Knockout Roses (Red & Yellow):

We have had Knockout Roses in our front garden for multiple years and they have bloomed great. We have a few of them near our front porch which get part sun, but we also have some Yellow & Pink Knockout Roses down by our pool garden which get almost full sun, and they all have bloomed very well. They start to bloom in early-to-mid May, and they bloom until late fall. Make sure to deadhead (clip the dead and spent blooms) off to allow more blooms. If you keep deadheading them, they will bloom more and more! They are very low maintenance and take little watering.

Liriope Grasses:

We have probably over 20 Liriope Grasses lining our sidewalk to our front door which are great little grasses that reach up to 12 inches. These are also all in part sun and have thrived with very little maintenance as well. They start out small, but they get a little bit bigger year after year. It starts blooming in late summer and goes into early fall, but it is a pretty plant year-round. If leaves do become brown or wilted in winter, pruning them can help maintain its appearance.

White Astilbe (Astilbe Deutschland):

This is one of our latest additions to our garden, and we have 2 currently planted near our Knockout Roses. They can grow up to 30 inches tall and can spread up to 20 inches. They can grow from full sun to full shade so they are very flexible plants. Once all the blooms on one stem have bloomed, you can cut off the entire stem and it will bloom more. They will bloom until late summer and start in early summer. Make sure to water them regularly because they like moist soil. They do not bloom much at all the first year, but more, taller blooms, will start the next year early summer.

Geraniums (Red & White):

We have almost always had Geraniums in our front porch pots marking our front door and they are always pretty and have always done well. Ours have grown up to 16 inches tall and are in pots that are 15.5 in. by 15.5 in. Ours need constant watering, every 1-2 days, because they are covered by our front porch roof, and they start blooming early spring; start of May; until mid fall. There are many color varieties and we just added White Geraniums down by the pool garden this year. They grow well in part shade, but I am pretty sure some varieties can grow in full sun. Pruning them when the flowers get brown or they die helps them grow more blooms, but make sure most or all of the new blooms on the flower have opened before clipping them (learned from experience).

Asparagus Fern:

This is the second year we’ve had an Asparagus Fern, and the first year on our front porch. It is also under the front porch roof overhang and only needs to be watered once or twice a week. It is low maintenance but if dead leaves start to show, just cut them off, and if you cut off a lot of the stems, make sure to fertilize them. They can grow up to 30 inches tall and can spread up to 2 feet.

Variegated Vinca (Greater Periwinkle):

This is our first year putting Vinca into a pot. It is a viny plant which hangs over the side of the pot or if it is in the ground, it will spread outward and grow nonstop. We have it down behind the pool and it has grown immensely. It only gets up to 6 inches tall at most and blooms from early summer through summer and early fall. It is a perennial and the leaves stay green all winter while not blooming. 

Zinnia (Corner) Bed:

Dwarf Zinnias:

Dwarf zinnias are a smaller variety of Zinnias, and are annuals that like full sun and watering once or twice a week as well. We have planted 14 Zinnias, all different colors, some double dwarf and some single dwarf, and they bloom from early spring until the first frost in the fall. They provide beautiful and bright colors while not growing too big and not requiring too much care and maintenance. The double Zinnias, in my opinion, are prettier, because they have more petals, but mixing in singles creates a beautiful arrangement and once they are blooming, you can cut a few off and use them in a bouquet.

French Marigolds (Yellow/Red):

These are some of our all time favorite flowers, due to their bright colors, yellow on the outer ring, red on the inner ring, and their long blooming time from late spring to early fall. We have 9 of these places about 6-8 inches apart and in past years they have grown to be around 10-14 inches tall. They are great plants to fill in some space, and we also have some in a pot down by the pool (and like 15 more in our pool garden), and they create a beautiful array of colors. They love full sun, but can thrive in part sun as well but won’t have as many blooms.

White Peony:

Peony plants are perennials that have a very short bloom time, from early May to late May, but can vary by variety. The plant gets 2-3 feet tall and is about 2-3 feet wide as well. They are also some of our all time favorites because they also have a fresh and nature-like smell. Cut back as many dead ones as possible to try to get the most blooms before it stops blooming. You can trim it back once it stops blooming to allow for new growth for next season. They are perfect for bouquets and flower arrangements as well.

