a gladiolus.

The Surprise Lily or Naked Lady or Botanicals Belladonn a lily or Amaryllis belladonna - this fragrant pink flower is an excellent cut flower and fragrant and can last a week. This bulb is also a hardy bulb.

One of my favorites is the tube rose Polianthes Tuberosa. This white single or double flower I feel is the single most fragrant. Some say the fragrance can be over-powering. It all depends on the amount of scent/fragrance you like.

Lilies-of-the Nile -- Agapanthus is a flowering plant that looks equally lovely when out of bloom, with glossy strap-like leaves that have their own appeal. Native to the Nile Valley, the agapanthus has brilliant blue flowers in clusters atop three-foot stems that tower above a whorl of green blade-leaves. Best in a large container (one to three bulbs per container). In colder areas, protect the container over winter. Expect increased flowering the next year. Full sun to partial shade. Peak bloom: mid-summer to early fall.

Pseudo Pineapples -- The pineapple lily plant, Eucomis bicolor, really does look like a pineapple, with its stiff-leaved tuft atop a 15-inch spire of tiny greenish-white flowers edged with a fine lilac-red line, and base of broad green strappy leaves. For a fun effect, plant an odd number of bulbs in a large pot or barrel. The flowers bloom in July and August. Place in full sun or light shade.

Glorious Gladioli -- “Glads” are gorgeous, with dramatic, upright spikes three to five feet tall, each covered with dozens of closely crowded florets of single or multi-colors. They are towering tumults of color with florets so perfect it seems a cloud of butterflies has alighted en masse. The effect is magnificent -- in the garden or in the vase.

Summer also brings the beauty of the wide selection of dahlia blooms. Their assortment of size of flower and bold cactus flowering to single to a pompon, Peony and ball flower - from 4' in diameter flowers to giant AA flower size up to 10" inches. Colors also have a great range from solid colors to two-tone colors.

The “Giant Onion” Allium has an impressive tower of bright blue to purple blossom adding a distinctive height and texture to your sun garden. Some smaller flowers also come in yellow, white and brownish red.

A lesser known flower, the Sprekelia (Jacobean Lily) has much to offer the summer garden. A member of the Amaryllis family, its curious orchid-like trumpet shaped flower is comprised of scarlet-crimson petals around a green throat. Centuries of feeling “Glad” all over.

This American love affair with “glads” has historic precedent: Ancient Roman wall paintings depicting gladiolus attest to the flower’s long popularity. In fact, the name is derived from gladius, the Latin word for “sword.” Gladioli have sword-shaped leaves and a spear-like overall appearance. (From the same root word comes gladiator, the sword fighter of the Roman Empire.)

In nature, species gladioli bear only six florets upon each stalk. However, in the late 1700s an interesting development occurred when European horticulturists introduced the world to several intriguing species found in South Africa. Back in Europe, hybridizers madly set about cross-breeding these promising South African varieties and others.

The results over time were astonishing: wild, unusual, thickly-flowered stalks with 10 to 26 fluttery trumpet-shaped florets of unbelievable size, translucency and color. Others were dainty small=flowered or folded-petal butterfly types. To this day, developing new hybrids continues to be a widely-held passion, particularly among European and American glad aficionados.

A Rainbow of Summer Color

Blooming from late July through September, gladioli come in a full rainbow of colors that makes possible such outrageous combos as: deep pink, pale purple with red edges and creamy blotches; rich rose and silver; orange-pink with purple-rose blotches, edged in brown; pale pink with red blotches and a pale yellow center; and even pure bright lime green!

Whether grown as a garden plant or for a cutting garden, plant gladioli corms (a flat bulb-like structure) about six inches deep in rich, sandy, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Because the plant is tall and to-heavy, support is often needed. Try mounding the soil around the stalk base or staking the plants. In a cutting garden, where esthetics might not be so important, a mesh net, strung between stakes at a height of about 20 inches will offer extra support.

