1994 - North Shore News

HOM

E &

Potted flowers brighten
decks through summer

PICTURE SHINY red terra cotta
pots, natural wicker baskets, wood-
en barrels, galvanized buckets and
bright ceramic jars.

Now, fill them with vivid red.
yellow, pink, purple, copper, white,
peach and other shades of summer
flowers.

Specifically, imagine the wide
array of flowers that bloom from
summer bulbs, Whether you plant
them in containers or directly in the
garden, summer-flowering bulbs
are easy to grow,

Most people know lilies,
dahlias, gladiolus and begonias.
However, this year, trend-setting
gardeners are moving beyond the
familiar to experiment with the
wide spectrum of tender bulbs that
bloom in the summer and fall,

Many of the smaller types are
particularly well-suited to contain-
ers. Their delicate floral displays,
which would be lost in the border,
are highlighted when you single
them out in containers of their own.

Alternatively, they offer inter-
esting contrast in a rock garden.

One example is the Chinese
ground orchid, Bletilla, whose lilac
or white flowets appear in carly- to
mid-summer.

Another type for pot culture is
Homeria, which stands about 50 cm
(20 in.) tall and bears funnel-shaped
flowers in yellow, orange, salmon
or pinkish-red.

Oxalis is another little flower
that is enjoying a great deal of pop-
ularity at the moment, often as a
house plant. ;

Choose from the pink or white-
flowering Oxalis deppei, the white
O. regnellii, the red-leaved O. tri-
angularis, or the pink-flowered
(and grey-leaved) O, adenophylla,

Other examples of 2xotic sum-
mer-blooming bulbs that will be
appearing in Canadian gardens

cERY
Lene |
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include the following:
@ The Acidanthera comes from
Ethiopia and its leaves look like
gladiolus foliage. Hence, its com-
mon name of Abyssinian gladiolus.
{1 needs a sunny location to
erow to its full height of 75 em
(approximately 30 in.) and bear

clusters of delightfully scented,

slightly penda.'! white flowers in
August and September.

Each bloom is marked with a
dark purple centre, called a honey
mark ~- sort of a landing pad for
the bees. .

In the border, Acidanthera looks
best with grey-leaved foliage plants
and white and pink flowered peren-
nials. For instance, locate it among
low-growing Artemisia and soft
pink flowers, such as Geranium
endressii, with mallow or Sidalcea
Elsi Heugh in the background.

Acidanthera combines well with
flowers in the soft blue and purple
range which echoes the flower's
dark-throated centre.

@ Little blue, violet or cream-col-
ored, star-shaped flowers atop tall
stems are the hallmark of Camassia.

Depending on the species, they
grow to between 40 and 100 cm (16
and 40 in.). This beautiful bulbous
plant, which flowers in early- to
mid-summer, does well in either
full sun or light shade.

It is a natural in the perennial
border, but also does well under
trees and among ground covers and
foliage plants, such as hosta and
Rodgersia.

The common name, pineapple
plant, really does describe Eucomis
bicolor very well. A long stalk of
tiny greenish florets, topped by a
tuft of spiny, green leaves does give
it the appearance of a pineapple.

Close up, you can see that each
individual petal has a delicate pur-
ple-red strip along its border. In

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addition, there is a white cultivar,
called Alba, and sometimes mixed
colors are availuble (white, green-
ish-white and pink) all with a little
lilac centre.

Although some people locate

Eucomis in the garden, among
ground cover to show it off, the
plant actually does very well ina
tub or large pot and can be placed
oa a deck or balcony, as well as in
the garden.
B Hyacimhs are not just for spring.
The common name of Gallonia
candicans is summer hyacinth
because it has such a delightful fra-
grance.

Its white, bell-shaped flowers
are arranged on a stalk which is
about one metre (approximately
three feet) tall; flowering occurs in
July and August.

Give it full sun or light shade
and fertile, well-drained soil. Place
it among low-growing perennials,
such as hardy geraniums, lady's
mantle, Coreopsis or Achillea, but
remember that unlike those plants,
Galtonia is tender and must be lift-
ed to winter indoors in a cool, dry,
frost-free place.

The tiger flower (Tigridia pavo-
nia) is extraordinary in that its
flowers bloom for just one day.

However, they keep coming in
such profusion that their flowering
period actually lasts through July
and August. .

The flowers are triangular in
shape and brilliantiy colored —
pink, red, purple, orange, yellow
and white — with contrasting
speckled centres (yellow petals
with a purple centre, for example).

Tigridia stands about 50 cm (20
in.) high and mixes well in borders
because there are so many colors
from which to choose. Its leaves are
broad and grass-like, so they con-
trast nicely with other foliage.

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