Though just seeing green in the garden or yard
(especially after a long winter) always lifts the spirits, it is also uplifting
to see color outside, too. There are so many options! But not just
for a single season. If you plan your landscape well, you can bring color to your yard year round, or at least much more than just the spring to early
summer.
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Listed below are some suggestions for color in the
spring season.
If you are looking for some early spring color, consider
getting some mini irises and crocuses. The irises come in a variety of
colors including purple, yellow and white. The crocuses are purple, pink,
yellow or white. Both of these flowers are low to the ground and pop up
as some of the earliest to bloom. Usually before the grass starts greening
or the leaves begin to bud, these little flowers pop up, even amongst the last
of the snow dustings.
Pansies are another early spring annual for a few
reasons. They are very cold tolerant, so they are some of the first
flowers you see planted in boxes and planters. And they come in so many
different colors with very cheerful blooms. If you have a slightly shaded
garden snowdrop anemones are a nice addition. They have bright clusters
of white with yellow eyes, and are fragrant throughout the spring.
Sometimes snowdrops even bloom again with the appearance of the cooler fall
temperatures.
Spring brings you many options. You can add
flowering trees to your yard to include both ornamental and fruit bearing
varieties. Some of the varieties for you to consider are flowering plum
and pears, apples, crabapples and cherries of all varieties. You can also
find dogwood and lilac.
Another staple for any well thought out flower garden is
to choose from the many varieties and colors of roses available throughout the
United States. It is truly amazing that a rose is not just a rose.
Some have really tight heads, while others are more rounded and full.
Some are miniature, others long stemmed. No matter the variety or color
you will create a very fragrant and beautiful flowering section of your
flowerbed.
There are a number of perennials that you can plant that
will reappear year after year. Daffodils, irises, Echinacea, tulips, and
numerous others come in a multitude of colors. Azaleas have a shorter
bloom schedule, but even though short lived they provide a wall of color.
Use them as great sidewalk borders and pair them with other shrubs that bloom a
little later in the season.
Another fun, colorful and fragrant bush you may like to
consider adding to your landscaping plans is some gorgeous butterfly
bushes. Not only do these bushes come in many different colors, but they
are also dainty and sway nicely with the summer breezes. But these bushes
do something else to add color to your garden; they attract butterflies, which
bring about another whole new level of color and interest to your summer views,
since butterflies also come in a variety of colors.
If you carefully coordinate your landscape plantings,
you will be able to ensure you have color year round, as the flowers, trees,
bushes and shrubs all have different bloom and growth schedules. It will
also add visual interest to your landscape as the changing bloom schedule and
fluctuating color show will keep things interesting and fun. Play with
your planting designs, have some fun shopping at the local nurseries and enjoy
creating a masterpiece in your yard to be enjoyed by all.
Written by Clark Jones,
owner of Tree Frog Complete Grounds Maintenance. Tree Frog is the best company
for landscaping Columbia MO has to offer.