A tip: to enjoy abundant blossoms from July through September, plant glads in “waves” that will bloom successively, one after another. Starting in May (or earlier in warm climates), plant a quantity of corms every two weeks until early June.

A precaution: to avoid soil/corm infections, rotate glad planting sites yearly and avoid planting where beans have grown the year before (there is a bean mosaic virus that could stay in the soil).

Glads flower from the bottom up, with the first blossoms appearing in the lower-most buds. That’s the time to cut them, when grown for cut flowers. When growing for garden glory, that’s when the show begins.

No matter what your reason to grow them, gladioli are a luscious garden treat. Planted in waves, they offer months and months of breathtaking summer color, flowering on until the frosts of fall finally pull the curtain down.

Growing Colors!

Lush places are appealing. Wild colors, exotic plants and huge-leafed hideaways can transform an ordinary spot. The yard becomes a tropical set for summer action.

If you love the abundant look but don’t have much space (or the space you have is all filled up), consider planting container gardens.

“Potted plants are versatile in outdoor settings, move them, group them, have some fun,” says Dutch garden expert Frans Roozen. ‘Group large pots with smaller pots, make arrangements. Put them in your doorway, along the walkway, on the deck or terrace, around the mailbox. The effect is charming.”

Among summer plants appropriate for container gardening are: annuals such as impatiens, vinca, zinnias and geraniums; small shrubs and roses; and bulb flowers such as begonias, dahlias, lilies, agapanthus, elephant’s ear, caladium and canna.

What’s making news in gardens now? Garden trend watchers report that summer bulb flowers such as canna, caladium, dahlias, begonias, elephant ears, oxalis, pineapple, lilies, and other exotic or tropical-looking foliage plants and flowers were top of the must have lists of many gardeners coast-to-coast.

Exuberant But Tender

“Summer bulbs bring exuberance to the garden,” said Sally Ferguson, director of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center (NFBIC) in New York City. “People have a LOT of fun experimenting with summer bulbs, trying new looks with the great colorful leaves and velvety flowers. Marigolds look mighty tame, once you’ve tried elephant ears with their enormous unfurling leaves or a five-foot tall Bengal striped canna!”

Despite their dramatic looks, flower bulbs are among the easiest plants to grow successfully, according to Mrs. Ferguson. “But many of the summer bloomers are “tender” bulbs and cannot survive winters outdoors in many parts of the country. This means gardeners have two options at the end of the growing season: 1) grow the plants as annuals and let them die, or 2) protect them or save them indoors overwinter.”

“Probably the top question we’re getting these days is what to do with the bulbs when summer ends?” Following are easy tips provided by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center.

When Summer Ends – Saving Summer-flowering Bulbs.

Semi-tropical natives such as dahlias, gladioli, begonias, canna, caladium, elephant ears, oxalis and other tender summer-flowering bulbs will not make it through the winter outside of the warmest climate zones.

Tender bulbs can be either treated as annuals and composted or tossed out, or they can be lifted and stored. This depends solely on your preference. Some gardeners can’t be bothered (and some bulbs are inexpensive). Others love to baby their bulbs and tuck them away for the winter.

For those who like to keep their bulbs from year to year:

• Tender summer bulbs should be left in the ground until frost blackens the foliage (This is true for all except tuberous begonias, which should be dealt with before frost.).
• Carefully dig up the bulbs, being careful not to damage them. Cut off excess foliage and brush off loose soil. Set the bulbs out in a warm, dry place with good air circulation to dry for a day or two. When dry, brush off remaining soil, being careful not to bruise the bulbs when handling, as this promotes mold.
• After the bulbs are dry, cut off any remaining foliage and pack the bulbs in a few layers of an appropriate “medium” such as perlite, vermiculite, cocoa hulls, clean sawdust or peat moss.
• Store in a container, with layers of bulbs separated by your medium of choice in a dry place until spring. Optimal storage temperatures vary for different bulbs, but typically range just under or over 50 degrees. Don’t worry yourself needlessly – few people have temperature-controlled storage areas – store your bulbs as best you can.
• A few notes: dahlia stems may have water in them. Hang them upside down to drain. When digging gladioli, you’ll notice that the shriveled old crom is there, replaced by new croms. Separate the corms. Out with the old and store the new.
• Remember, not all summer-blooming bulbs are tender. Lilies, for example, are winter hardy. So are alliums. Hardy summer bulbs, like most of their spring-blooming cousins, are perennial performers and can overwinter in the garden.

