Hot Colors Of Summer

STYLED BY MARÉ BRENNAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

Sometimes you need to bring your garden down to a manageable size, especially when the weather is unbearably hot and the mosquitos are at full peak buzzing. For August’s planting of the month, we started with ginger (Zingiber officinale) whose root or rhizome is often used in dishes or ground as a spice. Next, we layered in fragrant and mosquito-repelling citronella (Pelargonium citrosum) which will bloom with pinky-purple flowers. For added color we sprinkled in lime green and reddish-purple leafed coleus (Coleus scutellarioides) and the little spires of lavender blooms on these babies has been an unexpected treat. To add a little spiller over the edge of our container, we tucked in sprigs of fast growing sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) in a chartreuse green. Maintain moisture in your pot with early morning or late afternoon soaks from the hose but don’t allow your pot to become waterlogged. These last days of summer can be brutal so hydration is the name of the game. Position your pot in sun or partial shade. Use rich, well-drained soil and apply a well-balanced fertilizer at least once or twice a month during the growing season.