Yellow Daylilies:

All-time easiest perennial to grow ever. Everyone has them because they are SO EASY. They thrive in full sun and need almost NO WATERING, except for the occasional once-a-month water. They start developing buds around mid-May, and bloom starting late May/early June. They come in many varieties and colors as well, including yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, purples, and white. We also have one out by the mailbox with a Clematis vine which starts blooming in early June. Would definitely recommend Daylilies for anyone who wants pretty color with little maintenance that comes back every year.

Hibiscus Pots:

Blue Hibiscus (Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon):

We have two pots that mark the entrance to the path down to our pool and our pool garden and this is the second year in a row that we have done Rose of Sharon Hibiscuses but the first year we have done Blue Rose of Sharon Hibiscus plants in those pots. They thrive in full sun but they can be placed in a little bit of shade, but the blooms will be smaller and it will produce less flowers. They are annuals and bloom starting late May and bloom until early fall. We chose blue because of the unique color and the first bloom has just started (May 27). Depending on where you get the plants, they can be small, or start out big, but they are fast growers and will reach up to 2 feet in no time. They provide bright color and big flowers, and they only need watering every 2-3 days.\

Knockout Roses (Pink & Yellow):

These are the same ones we have out front, just a few different colors. Just last year, we added a Pink Knockout Rose behind our 3 current Yellow Knockout Roses. They have bloomed and grown like crazy ever since we’ve planted them. The trick is to just make sure to keep deadheading the dead ones and they will continue to bloom. They provide excellent color through early summer all the way until early-to-mid fall. These ones are more in part sun due to the fact that we have two giant Shagbark Hickory trees behind it and they are also partially sheltered by the edge of the house. They still bloom great but just start blooming a little bit later than the ones out front.

Russian Sage:

Russian Sage is a perennial plant that thrives in part sun to full sun that smells like a fresh mix of sage and Lavender. This is our third year having it in our garden and it has done wonderful. It does like to spread, so make sure to prune it to keep it contained to a certain area, or, if you are wanting to have it take over, just let it grow, because it will spread and spread quickly! It starts blooming in mid-summer and blooms all the way until late fall. Get the dwarf varieties if you are looking for a smaller version.

White Salvia (Mealycup Sage):

White Salvia is a medium-sized annual that grows in part-to-full sun and starts blooming in mid spring and goes until the first frost of fall. It grows to be eventually around 18-22 inches tall and can spread up to 1 foot. The blooms are bright white, tubular flowers that are known for attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The plant is also deer resistant. It is perfect for filling a little bit of space and adds a little bit of height while not going overboard.

White Hydrangea

This is our second year doing this down here and we also have one out front, which is a white Hydrangea tree. They prefer part sun but they can tolerate a little bit more sun. They start blooming mid-summer and bloom until early fall. They can reach up to 24 inches in height and can spread also to 24 inches. We originally had it behind the roses last year and the roses overtook it, so now it is in the front in the corner (see picture). The blooms consist of many many little flowers all together in one cone-like shape. This is also one of our favorites because of their bright blooms and low-maintenance.

White Geraniums:

This is our first year doing White Geraniums in the two pots at the entrance to our pool area and, WOW!, have they done well. They are more “contained” than the red ones which go crazy and they “obey” the limits of their pots and grow more up while the red ones tend to be a little more leggy and grow out. They provide some height and are great for large pots, but I am sure they would also grow well in the ground.

Double Begonias (Red & Yellow):

We have one Yellow Double Begonia potted with White Impatiens down in the pool area and one Red Double Begonia potted with Blue & White Lobelia on the deck. They thrive in part shade and only need watered about once every 3-4 days. Double Begonias are hybrids of regular Begonias and have more petals on the flowers, and the leaves are differently shaped and are lighter than regular Begonias. They are annuals and they bloom from the start of summer until the first frost in (early) fall. They reach up to 12 inches tall and can spread up to 10 inches. 

White Impatiens:

White Impatiens are a classic garden annual that can reach a height of up to 10 inches and a spread of up to 8 inches. They bloom starting in mid-spring and they bloom until mid-fall with their white bright continuous blooms throughout summer. They are perfect in pots and also as ground cover or alone in their own bed. They like dry soil, so only water them once a week to twice a week at most. 

