Mac's Poolside Garden

I really love a landscape that’s creative and blends different styles. Let’s take a look at Tricia and Mac’s pool side oasis. One of the attributes I like about this garden is the mixing of ornamental and edible plants. As you walk up the drive tomatoes are being grown in 25-gallon containers. These are acting as an edible screen in front the of the pool pump house. Behind the pool is a block retaining wall with great colorful plantings. The Cora Red and Mediterranean White Polka Dot annual vinca add color along the top of the wall. The dark green foliage of Lucky Red lantana with the brightly colored flowers adds interest. Bell peppers add height to the planting and are great edible landscape additions. Concrete urns with the tropical hibiscus are perfect placed around the pool. I love the variety Cajun Paprika that adds some spice to the landscape. I also really like the maroon MSU Bulldog bench besides the pool. The upright pointing foliage of bright green alocasia adds some softness to the block retaining wall. And to add color and interest there are nice combination containers. The pairings of orange and pink purslane with white calibrachoa looks great poolside. And I love this combo of the Mississippi Medallion Orange Sunpatiens and Vermillionaire cuphea long with foxtail fern and chartreuse lysimmachia. By blending different styles, ornamentals and edible, you can create a really nice landscape. I’m MSU Extension horticulture specialist Gary Bachman and I hope you’ll join us next time on Southern Gardening.