Serena Angelonia

By Skeeter

The name Serena Angelonia caught my eye on the Bargain Rack at Lowes. I thought that was such a pretty name and bloom to boot. I have never heard of this plant before but at a dollar each, (BARGAIN) maybe my Georgia Garden would like some.

The tag read, annual and my normal annual additions are pretty much petunia and marigold each year. I decided it was time to broaden my horizons and add this annual this spring! I picked up a dozen Serena Angelonia in colors of white and purple. Yep, 12 plants for $12.00. Now where to plant them? I am bad about picking up plants and then deciding where they will go. I know I am not alone in this as I have heard many gardeners say, "I will decide where it goes once I get it home." Does that sound like any of you? hee hee... This pot above was empty except for the spike plant which over-wintered in the pot in the yard! I was shocked it survived the winter but we don't get too many freezing days in the deep south. I planted 2 white and 2 purple Serena Angelonias in the pot.

Here is the pot now! To my surprise, the Wave Petunia from last year popped back up as well. I am glad I left it in the pot when planting Serena. So this pot only cost me $4.00 this year!

Remember the 3 I had planted in the ground on the second picture above? Well, here they are now!

I am so confused as the tag read "Spring Bloomer"! It did not say blooms all summer long or until frost or anything like that. I thought I was getting a spring only bloomer! Don't we just love surprises? Here it is intermingling with the Yellow lantana which returns each year. The tag also reads, "Cold Hardiness to 32 Degrees" I sure hope that is incorrect as well as I don't want to lose this beauty this winter. Maybe it will return next year, I say with fingers crossed.

I put the remaining plants in other planters that you may see in the future. I don't have as much color in the Garden as in past years but this sure is a nice colorful view. Purple, white, yellow, gold, [ink, etc. Let's move in for a closer look in the distance.

Ah, the pink and yellow coreopsis I planted last year giving quite a show indeed! It is great along with SERENA ANGELONIA, In the Garden...

Note: We are still away helping our friends so we're off the Internet. Hope you all are having a Great Day!

Plant of the Month-June 09

I've finally figured out how to make selecting the Plant of the Month an easy chore for me. It used to be that there were SO many good plants that I just could not choose, but now I have a plan. From now on it is going to be the plant that has been in bloom the longest, is the brightest (or a close equal), an easy to grow plant, and one that has more than one variety. There is only plant that fits the bill in my garden for June, and it is coreopsis. The one pictured above is Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', but there are many varieties you can grow. Here at Tiger Gardens I also grow Coreopsis auriculata 'Nana' (an early bloomer and splendid plant), and Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (it is just now coming into bloom). I only recently added 'Sunrise'. I like the sunny yellow of all the coreopsis.

I haven't met a coreopsis I did not like and have been most overjoyed with them all this spring. All of my coreopsis grow in part shade-yet they still bloom, and bloom well. They require no special soil or fussing over and just give and give.

Runners up for June's Plant of the Month were: daylilies (just now beginning to bloom), veronica (the must have garden plant in my garden), and hollyhocks (just now coming in to bloom).

Funny, this time last year the bee balm and yarrow were really blooming and looked outstanding. I could not choose between the two so I let the readers choose. This year both are much later and only now beginning to bloom.

What would be your best June plant? And what is your zone? I am in a Zone 6/7 garden.

in the garden....