Outdoor
April 12, 2016
Editor’s Picks: Foolproof Flowers To Plant This Spring
Every year around mid-April I start yearning to get my hands in the dirt and get to work on my flowerbeds. But this year, I’m also feeling a bit wistful. My husband, son and I moved out of our first house this past December, and I’ve been thinking a lot about my old garden: the tricolor beech we planted the first Father’s Day after our son was born, the crooked honey locust we planted during our first spring, the White Parrot tulip bulbs my mom gave me for my birthday, the row of lavender running up one side of the yard (a treat to myself). Each spring, I loved watching these things come back to life. But I’m also looking forward to new horizons in our new house… and there’s lots of room here to grow. Here are some of my favorite flowers and plants that never fail to lift my spirits, are easy to care for, and are sure to make any new place feel a little more like home.
Classic Incrediball Hydrangea have a lovely shape and boast plenty of foliage. Plus, they’re dead easy to grow, with hardy stems and blooms that last into September. How amazing do they look planted along the edge of this yard?
I love a lilac. They’re inexpensive, fast-growing and very hardy, and I can’t resist their beautiful blue-violet color. Right now, I’m thinking of planting one near my back door.
Fuss-free lavender flowers are a honeybee favorite, and always look so lovely when picked (or accidentally nicked by the lawnmower — whoops!) and placed in a vase next to your bed.
I can never never get enough of resilient hosta plants. They’re my go-to for borders in shady corners, under trees and, well, anywhere! I particularly love bluish varieties with large, frosty leaves like Blue Angel Hosta. Design Editor Trick: Come summer, try filling a vase with their elegant leaves and setting it on the hall table. It’s a beautiful arrangement and will last much longer than any cut flowers.
Is there anything cheerier than a window box overflowing with low-maintenance geranium? So charming. I typically reach for a dark red variety from Proven Winners, but this year, I’m thinking long and hard about their Timeless Pink blooms…