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Sweet Summer Dreams Too

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February 21, 2015
During the cold nights of February I like to look through catalogs featuring the latest and greatest plants for the garden. This nighttime reading often inspires sweet dreams of summer. Wow….will you look at that! Wow….gorgeous geraniums. Luscious loropetalum!Tropical plants are certainly dream-worthy. The versatile canna offers a range of tall and dwarf plants, and green to burgundy foliage. But the vibrant colors are the stars, as they pop out in shades of rose, red, and yellow. Another great tropical plant for all of Mississippi is the hardy hibiscus. These perennials can survive temperatures well below freezing, and they produce huge, dinner-plate sized flowers in striking colors. If flashy foliage is what you need, tropical plants have plenty to offer. Elephant Ears produce huge showy leaves, and they even come in a variety of colors. Blue Hawaii is a gorgeous variety with painted green leaves, dark veins, and vibrant burgundy stems. And if you want even more tropical foliage, don’t forget bananas. I particularly like the Bordelon Banana, with its green and red striped leaf fronts, and solid red leaf backs. Boy, was that a great dream. I can hardly wait to see what our gardens will look like this spring and summer. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

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