Spring has sprung and summer is in full effect. This is a very exciting time of year in the landscaping industry. As the nighttime temperatures are sustained at 80 degrees or higher, we are in the best part of the growing season. Add to that the seasonal summer rains that put us in the perfect time of year to introduce blooming color into existing or new landscape scenarios. Plants installed this time of year begin to grow and establish as soon as they are installed and with the regular natural rainfall can be grown-in quickly with less simulated rainfall than during dryer times of the year. With daylight hours increased, plants begin to thrive as they have much more exposure to sunlight that helps them fill in and become lush. In addition most of the plants that have blooms are in full bloom at this time and will continue to bloom through the summer and into the fall.

As I walked the nursery this morning I found the following plants in full bloom here at HNI. Hibiscus is blooming in pink, red, peach, and yellow. Bougainvillea is spectacular with its modified leaf in fuchsia, pink, peach, salmon, purple and lavender. The Star, Wax, Confederate, and Downy Jasmines are blooming with their white pinwheel flowers. Ixora is blooming in coral, orange, yellow and red. Plumbago is full of blue and white blossoms. The Crinum and Flax Lilies are blooming in purple, white and blue. Agapanthus and Blue Daze are in full bloom. The Firecracker Plants and the Firebush are living up to their names with red and yellow-orange blossoms. The Magnolia trees are blooming with large white flowers. This is just a small listing of the many plants and trees that are incredibly showy this time of year. In fact, there are too many perennials and annuals in full bloom to list in this article.   Flowering plant material can be introduced into existing and new landscape plans in many ways. Often seasonal color can be used near entryways to draw attention to that area and lead the eye to a focal point. Freestanding trees can be under planted to provide a splash of color at the base. Many of our subtropical trees are in bloom this time of year, including Lavender Jacaranda, Yellow Cassia, White Magnolia, Pink, Purple, Red and White Crepe Myrtle, and Yellow, Pink and Purple Tabebuia. Blooming color can also be introduced into the garden on many different levels to include trees, large shrubs, medium shrubs, sub-shrubs, accents and ground covers. Having this vast availability of color makes it a lot of fun to work on new and existing plans and to come up with different combinations that compliment each other. In addition, much of the color provided by these blooms is rather pastel so landscape bloom color typically blends well with each other. Writing this article and walking the nursery this morning is awesome inspiration to get on the drawing board and develop some of our design work that is in progress. Until the next time, try to stick with a landscape theme, be inspired and incorporate blooming color into the landscapes you interact with each and every day. I feel that beautiful landscapes can improve the quality of our lives and also bring joy into our hearts.                    Kirk A. Brummett Landscape Architect, FL RLA #0001204