SUMMER PLANTING AND DEER RESISTANT PLANTS

Abbott Fuller Graves 1859-1936

Summer Plantings

No matter what the color of your perennials or annuals, silver and grey foliage make a perfect backdrop.  Perhaps that explains the poem often quoted but attributed only to “anonymous”:

“Tapestries of silver and gold,
Flowers fair and foliage bold,
Shining glints that only fade
when winter’s mantle is finally laid.”

Plant a pretty framework of silvery grey artemesias, lavender, sea holly, Russian sage or lambs ears.  Deer and drought resistant, these plants will help you create an appealing picture in the middle of the hot summer.

 

A most feminine garden would have tender pinks such as the new miniature roses, pink dianthus or sea pink (armeria maritima.)  

A woman with a more tempestuous nature would combine asiatic lilies of hot ruby red and yellow blackeyed Susans (rudbeckia hirta) that would bring cheer on the most dismal of days.  Greens, purple and whites will also combine well and help gardeners achieve their wildest grey fantasies. 

A foliage backdrop might be just what your summer garden needs.

Deer Resistant Plants 

With the exception of Barberries, there are no absolutely deer proof plants.  Deer have been known to eat almost anything if they face food shortages.  There are plants that are less palatable to deer that might be of use if you live in a deer neighborhood.  Here are a few recommendations that will do well in our Cornwall area gardens.

Cleome (annual, Cleome Hassleriana also known as Spider Flower)

Cleome is an annual plant that generally reaches about 24 to 40 inches in height.  It has spirally arranged leaves and the flowers are purple, pink or white, with four petals and six long stamens. The bloom time is from late Spring to early Fall.  The fruit is a long narrow capsule containing seeds that gives the appearance of ‘spider legs.’  Although it is an annual, if the seed pods ripen, the dispersed seeds will germinate the following spring, so there will be new plants in the area of the garden where they have been planted.  They are deer resistant, and we have utilized this showy Queen in the village Bandstand plantings of the past.

Coneflower (perennial)

Coneflower is a native North American perennial with daisy like flowers.  The flower, plant and roots are used in herbal remedies (Echinacea).  The plant blooms in mid-Summer to Fall.  It is very drought tolerant and is rarely bothered by pests, including deer.  Heights of two to three feet are typical.  They attract butterflies and the dried seed heads attract song birds in the off season.  Colors include rose, purple, pink, white and orange.  They are easy to care for and produce good flowers for cutting.

Achillea ( perennial; Yarrow)

Yarrow is native to the North American hemisphere. It is an erect herbaceous perennial with feathery and fuzzy leaves.  It typically reaches heights of 18 to 24 inches, although some varieties can be much taller, and it blooms early to late Summer. It produces a disc of flowers that range from white to pink or yellow.  This is a drought tolerant plant.  It has a long history as a powerful healing herb, used primarily for wounds or cuts.  The Achillea name is derived from the Greek god Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds.  Yarrow is also used for companion planting because it repels bad insects and improves soil quality.