Once the threat of a “killer” frost is past in your area, it’s the time to plant tender summer-flowering bulbs. For Southern U.S. climate zones and northern zones west of the Rockies, April is the month to plant dahlias, begonias, gladioli and other tender bulbs, croms and tubers.

For zones east of the Rockies and north of the Mason-Dixon Line, outdoor planting should normally be put off until at least late April or May, depending upon your local conditions.

Now is a good time to put the final touches on summer garden plans. It’s also not too late to order summer-flowering bulbs from mail order houses. Also, now is a good time to get some garden chores done, while enjoying the beautiful show of the spring-flowering bulbs you planted last fall!

A tip: Take photos of your changing garden each month to help you plan your planting come Fall and next spring. Photos can help remind you which corners of the yard could use an extra touch of color as the season’s progress.

A Time for Tuberous Begonias

Today’s tuberous begonias are highly-bred plants of South American ancestry. This heritage has given the plant a continuing preference for humus-rich soil and a spot in the garden where it’s shielded from fierce summer sunshine. Generations of breeding have yielded many different varieties, with a wide assortment of flower shapes and colors to choose from.

The most popular types of tuberous begonias are the large-flowered begonias. These have double flowers, and come in many colors including rich yellow, dark red, orange, salmon and white. Large-flowered begonias reach a height of 10 to 14 inches. They have extremely long flowering times, flowering continually from early June till far into September. Look for varieties that resemble other flowers. ‘Bouton de Rose’ and ‘Bouton de Rose Jaune,’ for example, have blossoms that recall half-opened rosebuds. A stunning flower is ‘Marmorata,” a full double begonia with red and white speckled flowers.

Small-flowered begonias can offer some high-powered choices. Varieties such as ‘Flamboyant’ (red) and many others offer an abundance of flowers and do as well in containers on the balcony as they do in garden beds. Small-flowered begonias are an especially good choice in areas where rough weather can be a problem.

Particularly attractive are pendent begonias. These are hanging plants, usually double flowered, with pointed petals. A wide assortment of colors is available. These make especially good balcony plants, and make a great combination alongside pendent geraniums, lobella, shrubby Paris daisy and Calceolaria.

One begonia to look out for is the Begonia Bertinii, the begonia that marches to a different drummer. Unlike its sun-shy cousins, the Bertinii thrives in full sun. It slender orange-red flowers are delightfully elegant and the plant is very easy to cultivate.

Begonia Planting Tips

Begonias can be started indoors or planted “blind.” Blind planting means putting the tubers directly into the ground without starting indoors. Blind planted begonias can survive a touch of frost (not to much) and therefore can be put out a few weeks earlier than those started indoors. Tubers should be planted at a very shallow depth, covered with only about a half-an-inch of soil.

With begonias begun indoors, you want to be particularly careful to time your outdoor transplanting time after the last frost of the season. To be safe, wait until mid-to late-May to set them out. Then select a spot that will make your begonias happy, one with rich, loamy soil and out of direct sunlight. Here the begonias will flourish. The hollow side of tuber is the top.

The Tall and the Short of Dahlias

Mignon dahlias may be small but they are a super choice for bedding, borders or containers. They usually grow from 12 to 20 inches tall. They come in all sorts of colors and flower like crazy. If you pinch off the withered blossoms, they’ll reward you with even more flowers. Top-mix dahlias have been called “mini-mignons.” Shorter than mignons, they reach a height of around 8 to 12 inches. Their blossoms are smaller than the mignons, and while they offer an abundance of flowers, they are no match for the mignons.

