Maybe because it's been so hot and dry in my area, my focus has been on foliage over flowers. I still love my flowers, but I can fully appreciate that it's been a little oppressive out there, for them to keep blooming nonstop. So I'm grateful for all the colors, shapes and textures the leaves offer.
I'm sure many of you have discovered the joys of plants with variegated, colorful or just plain bold leaves. This month's photo challenge is Fabulous Foliage and we're hoping to see many of them on display.
If you haven't jumped on the foliage bandwagon, here are a couple of examples of how the pros do it. Shirley Bovshow highlights foliage combinations, over at Eden Makers. And at Digging, Pam Penick puts the focus on spiky foliage. If you've already made foliage an integral part of your garden, tell us about some of your favorites.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
Ginger and coleus – lots of varieties and can add colour to any spot. Both like shade but varieties that do ok in the sun are about. Groundcovers – whatever does well, and can be confined. Strawberries – look great, even in shady places where they won’t fruit much.
Tabsey, I love ginger. It used to be so hard to find, but I’ve been seeing it more and more in nurseries. Unfortunately it’s usually only available in the spring, near me, and most people don’t think to buy it until they see it in someone’s garden.
Have always grow a garden without flowers, always.
There have been Marigos just to keep away the rabbits but not the flowers I have now.
This has changed, for the garden now has many and many more new and bright flowers…it looks wonderful and as a newby to gardening this way I LOVE IT.
Will forever do this, the thrill of seeing how it brightens up the greens and attracts the butterflies and birds it is a smile in the sea of vegetables.
John
John, I love the look of flowers scattered about a vegetable garden too. I moved my vegetable garden to a spot that had previously been a flower garden and when the self-seeders, like cosmos, nasturtiums and tall verbena popped up, I let them be. You’re right, they sure do attract bees.