Sweet Potato Vine:

Sweet Potato Vine is an annual “vine-like” fast-growing trailing plant that is normally used as groundcover or in containers or pots. We have ours in tall pots and it trails over the side of the pot. They can grow up to 5 ft. long and only gets about 6-10 inches tall. We had it on the front porch 2 years ago and it was beautiful trailing down the pot. They only need water every 2-3 days and grow best in part sun (6-8 hrs.) environments. They look beautiful with taller plants like Geraniums and Lobelia.

Variegated White Caladium:

This is the final part of our “White Pot”, including also White Impatiens and Sweet Potato Vine. This is the first year we have planted White Caladium, which is an annual plant that thrives in part shade (4-6 hrs.) and produces elephant-ear-like heart shaped leaves, and there are many colors including Variegated White, Pink, and Red. They are not known for their blooms from mid-summer to fall, but provide a little bit of height (can reach up to 16 inches) and a little bit of color.

Hosta (Minuteman Hosta):

Hostas are perennial plants which come in many sizes, but the Hosta we have (“Minuteman”) grows up to 18 inches tall and can spread up to 24 inches. The flower spikes around midsummer can reach up to 24 inches. They require very little care, only needing water about once a week, and twice during hot streaks. Hostas bloom around midsummer until early August and go dormant in the winter months. They will die back after the first frost, and the foliage turns brown and dies. You can cut back the dead leaves anytime before next spring.

Pink New Guinea Impatiens:

New Guinea Impatiens are a type of Impatien that produces larger blooms than normal Impatiens. Like Impatiens, they thrive in part-sun environments. This is the first year we have planted them, and we have them in separate pots which receive afternoon sun. They only need watering every 2-3 days, and they will eventually grow to a height of 15-18 inches and a spread of about the same. Like all plants, cut the dead blooms off to allow more, new blooms to grow. There are many colors, including pink, purple, orange, red, and white.

Dusty Miller (White):

Dusty miller is a popular plant known for its striking silver-gray foliage, and it's used for both ornamental and practical purposes. It is an annual plant that reaches a height of around 18 inches and a spread of about 14 inches. We have this in many places around the pool area, including by itself in a pot, in pots with Sweet Alyssum, and in a pot with a Dinnerplate Dahlia. They provide a little bit of height and are known for their unique leaves, and can grow from part sun to full sun.

Sweet Alyssum:

Sweet Alyssum is a flowering annual that blooms from late spring through fall, often until the first frost and produces small white blooms and is known for its “sweet”, honey-like fragrance. It needs watering every 1-2 days, and every day during hot spells. This is the first year we have planted it, and so far it has done pretty well. We have planted it in full sun, but it can grow in environments up to part shade (6-8 hrs.). They are very resilient plants because if you accidentally take off some of the roots when planting or accidentally rip it (known from experience), give it a little time (and a little fertllizer) and it will come back and grow.

Angelonia:

Angelonia is a 16 inch tall annual flower that grows in full sun to part shade environments and needs watering every 2-3 times a week. It produces tall, right spikes of small, two-lipped flowers that resemble snapdragons. These blooms come in a variety of colors, including purple, pink, white, and blue. They bloom continuously throughout the growing season, from late spring to early fall. This is also the first year we planted it, and we have one in a pot in full sun, and two in part shade on our upper deck which are purple and white.

Spikes (Dracaena Spikes):

Spikes are a classic garden pot plant that adds height to pots with other flowers and in arrangements. They are annuals and grow up to 36 inches tall and a spread of 15-18 inches. We have a few spread out across many areas, a total of two. One of them is in a pot with Dusty Miller and Sweet Alyssum in full sun, and the other in a pot with Lobelia on our upper deck in full shade. They can be grown in environments from full sun to full shade. They have thrived so far and have reached a height of 1.5 feet as of June 6.

Lavender:

Lavender is an herbal perennial plant that reaches heights of up to 24 inches tall and spreads up to 36 inches. They are known for their beautiful smell and their purple blooms which start in mid-June and go until August (but starts earlier in greenhouses). They like dry soil, and only need watering every 10-14 days, but water more frequently during hot spells. We have ours in its own pot in full sun, and it has already been blooming since the start of May.

Dinnerplate Dahlia:

Dinnerplate Dahlias are annual plants that bloom from mid-summer to early August. You can either buy them pre-started or by bulb, which requires soaking in water for one night, which is what we did with ours. It needs watering 1-3 times per week and likes full sun environments. We started the bulb around Easter time and planted it a few days after. It just started coming up about 2 weeks ago and has reached a current height of 10 inches but will eventually grow to be up to 3-5 feet tall and a spread of  1 foot.