Collerette and anemone-flowered dahlias are favorites for borders and for lining walks and driveways. Collerettes get their name from an additional ring of petals that make the flower look as if it has a collar. This extra ring of petals is often a different color than the rest of the flower, creating an arresting effect. Beautiful anemone-flowered dahlias get their name from the large tubular petals which form a disc in the center of the flower, which gives this large flower an unlikely but pleasing resemblance to an anemone.

Dahlias Belong in the Cutting Area.

Dahlias are a must for that corner of the garden reserved for cutting. The many types of dahlias to choose from, including pompon, decorative, cactus and semi-cactus, are reason enough to include them in the cutting area. Their response to cutting cinches it: Cut a dahlia and it responds by blooming again. The more you cut your dahlias, the more dahlias you’ll have all summer long and into the fall!

Dahlia Planting Tips

Dahlias are very easy to grow. They like a sunny spot and most any kind of soil, so long as it drains well. In the south and the northwest they can be planted this month. The north should wait until May. Plant them with the tubers covered by soil and the old flower stalk sticking just out of the ground. Give dahlias a wide berth. Tall dahlias should be planted 24 to 26 inches apart. Small varieties such as top-mix are planted 6 to 8 inches apart. Taller dahlias may benefit from a planting ring or other support.

July is high summer by the gardening calendar. By now, perennials, annuals and most summer flowering bulbs are at their colorful peak. The mid-summer garden offers something for almost every climate, from A (anemones de Caen) to Z (zantedesonia, or callas). The summer “Hit Parade” includes many longtime favorites such as begonias, balloon flowers, baby’s breath, columbine, daylilies, dahlias, delphinium, flax, forget-me-nots, more roses – and of course lilies, to name just a few.

Many summer-flowering bulbs and croms will be at their peak now, depending on your climate and how early you were able to plant. ( a cold spring in northern zones may have delayed planting and flowering.)

Lilies

Lilies, which many gardeners consider absolutely indispensable to any summer display, should be full bloom in July. Hybrids, particularly the Asiatic hybrids (sometimes known as mid-century hybrids because they were introduced in 1949 by Jan de Graal of Oregon), are among the most popular because of their hardiness as well as their beauty and fragrance. “Enchantment,” instantly recognizable by its bright orange petals flecked with red, is one of the most famous. It is also one of the most vigorous. The brilliant yellow “Connecticut King” is another hardy Asiatic and a welcome sight in gardens and in vases as cut flowers.

Dahlias and Gladioli: Bringing Outdoor color Inside.

July brings out the dahlia blooms in full force. Gladioli that were planted in May also bloom in July, an elegant and special treat with their eye-catching vertical inflorescence. These favorites of the cutting garden can be cut to your heart’s content – and have a particularly long vase life. Their assortment of both bold and pastel hues range from deepest crimson to pure white, pale salmons and pinks, violet blue, mauve, and even chartreuse.

Tips for long-lasting blooms. Always cut early in the morning or late in the evening, using a sharp knife. Take a bucket of water into the garden with you. Immediately place the cut flowers in water, standing upright, and let stand several hours. To keep them firm and crisp, wrap them in newspaper and let them stand for a few hours in a pail of very shallow water. It is preferable to leave foliage on the stalk, so plants can gather more strength. Before arranging cut stems again holding the tips under water – and strip leaves from the stems to height of the water level in the vase. Add fresh water to vase and trim the stem daily.

Giant Onions In the Garden!

The fluffy globular flowers of the allium giganteum, or giant ornamental onion, now tower impressively some five feet above the other plants. Their bright blue blossoms, which measure about 5 inches across, are an eye-grabber, adding a distinctive height and texture to the summer garden.

