I am trying my hand at being a green thumb~

[wx247]

Thanks Ticka for mentioning my sort of green thumb!

[Miss Mary]

wx247 - I thought that was nice too, a mention of your new green thumb in this month's newsletter! Impressive.

I've been wanting to reply here again after seeing annuals just about everyone now - hardware, grocery stores, temporary plant stands, etc. Wx247, when I started my interest in summer flowers, I first planted marigolds. I do believe they are the easiest annual to grow. They don't wilt in hot weather like impatiens do. They're more sturdy and grow quite well. So if you're looking for a fool proof annual, try the regular sized marigolds (not the tall variety). They grow well in pots or in the ground. My favorite marigolds are called Yellow Boy. Just my gardening tip for the day!

[Stephanie]

I started the same way as Miss Mary - with marigolds.

I love impatiens and begonias also. They say that both like the shade, but part - full sun I think works best for them! The colors for impatiens are unbelievable and they really spread out!

[Miss Mary]

Stephanie - speaking of impatiens I swear I once read an article in a Gardening Magazine about yellow impatiens coming out in a few years. Since my usual annual color scheme is red/yellow/purple I was excited! Since then I've asked a few gardeners at local greenhouses (figuring they might be in the know) and all I've heard was yes, initially they thought yellow impatiens would be easy to breed (if that's a right word) but apparently it isn't. What I want are yellow impatiens flowers and what I was told was it's easier to do that with perennials not annuals, change colors like that.

Did you ever hear anything about yellow impatiens? I always look each year. Sometimes I think I imagined that article!!!!

[Stephanie]

No I haven't heard anything about yellow impatiens BUT it's funny that you mention that because I was thinking how nice it would be if they existed! I like pastels mostly myself so I mostly get the lavendar, light pink and white impatiens. However, I do love the hot pink colors too and if I see them available, there's a very light salmon color that I'll pick up. I guess that's the closest we'll get to yellow!

[wx247]

I will have to check on the marigolds. Any perennials you recommend?

[Stephanie]

I'm just getting started with using perennials (this word never looks right no matter how many times you spell it!). Let's see, I have spider-wort which comes up looking like thick grass every year but then has blue or pink flowers that open during the day and close up at night. They spread slowly and bloom all season. There's catmint which is considered an herb. It has greyish leaves and small purple flowers. It does have a minty scent to it and it's heaven for cats! These are sun-loving plants/

Hostas are great for sun or shade. I just bought some coral bells and "Dead spotted nettle" (Lamian) this year for my new "shade" garden. Coral bells have small red bell-shaped flowers or white and Dead-Nettle have silvery spade shaped leaves with little pink flowers. They were recommended as a "companion" plant for the hostas.

I hope this helps!