Planting some new ideas around the pond

Other plants that Annette talked about for pond or bogs were: reed grasses, water iris, hibiscus, houttuynia, ligularia, cannas and lobelia cardinalis. Some of these plants only want their feet wet and others can be submerged.

Moving to other plants in the landscape, Annette said it is good to have plants that touch all senses: hearing, sight, smell and touch. Try to have balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis and unity. It is important to study your landscape and to know which plants grow best in sun and which grow best in shade. Remember that annuals are flowers that grow one season. They have flowers first, bloom most of the summer and then go to seed. Perennials grow for more than one season and don't have to bloom very much. They bloom for a short period of time and then go to seed. Often, some can be deadheaded and will bloom again the same season.

Other suggestions from Annette were to plant three or five plants together for a more showy effect. Plant perennials that will bloom early, some that will bloom in the middle and some that will bloom late in the season. Aim for plants with different heights and a variety of foliage texture. Grasses will add height and interest.
Plant annuals for continuous color all season. "You have to have annuals to have color," Annette said.
Scented geraniums and citronella plants are popular for repelling mosquitoes. It doesn't help for them to just sit in their container though; rub a leaf on the skin to repel the pesky bugs.

Pond members took advantage of the plants that Annette brought to display and many of us walked out with a new plant for our landscape. (We paid for it of course.)
Jackson's have opened a satellite location at 61st and Fairlawn. Some of you might remember it from the pond tour last year where they had a water feature in front of a big white barn at Lynn & Cyndi Hultquist's home.