This year has been especially fun to get ready for summer, since my front yard is all landscaped and this is the 2nd year that my hydrangeas are blooming.  Last year they were just getting established. This year, they are bursting out with new growth and that makes me happy.  It’s so nice to look out my windows and stand on the front porch and see all these pretty plants.  I’m still so thrilled with how my front yard turned out, so come along and let’s take a look how it’s growing this year.
I got fresh pine straw in the beds and it’s looking good. Â It’s so hard to keep the weeds out of these beds, but I did use Preen in here, but may have to resort to other measures to try to fight the weeds. Â They pop through no matter what.
Those beautiful blue hydrangea blooms are putting on a show right now and these should bloom all summer long.
They range from blue to soft purple hues.
I’m completely happy with this color and how it looks in my yard.
Hydrangeas have always been one of my favorite plants to grow and there are so many great varieties of hydrangeas from Limelight to Oak Leaf. Â I hope to add more along the way. Â You can’t have too many hydrangeas in the yard.
Looking back towards the front porch. Â I took the above pic first, then later added some bright blooms to my urns on the front stairs.
I’m working with Costa Farms this year and they will be sending me some plants along the way to use in my yard or wherever I want to put them. Â They said do what you want with them, so that’s what I’m doing. I dug out some of that pretty lime green sedum from the middle of these urns and added in these beautiful Curcuma plants.
I’ve never grown these before but they are really pretty. Â They are tropical and a gorgeous shade of deep pink/purple. Â From the information I got, it grows well in the ground or containers and is heat loving, blooming all summer long. I thought these would be a perfect addition to my black urns for something tall in the middle.
That green sedum has been going strong for well over a year and I added the pink sun patients this year. Â These Curcuma plants are a wonderful addition and I love the color! Â I had that little flag so thought I’d show my patriotism and add it to the urn.
It’s been fun to get out more of my garden things since my yard has been landscaped and now I can use them. Â This little concrete bunny has been with me since I lived here in Georgia in my first house and I’m happy to have him with me again. I’ve had these things stored at my parents house.
The retaining wall is still looking good and I brought over my 3 concrete shell planters that have been with me for a long, long time too.
They aren’t big, so I thought I’d add some of that lime green sedum in here. It’s so hardy and can take low water and survive in hot conditions, so it should be a good one in these small planters.
Another plant that Costa Farms sent me is this Heliconia. It’s a tropical bright orange flower perennial and does well in the heat. Â They prefer part shade, so should do fine here by my garage door. Â I already had this planter filled with more lime green sedum and a red/orange Nandina, so this Heliconia looks right at home with this foliage.
In the back yard, my white vinyl planters are exploding in blooms. Â I love these wave petunias and how well they do in planters. The green sweet potato vine is taking over too. Â I so love when planters fill out and fill in with all the growth and blooms of summer. I’m so impressed with these planters. We have had a lot of rain, but I’ve hardly had to water them since they have a built in reservoir for extra water in the bottom and it uses it when it needs more. Â My kind of planter!
Costa Farms also sent me 2 colors of hibiscus, red and yellow. Â I love hibiscus and they are sun loving plants that bloom all summer.
I already had these lightweight resin urns so was happy to have plants to add to them.
The yellow one will be beautiful  out here as well and I’ll keep all of these watered for summer blooms.
I can’t help but show you all the sides of the planters with all those beautiful blooms. The wave petunias really put on a show.
Aren’t they gorgeous?
Yellow lantana, purple fountain grass, lime green sweet potato vine, purple pentas, and white becopa round out these planters. Â The wave petunias are definitely trying to take over!
One more look at all the planters.
One more plant that has made it’s way back to my house is this Meyer lemon tree. I bought this tree in Birmingham, managed to keep it alive when I moved it and my mom has been taking care of it for me at her house. Â We’ve gotten quite a few lemons off this tree over the last few years and it’s fun to watch it bloom and produce. Â Not sure it’s going to produce any this year, but there is always next year. I will have to be diligent about keeping it alive now!
So, that’s a look at my yard this year with all the landscaping taking off and my container plants on the new patio looking beautiful too. Â I so love growing flowers and always have! It’s fun to be rewarded with gorgeous blooming flowers all summer long.
Are you growing flowers in containers? Â
Note: Â Costa Farms sent me plants to use in my yard and sponsored this post. Â All ideas and how I used them are entirely my own.
looks so good
Every thing looks beautiful !
Just wonderful!
So beautiful! Those hydrangeas are gorgeous. I really love the mix you have in your white planters – so lovely!
Rhonda, Your hydrangeas are beautiful, along with all of your other pots. Looks like you have a green thumb. I sure wish I had one.
