Building the perfect backyard is all about making an outdoor space that feels safe, functional, and beautiful. All of the masonry features and amenities in your landscape can do some great work in this area, but nothing will make your landscape more beautiful than an array of colorful plant life. As you continue your landscape renovation and plan some colorful accents, here’s why landscapers and landscape contractors offer these eight ideas for adding color to outdoor living areas in Blandon, PA.
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The foundation of a colorful landscape is a mix of perennials and annuals that bloom in various times of the year. Here are some great additions.
The Red Columbine
This gorgeous flower with its downturned bell shape brings a striking scattering of red to a landscape. Each flower is small, yet a plant will grow several bulbs between April and June. The flowers prefer plenty of sun and moisture, but they will be able to survive in moderate shade and dryness.
Butterfly Weed
Like its name suggests, this flowering plant will attract plenty of pollinators including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. The tiny, yet bright clusters of flowers enjoy plenty of sun and need little moisture to get by. A summer bloomer in the months of June and July, this plant will look great in the sunlight.
New England Aster
This subtle plant is quite the showboat when it comes to late august bloomers that display their glory between August and October. The delicate and thin petals display a vibrant lavender to dark purple that surround a bright orange center. As these flowers bob in the breeze, offer an understated yet colorful addition to your landscape.
Green-and-Gold
Nearly every landscape needs some kind of ground cover, especially in places where grass, flowers, and shrubs won’t thrive. The beautiful Green-and-Gold has a name that leaves little to the imagination as to what it looks like, yet it creates a brilliant flash of color from April to October as well as helping to prevent soil dehydration. This perennial ground cover is a relative of the sunflower, and it’s just as cheerful though diminutive in size.
Wild Geranium / Cranesbill
Sometimes a plant doesn’t need to have bright and striking colors in order to effectively make a statement in a landscape. The Wild Geranium, also known as the Cranesbill, blooms in small and delicate light purple flowers from April to July. It flourishes in shady areas. Not to be overlooked, the sharply-pointed leaves are a bright green and provide an excellent backdrop for the delicate flowers.
Alumroot / Coral Bells
For a plant that does produce a flower, the Alumroot (Coral Bells) makes an impressive presence in a landscape in other ways. The wildly interesting leaves are a year-long highlight. When it flowers in May and June, it makes cream-colored flowers in tiny clusters on a tall stalk. For the rest of the year, the plant provides excellent ground cover as well as a fascinating visual texture for a garden.
Dwarf-Crested Iris
Another delicate and brilliant flower is the incredible Dwarf-Crested Iris, which has a beautiful blue and violet bloom in April and May. This stunning display is accented by little flourishes of bright yellow near the center of the petals. For a time, everyone who looks closely at your landscape will be dazzled by this seasonal stunner.
Marsh Blazing Star
Like something out of a dream world, the Marsh Blazing Star stands tall and creates a fuzzy magenta bloom that resembles a cattail from a swamp. This plant attracts pollinators, especially the Gayfeather Butterfly and loves high-moisture areas.
