9

THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, July 3, 2020 Page 9 Saugus Gardens in the Pandemic Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener I f we must forego the fireworks, we can at least have flowers! Patriotic plantings of red, white and blue are noticeable this week in pots on porches, garden beds and public plantings. Many kinds of flowers are available in red and white, but blue is a real challenge – true blue is very scarce among flowers and the deep navy blue of the flag is essentially nonexistent. In general, people settle for a dark purple color as close enough. This blue pot of red, white and purple petunias with a wire star ornament is a good example. It can spend the season on the porch or patio, but be moved to a picnic table for a holiday barbecue or dinner. Many of the red, white and blue plantings are done with annuals. These are usually tropical species that flower almost continuously through the summer, but will die in the fall and not return next year. Some annuals, which we might call “true annuals,” live for a single growing season no matter where they grow, but many of our popular so-called annuals would last several years in milder climates. Petunias originally from South America can grow for several years in very warm climates, but here temperatures are often cold enough to kill the plants by mid-October. They can be kept longer indoors, but usually need more light than our windows can provide. On the other hand, Florists’ geraniums (Pelargonium hortorum), originally from South Africa, are often used as annuals in beds and window boxes in summer here, but survive well indoors in a bright window or in a greenhouse, and resume blooming in January as the days grow longer. I have seen geraniums that were 50 years old and more, kept in a greenhouse in winter and grown outdoors in New England from Memorial Day until mid-October. In the late 18th and throughout the 19th century, private greenhouses became a status symbol, and in the 19th century most large cities and towns also had commercial greenhouses so the general public could become familiar with tropical species. They have become a summer staple of the landGRAVESIDE FLOWERS: The G.A.R. plot at Riverside Cemetery has these red and white wax begonias, which bloom indefatigably despite hot sun all day (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) scape, not only for homes but also public parks, like Boston Public Garden, shops and restaurants, and beds around monuments. Many popular annuals, such as snapdragons, sold out early this year, perhaps because people were looking for some easy and cheerful color when they expected they’d be spending more time at home than usual. I saw beautiful ones being planted in a traffic island in Swampscott just before Memorial Day, but when I went shopping for them, I couldn’t find any anywhere. Petunias (petunia hybrids) and million bells (Callibrachoa hybrids) are still available, but just a few colors. Some of the shortages may be blamed on interruptions in transportation, but some nurseries told me they got the usual quantities and varieties in May and sold out early – when they tried to reorder, their suppliers had a much more restricted selection. The best “blue” annuals are probably flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) or mistflower and blue annual lobelia (Lobelia erinus). These both come in shades that are pretty close to blue as well as pinkish-purple, pink, and white varieties. Other good choices include dark purple shades of petunia (Petunia hybrida), million bells (Callibrachoa hybrids), lantana (Lantana camara) and heliotrope ((Heliotropium arborescens). Flags and bunting in the garden can help reinforce the celebratory patriotic theme. We may be missing the annual 4th of July games and bicycle decorating competition at Lynnhurst playground and the fireworks in Salem or Boston, but we can brighten the gardens around our homes to share the festive mood with our neighbors. Quite a few red, white and blue clothespin wreaths, which were a popular family craft project this spring, clever wreaths with tulle knots made in the same colors, wreaths with stars and fireworks shapes, and simple wooden stars adorn doorways in each neighborhood. Lines of American flags have appeared along walks and walls, and if you are out after dark you may see gardens glowing with red, white and blue lights. Then there are the gardens of red and white without the blue. These might lead you to wonder – are they patriotic gardens or Saugus spirit gardens, since our town colors are red and white? Maybe a bit of both. The G.A.R. plot at Riverside Cemetery has red and white wax begonias, which bloom indefatigably despite hot sun all day, and the bed under the Saugus Center sign in the rotary is a similar combination. Wax begonias are extremely tough and sturdy annuals, available in pink as well as red and white. They thrive in shade and avoid the fungus diseases that other plants might suffer, but also grow well in scorching sun and endure droughts without wilting. If you are determined not to replace plants every year, red, white and blue shrubs and perennials can also be found. Shrubs are woody plants, and perennials are herbaceous ones that return year after year. Some hydrangea shrubs have flowers that are true blue, and among perennials there are a few varieties of salvia, delphiniums, blue-eyed grass (SisyrinchiMADE FOR JULY 4: A patriotic pot of petunias flanked by a miniature American flag set on a Lynnhurst porch. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) um angustifolium) and forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvestris). Some wild gentians are deep blue, but most don’t bloom until fall, not near the fourth of July. Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa) is hardy here, but not as readily available. As for shrubs in red and white, the summer classic of red and white roses is always effective. Hydrangeas come in white as well as blue, and there are some varieties (‘Grateful Red,’ ‘Teller’s Red,’ and ‘Red Beauty,’ to name a few) that are considered red although it is not American Beauty Rose red. Just as with the “blues” in most annual displays, we have to be a little generous in our interpretations of color when looking at “red” hydrangeas. The Encore series of Azaleas, which rebloom in summer and fall, have some great red and white varieties, including ‘Autumn Bonfire,’ which is bright red, and ‘Lily,’ which is white. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design and plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and offered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town, since so many people have taken to walking the streets in their neighborhoods as a way to get some exercise and get out of the house!” A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Same Location * Same Service for 48 Years! Chris Dan Steve We Welcome You Back & Wish You Well! * Desktop Humidors * Travel Humidors * Vapes * Juice * Cigar Accessories * Bongs * Lighters & Ash Trays * Glass Pipes * Gift Cards * Rewards Program * Juuls * CBD Infused Products Cigar of the Month! Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Magnum Box of 20 - Only $149.95 Buy your Cigars by the Box & Save! Plus our “Golfers’ Special” 15 Handmade Cigars - Churchill Size including a Cohiba! Only $43.95 STORE HOURS 8 AM - 7 PM Mon. - Sat., Sun. 8 AM - 6 PM

10 Publizr Home