Anemone de Caen

The gaily colored anemones de Caen brightens up a shady corner of the garden. Actually a member of the buttercup family, these poppy=like flowers, about 2 ½ inches wide, come in bright shades of red, deep blue, pink, and white, and make delightful cut-flower arrangements. These are hardy in southern zones.

Tuberous Begonias, Summer Standbys

By now the large and small tuberous begonias that were raised indoors in northern climes – which should have been moved outside in May – will be ready to bloom. Check their garden bed or container to make sure drainage is good and water regularly (in early morning or late evening) to avoid drying out. Water the soil directly, don’t sprinkle the foliage.

Tip: Make sure your potted begonias are protected from direct sunlight, especially now that the sun is at its hottest. Relocate them if you must. A hanging basket of pendulous begonias adds a colorful tough to patios and porches, so why not move them around from time to time – to vary the décor, as well as to avoid direct sunlight. (A tree branch makes a lovely perch for a hanging begonia during the midday hours or for an outdoor party, but do not keep it there in the full shade all the time.)

A lesser known flower, the Sprekelia (Jacobean lily), has much to offer the summer garden. A member of the amaryllis family, its curious orchid-like trumpet shaped flower is comprised of scarlet-crimson petals around a green throat. It thrives outdoors in warm sunny, well protected areas.

Also blooming in July are the ranunculi, also known as buttercups. These are generally yellow, but also come in orange, red, pink or white varieties. If planted in a sunny place, each plant should produce many flowers.

The exotic looking tigridia, or tiger flower, should also be blooming now. These lovely flowers are not recommended for cutting, each bloom lasts but one day. What they lack in staying power, however, they make up for in production. Tigridia will produce new flowers day after day, for weeks on end, often for as long a period as six to eight weeks. These do particularly well in northern gardens.

The real stars of the July garden, of course, lilies. It is during this month that they make their greatest impression. Magnificent Asiatic hybrids have upright flowers of pure, clear colors which range from the deep red-orange of “Tabasco.” To the sulfur-yellow color of “Amigos” to the apricot-tinged “Toulon.” These hybrids are among the most popular in American gardens.

The richly elegant Aurelian lily hybrids, such as “Golden Splendor” and “Pink Perfection,” are among the most beautiful treasures of Dutch hybridizing art. They are recognized by their grand trumpet-shaped flowers that grow up to 10 inches across. Also , not to be overlooked this month are the aptly named regal lilies (L. regale) – these fragrant trumpet shaped flowers of pure white are considered by some gardeners to be classics among lilies – and the brilliant red-orange panther lilies (L. pardalinum), which grow to nearly six feet tall.

A special summer bulb to watch for is the exquisite white Galtonia, or summer hyacinth. Its gently drooping blossoms, which sit atop slender two foot-tall stems, resemble, not surprisingly, the florets of the spring-flowering hyacinth. These fragrant flowers often get an early start in July before coming into full bloom later in the summer.

July Tips:

• July is a good time to add a bit of fertilizer to stimulate bulbs and tubers. There are special bulb fertilizers on the market, but ordinary 12:10:18 also works extremely well. Apply about ¾ ounce per square yard of soil and water lightly.
• Mature dahlias produce many small new buds that grow out of the leaf axils. If the buds are allowed to develop the plants will produce a greater number of flowers, but blooms will be smaller. To encourage extra-large blossoms – for use in cut flower arrangements, for example – “pinch off” (that is, break off by hand) these small buds. Pinching off will also produce longer flower stems.
• Lily beeties are voracious eaters. Inspect lilies regularly for these bright red pests (the larvae resemble slugs) and remove them immediately.

August is both the climax of summer’s drama and the beginning of its denouement. Dahlias, gladioli and tuberous begonias, which were lush and lovely already in July now find their fullest glory. Their colorful contributions – along with those of many other Dutch bulb flowers – will continue to complement annuals and perennials as the month progresses.

