Yay! Bright Pink
Bright pink garden accessories at the Chelsea Flower Show
If you have read this email a few times you will probably have seen that I like bright pink. The good news is that the world is catching up with me. I am happy to report that pink is everywhere. It makes me so happy. Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the transformation of the worldview, but I think that Barbie can.
Jenny Rose Carey at the Chelsea Flower Show in London with hot colored flowers
Hot Colors are Everywhere
What does this mean for my color predictions for the next gardening year 2024. I fully predict that gardens will be full of bright colors, not only pink. It seems that people are ready to get out of the cooped-up doldrums of the last few years and celebrate with bright yellow, zingy citrus green, and orangey-reds, many with plant-inspired names. Look for vibrantly colored flowers and vivid accessories. It is time to make your garden life fun.
Hot colored flowers at RHS Rosemoor in Devon, England
Top Five Hot-Colored Flowers for Your Garden
I have pulled together some of my favorite on trend flowers so that when you are planning your garden you can include some of these on your flowery wish list. Some of them are easy to grow from seed. Others are perennials but the entry will give you an idea of how to add them your garden. Look for flowers that span the red, orange, yellow and even green end of the rainbow to choose your flower colors for the coming year.
1. Echinacea
Check out the range of colors that are available in this garden classic. There are watermelon pinks, sunset oranges, and super yellows. Bear in mind that while these are being sold as perennials they may or may not come back in your garden. If your see them as a fun splurge for the season that is probably the best bet. If they come back, that is a bonus. The key to success is to deadhead them regularly to keep new blooms coming on.
Echinacea
2. Zinnia
This has to be one of my all time favorites for the summer garden and as a cut flower. They are so cheerful and easy to grow once the soil warms up. Try them from seed directly sown into your flower bed or into a plant pot inside about 4 weeks before your last frost. Make sure that you check out some of the reputable seed companies this winter and get yourself your favorite brightly colored zinnias. Key to success is planting some seeds and then planting some more a few weeks later to prolong the show. And keep on cutting and enjoying in the vase.
Zinnias come in a fantastic range of colors like this lime green
3. Celosia
This is another annual that is great for both garden and vase. I love the feathered and plumed ones that combine well with the rounded zinnias above. They are easy from seed or buy tiny plants in the spring. The best selection is when you grow them yourself from seed. There are three main shapes – my favorite spiked, feathery and crested. The colors are almost glow in the dark or neon in intensity from deep yellow, orange, reds, and a range of pinks. All are fun.
Crested Celosia in reddy-orange
4. Dahlia
Dahlias have to make any list of mine that talks about fun colored flowers for the garden. There are choices galore but you will need to plan ahead to get them in bloom in summer though to fall. The best selection of dahlias is online. You buy small nondescript potato looking things that you will plant in spring as soon as the soil warms up. They sprout and produce these incredible flowers in a range of sizes from a couple of inches to dinner plate size. Colors are red, purple, orange, yellow, white, of course pink, and many others.
Dahlias come in a range of exciting shapes and colors
5. Poppies
Last but not least I am suggesting poppies. They bloom earlier in the season than my other four picks but when they are in bloom here at Northview I get so many oohs and aahs from visitors. They have vibrant color but at the same time a gossamer quality that makes them appear strong and weak at the same time. Maybe it is an endearing combination! There are both perennial poppies and annual poppies. Make sure you know what you are getting before you buy. A key to success with the annual poppies is to remember that they are found naturally by the side of the road in chippings or gravel. Sprinkle the seeds onto poor soil or grit in early spring. The old advice was onto melting snow if you have any.
Bright red-orange annual poppy grown from seed sprinkled on gravel in early spring
I hope that you will add some brightly colored flowers to your garden this coming year. It certainly makes the flower bed look happy and cheerful.
Next month I will talk about beautiful berries to add to your garden that will delight both you and the birds.
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Welcome Gardening Friends
Bye for now Gardening Friends – Have a great gardening month
Jenny Rose Carey
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