Yarrow or Milfoil,

Several people are familiar with the wild white yarrow with its flat clusters of flowers, but most garden specimens are yellow, and some are pink or red. All have ferny leaves, sometimes with a grayish cast. They are easy to grow and bloom for a long time in summer. Most hybrids are varieties of Achillea millefolium or A. filipendulina, “Moonshine” is a pale yellow with gray leaves and grows up to two feet. “Coronation Gold” is bright yellow with greener leaves, and grows to three feet. “Fire King” is two feet and pinkish red. “Gold Plate” is among the tallest. A.tomentosa is a very pleasing low variety that forms a mat of whitish leaves and has flowers less than a foot tall. It is nice in the rock garden or at the front of the border. Yarrows are sun loving and drought resistant. Some are rather spread and need to be divided frequently. All in fact benefit by division every few years in fall or early spring.

Veronica Speedwell

Veronicas are normally blue but sometime lavender, pink or white. The flowers are spiky and range in height from four feet to a few inches. Bloom period varies from early to late summer Veronica spicata “Blue Peter” grows up to two feet and bloom in mid-summer. Icicle is white and a long bloomer, “Red Fox” is medium height and fairly early. V. prostrata heavenly blue is low and mat forming and early blooming. V. incana is same but has a striking white leaf as well as blue flowers. Moreover these plants like sun but will take some shade. They need adequate moisture but good drainage as well. The soil should be moderately fertile. They are easily divided in spring or fall. Cutting back spent blooms may encourage red bloom.

Sundrop or Oenothera

Oenothera is a genus of about 145 species of herbaceous flowering plants native to the Americas. It is the type genus of the family Onagraceae. Common names include evening primrose, suncups, and sundrops. They are not closely related to the true primroses (genus Primula). The sun-drop usually found in gardens is mistakenly called “evening primrose” some Oenothera do bloom at night, but not thee. They resemble large, spread open buttercups and bloom in early summer, with some repeat bloom as summer goes on O. pilosella however sometimes labeled O. fruticosa is the weedy variety gardeners tend to complain to plant if you want a lot of sunny yellow in your garden and you want it quickly, O. missourensis has larger flowers, grows low to the ground, and is not a spreader. Fyrverkeri is long blooming. Moreover all sun loving and tolerant of dry, infertile soil and those that enjoy your garden too much can easily be weeded out, for they are shallow rooted. Try them in a spot where you want a lot of color quickly.  

Primrose path is colorful way to lead a visitor to your door

I am not sure why Shakespeare had his “primrose path” lead to “dalliance”, but a primrose path is certainly a colorful way to lead a visitor to your door. The most characteristic primrose color is yellow, but there are many other colors available. All the species have cheerful spring blooming flowers and most are easy to grow. Some have evergreen leaves and some will rebloom a little in fall. The most commonly sold primroses are hybrids of Primula x Polyantha; these come in just about any color you can name and several of them bicolored. Moreover the :candelabra” types, which include Japanese primrose (P.japonica), have clusters of pink, purple or white flowers atop stems as tall as two feet, and they bloom in late spring.

Japanese star primrose (P.sieboldii) is shorter in rosy shades. It is hardy and The Barnhaven strain is particularly vigorous. If you want to grow “Primrose” then you should prefer part shade and humusy, moisture retentive soil. The candelabra types like the soil to be wet. None of them do well in very hot climate. The species can be grown from seed; hybrids are propagated easily by division. Division also renews vigor. Do it right after they have finished blooming, at least every other year. Source: Charismatic Planet

Phlox Flower is Glory of Summer Garden

Well, most people are familiar with the tall garden phlox that is the glory of the summer garden, with its big clusters of red, pink, salmon, lavender, purple or white blossoms. Although there’re also a number of earlier and shorter varieties some less than a foot tall, that are well worth exploring. Phlox paniculata, the standard garden phlox, usually grows 2 ½ to 4 feet tall and looks best massed in large clumps of one color each. Good varieties include the bright red “Starfire” pink “Dondo Hanbury Forbes” and salmon “ Sir John Falstaff, Carolina Phlox (P. Carolina or P. suffruticosa) slightly shorter, with looser flower clusters, and starts blooming earlier, usually the end of June. Miss Lingard is the common white variety, Rosalinde is pink. 

Low growing phlox include the spring blooming wild blue phlox (P. divaricate), which prefers light shade; and moss pink (P. subulata) with pink, purple, red or white blooms. Both are excellent as edging plants and in rock gardens. Well, to grow Phlox, then you need all phlox like light, fertile soil with ample organic matter to retain moisture and good drainage. Provide adequate air circulation around the plants by not crowing them. This will help to forestall the white mildew that often disfigures the leaves of the tall garden phlox; fungicides may also help. Divide clumps of tall varieties every few years, replanting the side shoots. Clumps also flower best when thinned to about five stems. Remove spent blooms to prevent plants from going to seed (Seedlings will all be magenta).  Source: Charismatic Planet

Blue Vanda Orchid

Vanda is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae) which, although not large (about fifty species), is one of the most important florally. This genus and its allies are considered to be the most highly evolved of all orchids within Orchidaceae. The genus is very highly prized in horticulture for its showy, fragrant, long lasting, and intensely colorful flowers. Vanda is widespread across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea, with a few species extending into Queensland and some of the islands of the western Pacific.

Geranium or Pelargonium

Tender perennials grown as tender annuals north of Zone 8, these are the much loved bright geraniums seen on windowsills, on terraces and in gardens everywhere. Most are varieties of Pelargonium x hortorum (zonal geranium), which forms a large, shrubby plant in frost free climates but grows about two feet tall in colder ones. The large flower clusters can be red, pink, salmon, orange or white. Martha Washington geraniums (P. domesticum) are shorter, with pink, red or white flowers. The flowers in each cluster are large, rather like those of azaleas, often with a blotch of a darker shade. Ivy geranium (P. peltatum) is a trailing plant often used in window boxes. There are also a number of species grown less for their flowers than for their leaves; these have various scents such as apple and lemon and are popular in herb garden. 

Well, if you want to grow Geranium then seeds can be sown indoors in later winter or early spring in soil kept warm for better germination. Growing from seed can be slow, and therefore several gardeners prefer to buy a few plants the first year, and then take cutting each year for next year crop or for a supply of bright houseplants in winter. On the other hand, growing from seed is apt to produce plants that are free from the diseases that cause leaves to yellow. These diseases may be carried over if geraniums are propagated from cuttings. Seeds of a number of hybrids are now available. 

Geraniums are warm weather plants and relatively drought tolerant, but intense heat can be fatal to them, and cool nights are best. Martha Washington geraniums need a period of cool weather to bloom and thus are not satisfactory for hot climates. All like full sun but can take a bit of shade, especially in hot areas. Plant in not overly fertile as well drained soil, 12 to 15 inches apart in the garden. Cut them back to half their height in later winter or early spring in climates where they are perennial. Give pot grown geraniums plenty of light so they will not be leggy. Often a large pot with several plants looks best. 

 Source: Charismatic Planet