New flowers for containers & hanging baskets | backyard

It was past time to switch out spring flowers to summer flowers in a couple of hanging baskets and containers.

[@HoustonKeith72]

I never realized how I was such a creature of habit. My parents were plant people and my grandparents had a commercial nursery. I grew up with a lot of plants in the backyard. But I've realized that when visiting nurseries I tend to gravitate toward plants I know but then ignore plants my parents or grandparents didn't grow, like torenia. One of the joys of watching channels like yours is being able to learn about other plants and then try them. I've tried so many this year and boy have I discovered some winners!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is so neat! You had to have grown up with lots of beautiful plants!!! 😍 What have been the winners in your garden this year? I have found I really like to connect with other people in similar growing conditions, because even though I might love a plant, it doesn't necessarily grow well down here in the high heat, humidity, clay soil, and (usually) lots of rain. If I remember correctly, you said you started growing roses this year. 😊

[@HoustonKeith72]

@@ButterfliesNBirds winners for me have been cosmos, pentas, gomphrena and various salvias. Though 1 variety has not done well. A large black and blue variety. I tried several daisy varieties but I think I planted them too late in the season. I tried to incorporate several varieties from 4 primary plant families that attract beneficial insects. Also planted lots of herbs and let them go to flower. Again, I need to start early spring maybe even late winter to get the most out of the plants. I’ve learned a lot! Like that I have a tendency to overwater. My moisture meter has become my best friend. Ha!

[@HoustonKeith72]

@@ButterfliesNBirds the roses have been an adventure! Ha! Obviously, our summer can be hard on many roses. But out of 11, I would say 7 or 8 have done pretty well for young roses. I went into this as an experimental year. I also try not to spray, so I’ve battled several pests. And it’s hard to gauge since roses can take a couple years to establish. But when they do bloom, it brings me great joy. 🤩 I’m so looking forward to fall so I can make a new bed or two and get things ready to rest and then spring. Thank you for asking! I’m sure I bore my friends and family.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is a nice list! (I have planted both cosmos and gomphrena in the past but didn't this year.) If you don't overwater, mother nature will do it for you here in the Houston area! LOL! Outside of a drought year, we usually deal with quite a bit of water.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

When a particular plant brings you joy, you know you are on the right track for your gardening experience! 😍 7-8 out of 11 for your roses doing reasonably well is a good thing! My mother has rose gardens and she also likes to use them as cut flowers for arranging flowers for her church. I think they are SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I don't grow them because roses don't attract pollinators, but I so much appreciate them! Keep up your good work!😊

[@caranwysong3065]

Thinking of you and your husband after the storm! Hope you have power. My plants took a beating during the storm. Lost my Mexican Sunflowers but I can replant. While our power was out, I did some much needed weeding.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you for your thoughts! Our neighborhood was without power for 78 hours and had power restored about Thursday at noon. We have to throw out the contents of our refrigerator and freezer. That was smart of you to do some of that "necessary" garden stuff! 😊

[@GrandmaSandy]

I love this post

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Awwww - thank you so much! 🥰

[@nicholasryan5401]

Beautiful looking plants, containers and hanging baskets. We live in rural Ireland and we had lots of pollinators in the garden up to ten days ago but now we have very few. We haven't seen any butterflies at all so far this year.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! Why do you think you haven't seen any pollinators lately? (Sorry for the late reply ... we had a hurricane hit us.)

[@pc1189]

The terinia has so many beautiful colors, right on cue a bumblebee flew around to the backside of the first hanging basket as you were talking about pollinators liking the blooms 😊 I too love the Bloomify lantana because of the mounding growth and being a sterile variety mine are the reds. Still hoping the pink Porterweed shows up around here it’s such a pretty color. Have a wonderful weekend happy gardening 🌺

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you for your comment! The Bloomify lantana is such a favorite of mine ... it is fun that you have it too. A lot of gardeners get turned off by lantana because it has such a sprawling, horizontal growing habit. This series is quite different. And then for those states who need a sterile lantana, it works perfectly. 😊

[@wesleyhackney]

Nice additions! I’m praying for you guys as Hurricane Beryl is coming into you area. Hope it moves through fast and you don’t get too much flooding rain & no serious damage. Keep us posted on how that goes

[@JaneDoe-ft8sz]

They may be without power. Hope we hear from them soon.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much for your prayers! We have been visiting family out of state and missed the hurricane. Our neighbors are keeping us updated as much as they can. There is no electricity and damage to trees, plants, fencing etc. No one was hurt in our area, and I'm thankful for that! 🥰

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much for your thoughts! 🥰 I am going to post to the Community tab today with an update.

[@wesleyhackney]

@@ButterfliesNBirds very thankful for you guys safe travels home

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! 🥰

[@GrandmaSandy]

I was your number one fan today on this post and I love the garden tour you took us on. I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much for your comment! 🥰 (I'm sorry for the late reply because we had hurricane Beryl come through.)

[@HoustonKeith72]

Are you making any special prep for he storm?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Unfortunately we couldn't because we have been out of town visiting family. My neighbor has been keeping me posted. We will be returning soon for cleanup. I hope you missed the brunt of this hurricane!

[@jennifergreene8891]

Good morning neighbor! Lake Jackson here 😊 I love the Torenia 😍 is it an annual? All the potted plants look fantastic. I have added all of them to my wish list. Where do you get your pots/planters? They are so pretty. Are you prepared for the Tropical Storm/ Hurricane 🌀? I hope you are all safe. 🙏

[@melaniemohler3634]

Trailing torenia is considered an annual although it may survive mild winters in zone 9. Upright torenia is a reseeding annual. Look for the wishbone inside the flower. If it has broken, you can bet a bee visited that flower.

[@jennifergreene8891]

@@melaniemohler3634 thank you... love the broken wishbone 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Good morning neighbor! I have been thinking of you in Lake Jackson ... how are you? We have been out of town visiting family and missed this hurricane. My neighbor said it was really scary as we were on the "dirty side". We will be returning for cleanup. I hope you are safe. I will be replying to the comments soon about the plant questions, but I wanted to check on you.

[@jennifergreene8891]

@@ButterfliesNBirds Hi Crystal and thank you for checking in. Our whole family came through safely 🙏 1of our daughters in Santa Fe had a tree fall on her car (Thank God it wasn't a super huge one) Of course we have no electricity, fence is down, because of the poor grading at back door, some water came in, and where I barely cracked open my bedroom window, water came in and then I slip and fell. 🤪 hurting like heck but, we were lucky. Many people in our area have so many trees down and we seen on roofs. Plants are all good 😊 I hope your home and garden fared well. Be careful returning home and be sure to let me/us know how you are doing. 💜🙏💜

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank goodness your whole family came through this one safely! But falling is no fun!!! I fell walking my puppy in April and broke 2 fingers and my hand still isn't "normal". Please take care!!! We returned to downed tree limbs all over and worked all day yesterday chain-sawing them and getting the debris to the curb for removal. We didn't have any damage to our home, so that was great. Just a lot of work outside still to do. Do you have electricity? We do thank goodness!

[@ddgardner5671]

Those colors of those torenias remind me of pansies. They're supposed to be hardy in zone 10a? I'm in 10a now.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Yes, in fact they are listed as perennials for you in 10a! (I looked at my tags). 👍😀

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

Did u find the new PW torenia at Enchanted gardens? A recent purchase?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I got the PW Torenia (wishbone flower) at Enchanted Gardens in June and planted them before we left to visit family.