Tropicana Canna Lily

It was love at first sight, even though I didn't like canna lilies and preferred softer colors in my garden. 

Softer colors?  I reminded myself that pastels wash out to nothingness in the hot Alabama sun. I looked at the plant in front of me. Tropicana Canna Lily looked very suited to my subtropical climate. Its name declared it so. I studied the price tag. It cost too much, so I left the nursery without it. But I couldn't stop thinking about it and later returned to buy it.

I love Tropicana because of its bold foliage, which can reach four to six feet in height. It is what it is, without apology. It is as loud as a fire truck.

Tropicana's foliage has purple, orange, and blue-green stripes that glow when backlit by the sun, and it holds its orange blossoms aloft like bright torches. Mine has just put out its first bloom of the season.

Tropicana is hardy to zone 7, but it may survive outdoors in zones 5 to 6 if planted deep enough to escape the frozen earth. In colder climates the rhizomes need to be dug and stored inside for the winter. It does best in slightly acid to neutral, moist but well drained soil and may spread rapidly in ideal conditions. I planted mine in full sun, close to a water hose. It can also tolerate some shade. I have divided the clump several times. I now have Tropicana growing in several locations and have had plenty to give away to friends.

Tropicana's main pest is the Brazilian skipper butterfly, a little brown butterfly with diamond shaped markings in shades of white and gray on its wings. The caterpillars roll up the leaves and feed on them. The plant also will begin to look tattered if it lacks fertilizer or moisture. I usually water it when I fill the nearby bird feeder, and that keeps it happy. The birds like this plant too, and I have seen them eating its blossoms. That doesn't bother me.

If deadheaded, Tropicana will usually sprout new blooms, right up till fall. Deadhead them by clipping the old blooms at the end of the stalk. The stalk will soon send out new blooms.

Summer is Here!

Sweat, sex, saunas, and summers in the Deep South - all are associated with heat and moisture. This morning at 8AM, already the thick air draped like a wet, hot towel. I'm going to have to get up much earlier if I expect to do any heavy gardening. Most likely I'm done till September. Till then it's about keeping plants, animals, and humans watered and alive. We are fortunate to have had plenty of rain so far this year. We enter into summer with well soaked roots, and the ground is damp for inches below the surface. Despite the heat, plants are still looking good.

Many hydrangeas are at their peak. While I have already posted on both oakleaf and Lady in Red, I couldn't resist a few more photos of these and other hydrangeas in my yard.Oakleaf hydrangeas separate the lawn from untamed woodlands near the front of our property. Top row: Endless Summer. 2nd row: Annabelle. 3rd row: unknown hydrangea that appeared this year after having "died" two years ago ; Lady in Red. 4th row: Lady in Red and Nikko Blue ; Nikko Blue.

There are some colorful blooms and foliage along this path that curves through a sunny part of the woodland garden:Top: 'Tropicanna' Canna Lily; Clockwise from above left: Elephant Ear 'Mojito' ; Heuchera 'Stormy Seas'; Also 'Stormy Seas' - different plant; Caladium.

 I love the colors of this calla lily that grows beside the stone path in the woodland garden.Clockwise from top left: Gerber Daisy; Heuchera 'Palace Purple'; Rosa Palustris; Purple VerbenaBirds like this garden area, too! Can you find the mockingbird in this photo? This is part of the hillside overlooking the colorful plants featured above.

On the other side of the yard, A pink 'Anthony Waterer' spirea is blooming near the patio. Blue star juniper and rosemary grow in front of the spirea in the photo below.

And finally, even the dog lot has its blooms! A climbing rose, 'Red Cascade' blooms on the picket fence near an old doghouse. The doghouse belonged to Rock, my dad's black chow who came to live with us when my parents were too ill to care for him. My parents and Rock have all passed away now, and our dog Lily, who has her own doghouse, uses this one as her summer house. 'Red Cascade' is a fantastic low maintenance rose with multitudes of one inch red blooms all season. It grows about ten to fifteen feet and looks great draped over fences. Rock's favorite place was the shady corner under the rose between his house and the fence.

The first day of summer is June 21. By then, we'll be counting the days till fall!

Happy blooms to you!  Deborah