Canna and Acidanthera: Some Like it Hot

Cannas thrive in the bright sun and heat of August. These natives of Central and South America have beautiful thick foliage and flowers that come in a variety of colors including pink, red, yellow and orange. Look for canna mostly in beds, but also as an interesting accent to the perennial border. Keep a sharp lookout for canna varieties with a special trait: brown foliage. Also look for dwarf canna which are also found with either green or brown foliage.

Another flower that thrives in August’s heat is the Acidanthera, which the Dutch call the Abyssinian Cladiolus. Originally from Ethiopia, these tuberous plants have creamy white flowers with dark-lilac hearts. The pendant blooms are arranged in racemes and have a delicious aroma. They are treated in the garden exactly as the gladioli which they resemble. Look for them among perennials such as Monarda didyma, Salvia superba or Geranium platypetalum.

Look for Crocosmia and Pineapple Flowers.

Many savvy and stylish gardeners will have Crocosmia blooming this month. A South African native, crocosmia’s elegant yellow, orange, or scarlet-red flowers add color and style to the garden. The plants are tall, growing from two to two-and-a half feet tall. They make excellent and beautiful cut flowers and will last a considerable time.

Eucomis,, also known as the Pineapple Flower or Pineapple Lily, is a fun flower, one of the more bizarre-looking of all bulbous g=plants. It grown from one to two-feet high and gets its name from their resemblance to the fruit. Crowned by a tuft of sharp green leaves, the Cucomis’s abundance of half-inch flowers grow in a full raceme on a thick stalk. The plant’s fruit-like appearance is accentuated by the color of the flowers – they are green!

A Hyacinth for Summer

When we think of hyacinths we rightly think of spring, but there is another hyacinth that’s a summer bloomer. Galtonia candicans known as the Summer Hyacinth or Giant Summer Hyacinth begins to bloom in late July or early August. It’s inflorescence is not nearly so bushy as it’s spring-blooming cousin, but it’s white flowers are about as fragrant.

Look also for lily varieties such as Lilium henryl and the Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium for those who wish to be precise). L. Henryl, is a sturdy native of Central China, and a fixture in the partially shaded areas of many gardens. The Tiger Lily is a popular deep orange colored lily. Hortus Third says the Japanese eat these bulbs.

There’s no accounting for taste! But one thing everyone is sure to agree upon is that August is a spectacular month in the garden. It’s a time to be savored as the days shorten and this year’s season of flower splendor begins to wane.

August is the month when the summer garden begins its colorful passage into fall, and this vibrant transition period offers plenty to enjoy. The annuals and perennials are still in full bloom, and the first autumn-flowering plants, such as Michaelmas daisies and autumn daisies announce their arrival. Butterfly bush, or Buddieja davidii, Ceanothus “Glorie de Versailles’ and Caryopteris dandonensis are at their most beautiful.

Colorful summer-flowering bulbs grace the garden well into the late summer. In fact, August is a peak blooming month for tuberous begonias.

Gladioli are also abundant in August. Corms that were planted later in the spring to extend the blooming period are now bringing their lush, feathery flowers to bloom in the August garden. And without a doubt, August is the height of the blooming season for dahlias of every shape, color and height. Indeed, dahlias will probably be producing more flowers than you’ll know what to do with if you’ve been cutting them.

This is also the time of season when other more unusual summer bulbs begin to make their appearance in full force – having been coaxed by several months of spring and summer sunshine.

Cannas, if planted in a sunny spot, will bloom and flourish in the August weather. And summer hyacinths, or Caltonia candicans, deliver their delicate flowers and sweet fragrance to the late-summer garden. August also brings some late-summer lilies, such as the bright orange L. henryl and the popular orange-pink L. lancifolium or Tiger Lily, and the exotic tigridia.