This is a new raised bed this year which houses most of our fruits & vegetables in the garden. It includes a total of 9 plants, with Husky Cherry Tomatoes (2), Yellow (1) / Orange (1)  Bell Peppers, Summer Squash (3), and Green Beans (2). We planted this in early May, and they have shot up and grown really well. 

Herbs & Vegetables:

Tomatoes: Husky Cherry (2), Yellow Pear (1)  :

We have had Husky Cherry Tomatoes for many years now and in many different places. They are very easy to care for and to grow and they start growing tomatoes around mid-June. They need 1-2 inches of water per week, so be sure to keep it moist, but not too moist, because then the leaves start to get white on the ends. They grow better in pots rather than raised beds, and tomato cages or trellises help them grow upward. Yellow Pear Tomatoes need the same amount of water, 1-2 inches per week, and they both, Husky Cherry AND Yellow Pear, thrive in part-sun to full sun environments, preferably 6-8 hours of sun or more. Finally, to help the Tomatoes grow more fruits, clip off any of the flowers that grow on the plant to allow it to focus on the fruits rather than the flowers.

Mint (Grapefruit Mint):

Mint is an herb that needs watering every 2-3 days and thrives in part-sun environments, or 4-6 days. This is the second year we have done Mint in a pot and it takes over. Do not plant it with anything else, because it grows fast. It grows best in pots. 

Basil (Siam Queen Basil):

Basil is another herb that needs watering every few days and thrives in part-sun environments, 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Siam Queen Basil is a special type of basil that is known for its purple colored blooms on top of the flower. It has grown well so far and is expected to grow up to 24 inches tall and about 16 inches wide. 

Flowers:

Kalanchoe (Red):

Kalanchoe is a perennial plant that comes in a variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. It thrives in part-sun to full sun environments and only needs water every 1-2 weeks. It reaches up to 16 inches tall and has a spread of up to 12 inches. They have waxy leaves and start blooming in early spring and bloom until late summer. We got ours to replace a dead Cosmos plant (look below) and it has really well so far.

Cosmos (Orange):

Cosmos is an annual flower that prefers full sun environments and comes in colors including pink, white, red, yellow, orange, and even some with chocolate or brown hues. They like dry soil and only need watering once a week and twice during the heat of the summer. This spring has been very wet, and our cosmos plants have not been doing that well. One of the Cosmos plants died and we had to replace it with Kalanchoe.

Gomphrena White (Globe Amaranth):

Gomphrena White is another annual flower that blooms from early-to-mid summer until late fall. It comes in many colors, including  red, purple, pink, white, orange, and lilac. They produce fluffy, snow-ball-like puffball flowers which reach about 3/4in. Wide. The plant reaches 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide. This is the first year we have done Gomphrena White, along with everything else in these raised beds, and it has done well so far. A single flower can bloom for up to 10 days until having to be cut off.

Lantana:

Lantana is one of my favorite small annuals that produces small, colorful, and bright blooms in the colors of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, and even whites. They have a long bloom time from early spring all the way until late fall. They are my favorite because of the multicolor blooms and how bright the blooms are. They grow best in full sun but can grow in part sun as well. We have two of these plants and they have done really well. We love them so much that we are planning to plant more next year.

Lobelia (Multicolor):

Lobelia is a trailing annual that comes in multiple colors including blue, purple, red, pink, and white. It is best in pots and with other flower arrangements. We have four solid blue/purple ones in a pot with a Spike, and we have four blue/white multicolor with a Red Double Begonia. We had them on the front porch a few years ago and they are all really pretty. They only need watered every 3 days and they thrive in shade environments.

Coleus (Multicolor/Multiple Varieties):

Coleus is an annual plant that is grown for its stunning patterns of foliage. It does best in shade environments and needs watering every 2 days. This is the first year we have done coleus, and we have four pots of different colors and varieties. One of them is pink on the inside and green on the outside, one is fully green, one is fully maroon, and the other is maroon with green on the outside. All four pots have done well so far on our back deck. If you see flowers on your coleus, cut the flower part off to allow more leaf growth, because if you leave the flower on there, it will focus on producing the flower rather than the leaves.