So, we’re all aware that August is one of those months that make you want to crawl someplace cool and stay there until fall comes. Although the month has started off cool, We’re pretty certain that the heat will be back – and sooner than later.
Did you know when landscaping you can use a certain color palate to create a “cool” appearance. Almost like when you’re at the beach and it’s hot, and you glance at the cooling water crashing against the shore, it’s instant cool. You can replicate this same “cooling effect” in your very own back or front yard!
The ‘Ascot Rainbow’ Euphorbia is a sleeper when it comes down to allstars of the perennial world. This compact, bushy evergreen perennial will give you all colors of the rainbow (thus the name) including reds, pinks, pale green and yellow. These tend to stay quite compact and create a great texture against broadleaf evergreens and needle like shrubs.
The Yucca, ugly sounding name but amazing foliage for your garden. The bright spires reach for the sky in colors of creamy white and green. These are very attractive in any garden and are one of the most drought tolerant plants you could possibly invest in!
‘Mr. Bowling Ball’ Arborviate might have a catchy name, but it’s also got a catchy growth habit. Unlike regular Arborvitae, this little guy has a softer appearance and almost appears to be fake from a distance due to it’s absolutely perfect growth habit. These shrubs will give you the “meatball” look without ever having to trim it to keep it that way!
These. Are. Coneflowers. The echinacea family is far reaching and has many different colors to chose from, but if you’re looking for “cool” look no farther than the pale pinks and whites that are available. The Coneflower starts its show in July and just keeps on trucking until September or later!
Forget all about the days of having roses that are a butt load of work and not a lot of reward. The ‘Drift’ series of roses will provide you ample flowers all summer long. Minimal care needed, and the bumblebees will keep themselves busy pollinating away. They’re fun to watch!
Annual Dahlias are a treat. They are the Cyber Geeks favorite flower for in the summer time, not only because they have a fantastic shelf life as a cut flower, but they also hold up very well to neglect and even the occasional “oops, I forgot to water it!”. There are perennial varieties out there as well, some with even more impressive color patterns. Be careful, however, if you’re putting together a cool colors scheme. Introducing too many variegated leaves or intricate flowers will make it look messy and screw up the entire effect.
Drought tolerant Sterling Frost Deodar Cedar features blue-green needles on arching branches for year-round interest. This hardy, conical selection is a slow to moderate grower, maturing at 40 to 70 feet tall. It makes a beautiful specimen for a large front yard or naturalized area. The soft branches give it a soothing effect and in it’s maturity it creates an awesome tree that you could hide from the sun under!