Another “late-bloomer,” becoming more popular in American gardens these days, is the acidanthera, also known as the Abyssinian gladiolus. This slender cousin of the gladiolus has a demure white flower with a deep purple throat carried on a tall willowy stem. Releasing the aroma at night, this summer bulb flower offers a fragrant treat on warm summer evenings.

So while you finalize your fall catalog orders and lazily sketch plans for your fall planting design, remember that there is nothing more relaxing – or satisfying – than pausing for a cool glass of lemonade amid the sights and scents of the late summer garden.

August Tips:

• If planted now, meadow saffron – or colchicum – will add a subtle touch of color to the fall garden after the vibrant flowers of summer flowers have faded. These pale pink flowers are quick to bloom, often popping up a few weeks after planting. These low-growing flowers look best planted at the front of the border or in naturalized settings. However, unplanted corms often will bloom spontaneously if left on a shelf or window sill.
• Now is the time to separate any tulip bulbs that were lifted in spring and put aside to dry. After gently removing the old parts of the bulb, store them in a dry fairly cool location – about 65 degrees – until the fall planting season.
• To get the most out of cut dahlias, slice stems diagonally using a sharp knife when the flower is fully open, preferably in the evening or early morning. Place the flowers in a clean vase immediately and make sure there are no leaves in the water. Add fresh water daily.

Classics of the Summer Garden:
Beat Bests for Long-Lasting Summer Color

When it comes to planning and planting the summer garden, some plants are ‘must haves’. They’re just too classy to pass up. There are hundreds of garden standards, but with so many to choose from, we asked the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center (NFBIC) in New York City to provide a “quick list” of top-performing summer favorites sure to provide months of pleasure in the summer garden.

Classy Classics for the Summer Garden

Following is the NFBIC’s list. Some are perennials, some summer bulbs. In gardening as with baked goods, all can be started “from scratch” (directly from the raw ingredients ….in this case, the roots or bulbs) or purchased “store bought” (ready-made, pre-grown as nursery container plants).

Perennials are winter hardy plants that will come back year after year. Some flower bulbs, such as lilies, alliums and liatris are winter-hardy perennials. But many summer-blooming flower bulbs originate in warm parts of the world and cannot perennialize (come back) in the colder parts of America. These “tender bulbs” can be treated as annuals and let die back at summer’s end – or they can be saved for future summers by storing them indoors over winter under protected conditions, for replanting the next summer.

Daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids), perennials – For months of trouble-free color, one day at a time, nothing beats the daylily. Daylilies, as their name suggests produce colorful flowers that last but a day. But these graceful airy perennials can out-do the “little engine that could” when it comes to perseverance. They seem to never stop blooming, pumping out flower after flower, for months on end. Daylily flowers come in endless colors including yellow, pink, red, orange, purple, white, peach and bi-colors of all descriptions. Plant in full sun and moist soil.

Purple Cone Flowers (Echinacea), perennials – An American prairie native, these garden favorites can be counted on to provide non-stop color from July through September. Though cone flowers come in white, pink, purple and even yellow, it is the purple (which is more accurately a pink-orchid color) that is most famous – and enduring. For a dynamic duo in the late summer garden, plant purple cone flowers with golden black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia). Both sport large daisy-like flowers with robust appeal.

Tuberous Begonias, tender summer-blooming bulbs – No shade-loving flower is more velvety than the begonia. With its luscious nodding multi-pedaled flowers in the richest shades of deep to pastel pink, red, yellow, peach, champagne, white and orange, begonias often look too good to be real in a shaded setting. And they bloom and bloom and bloom. There’s even a kind named “non-stop begonia.” Need we say more!

Lilies, cold hardy summer-blooming bulbs – These glamour gals of the garden are winter-hardy bulbs that can be planted in either spring or fall. Popular favorites, there are numerous types to choose from, providing bloom from mid-summer through late fall. For different looks and bloom times, select an assortment of Asiatic, Oriental, longiflorum, trumpet or hybrid species types. Plant in full sun for best performance in the garden or containers.