Your garden and planters are looking fabulous Rhoda! I love all you colorful additions from Costa Farms and your Hydrangeas and front garden are surely the envy of the neighborhood! With your busy schedule I’m wondering how you manage to keep your planters watered? I started using Mister Landscaper DIY dip irrigation years ago, (from Lowe’s), and have found it a huge load off my mind for keeping things growing when I’m not there to water…… You might look at their patio and potted planter kit as a starting point for some of your patio planters. It’s easy to do yourself and since I’ve added drip to my raised, self watering garden beds, (similar to your white planters except they’re 4’x4′ size), my tomato and veggie harvests have greatly improved b/c of the consistent measured watering that timed drip irrigation provides. One single timer in the back yard and one double outlet timer for the front take care of my large front yard flower/shrubbery beds, plants in patio pots & urns as well as veggie planters with no problem. Just a thought that might make your lovely plants easier to maintain…… Pls keep sharing the garden photos, I’m enjoying seeing your plants maturing and only wish I had those beautiful hydrangeas!
Thanks for that tip. I will definitely need to look into that. My sister and BIL use drip systems on their porch planters, so I’m sure I could get something installed without too much trouble. My front yard beds have an irrigation system installed when I landscaped the front yard last year, so that is a HUGE help. That part is covered at least. I have a hose in the backyard so it’s pretty easy to water all those on the patio too. But,I’ll definitely think about a drip system, I know it would save a lot of work.
Love the flowers and plants, Rhoda. They really do complete the look of a home. I bought a couple of hydrangeas this spring, one pink and one blue as shown on the tags but they are both producing pink flowers. This means my soil is alkaline and to get blue I need to add aluminum to the soil plus fertilizer, etc. to promote acid soil but I’m not going to do this as the pink flowers are gorgeous. I especially like your yellow hydrangea. I have never seen a yellow one before. The two urns frame you entryway and are beautiful.
HI, Tricia, I’m with you, whatever color a hydrangea is, they are beautiful. I think that yellow is the new growth and it’s going to turn blue. They were all blue last year. Thanks for stopping by!
Rhoda the transformation of your home is amazing. The windows, the landscaping, the flowers – it’s looks so pretty. You must be proud!
Thank you, Cheryl, yes I’m extremely proud of how my house has turned out.
We get out with our hoes and chop and drop the weeds in Feb / March and then Preen. One month later, we chop and drop again. And Preen any weedy spots. If you keep it up year after year (get out EARLY), over time, your weeds will diminish.
We have a fraction of the weeds our neighbors have. We stop the weeds before they really get started.
I love hydrangeas too. I’ve already been cutting them for the house. I’ve been doing the “dip the fresh cut stems in boiling water” trick and they’re not wilting… so far.
Rhoda, Your beds are beautiful! Regarding weed control–I used thick layers of news paper when creating my borders under the mulch and it worked for several years! Good luck!
I love hydrangeas. Can’t grow them for the life of me though. My green thumb has definitely turned brown along with the plants I’ve killed over the years. I think I either wait too long to water then drown trying to revive them. Growing things in containers here in NC has been a challenge. The windy rainstorms that come up sometimes accompanied by hail and then red hot temps with no rain. Maybe I should try some succulents. I am not a Southern gardener for sure!
Bless your heart…you got this. I do not remember a time that I was not in the dirt from the time I was little until now (I am 42), but I am convinced that anyone can learn to do it. Just start small…one hydrangea plant. One of the biggest mistakes folks make is doing too much at one time. lol I would suggest the ‘Incrediball’ Hydrangea from Monrovia. It is white and is just like the old snowball shrubs that are almost impossible to find. I live in Oklahoma which is a challenge for gardeners, and I bought one years ago. It has weathered a 100 lb. dog laying on it (I about cried and almost asked the friend whose dog I was babysitting to replace it), and it is beautiful now…almost as tall as I am and full of beautiful white blooms. I have done nothing but keep it watered. It is planted on the north side of my house out of the direct sun. Much luck and many blessings, Yvonne. 🙂
Everything looks beautiful! I’ve heard that burying nails in the ground by hydrangeas will change their color. It’s a good thing you don’t live here in California. Due to our severe drought, everyone is on a very strict watering schedule. Most lawns are brown instead of green.
I put cardboard under my mulch in one of my large beds this spring and it has been the best thing I have ever done for weeds. I also used newspaper under parts when I gave out of cardboard. Both working well.
I need to start saving cardboard and newspapers. I’ve done the newspaper thing before and it did work well.
Your flowers look wonderful!! One thing about living in the south, gardening seems to be a bit easier as most flowers enjoy sunshine and humidity. You know what would be a beautiful addition? Peonies, roses, gardenias, and lilies. I do know I will have to get some ‘Wave’ petunias next year though.
You have such a pretty yard. I live in a bi level and it’s sloped in front sort of like your yard is. I keep looking at your stone work and thinking this is what I need to do. It would help with the run off of water when it rains for me. Love those hydrangeas so much. I have been using newspaper under the mulch and it’s helping , still pull some weeds but not as much.
betsy
Great article! Your garden really looks spectacular, something to be proud of! Your hydrangeas are beautiful.
They always say that plants sleep, creep and leap from the year they are planted through the next two years. I cannot believe how nicely your plants have filled in. It looks so nice. Who knew you were such a gardener. When I lived in the Bay Area and traveled a lot for my job. We were redoing a 1913 bungalow down there and I need to water my new plants. I just went to Lowes or Home Depot and bought the little thing that attaches to your outdoor water faucet. You can set it to the time you want it to water and then it happily drips on your plant while you are gone. Tons less expensive than putting in a full system.