Gladioli, tender summer-blooming bulbs – “Glad” are the latest “Some-back kids” of garden fashion, fast gaining a new following among gardeners who’ve discovered their appeal as fanciful floral “accent pieces.” Too long relegated to clunky block-plantings or cutting gardens, gladioli are suddenly popping up in unexpected spots as American gardeners take a second look at this glorious plant (considered the ultimate fashion flower in Italy!). The best way to plant: scatter them about, hither and yon in small groupings, to bring pizzazz to other plantings. The trick is to surround them with sturdier plants that provide support, perhaps aided by discrete wooden stakes. Sun-loving gladioli are tender bulbs. Tuck new batches into the ground every two weeks for successive saves of color all summer long.

Hostas, perennials – For the shaded or partial shade garden or landscape, hostas rule – and with such majesty! Generally native to such places as China, Japan and Siberia, hostas are most treasured around the garden world for their foliage. Their elongated oval leaves come in all shades and combinations of green. Look for variations tinged or variegated with blue, cream, chartreuse, even green-on-green. Even their unassuming flowers atop tall slender stems have surprising appeal. Many are fragrant and most can be “popped” at the right moment in their development offering devilish satisfaction to kids and grown-ups alike. (Whether or not “hostas popping” is proper, who can resist!). Some years ago, savvy plant folk shoes to change this plant’s name to hosta from its former name, funkia – a smart move we think, as its former moniker seems unsuitably frumpy for so handsome and desirable a plant.

Dahlias, tender summer-blooming bulbs – Dahlias dazzle in the late summer garden with an intoxicating abundance of color and form. These sun-lovers come in all sizes, on stems ranging from 12 inches to 5 feet tall. Their flowers can be small and spunky or large as dinner plates, and come in nearly every color under the sun except true black or blue. But it’s their exuberance that wins them fame. In all its forms, the dahlia is a scene-stealer in the garden. Plant them in full sun in the garden or containers.

Liatris, cold-hardy summer-blooming bulbs – Not as well known as it should be, this tall North American native is also known as gayfeather and its easy to see why. Is four to five-foot tail spikes are coated with jolly, fuzzy-looking florets that appeal to gardeners and butterflies alike. Liatris thrive in sun or partial shade, blooming July through August. Place them in groups of 15 or more to best effect.

Heliopsis, perennials – Another North American native, this carefree non-stop bloomer (June through September) is sometimes called the false sunflower. But it’s much better suited to the sunny border than its namesake – growing to a manageable four-foot height with brilliant yellow flowers that are actually more daisy-like in appearance. Cut bouquets regularly! A stand of heliopsis produces such an abundant supply of flowers that it’s hard to make a dent in it!

Canna, tender summer-blooming bulbs – Canna have flowers but, to most people, these are only incidental! It’s their dramatic foliage that is all the rage. No other plant has foliage like cannas! Five-feet tall and flamboyant, the canna has a desirable tropical lushness, with leaves in green, burgundy, bronze, brown or multi-striped. Their flowers do seem almost an after-thought – big and brassy, they simply unfurl like winged visitors up top, then fade and flutter away. Cannas thrive in full sun and hot weather.

Coral Bells (Huechera), perennials – Another master of foliage is the lower-growing Heuchera, which is also known by a nickname, coral bells, in honor its delicate bell-like flowers that ride high upon slender two to three foot stems. With various varieties sporting leaves of light green, dark green, pewter, silver, bronze or burgundy, there’s a Heuchera for every garden. They also make excellent companion plants in containers. Plant in sun or partial shade for a fine performance all season long.

These are summer-blooming perennials and flower bulbs you can count on for a long season of color, assures the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. Plant and enjoy – each is a sure-fire winner that wants to perform. Classy classics make gardening a pleasure!

Please be sure and pick up a handout provided by Joe Meyer of the St. Louis Dahlia Society.