Delightful Daisies

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Garden Tips & Plant Highlights

Petunias are ideal for large, colorful blooms all summer long. The “Wave” petunias make wonderful hanging baskets for full sun and come in purple, bright pink, and pale “misty lilac.” Ivy geraniums thrive in partially shaded spots, blooming all summer in hanging baskets.

For vegetable gardening:

• Cage or stake tomatoes while still small to train them as they grow.
• Cover cherry trees with bird netting to protect your crop.
• Release ladybugs at dusk in problem areas to help control aphids in greenhouses or gardens.

Daisies: Easy & Cheerful Garden Plants

Daisies belong to the Composites family, one of the largest flowering plant families with 25,000 species worldwide, including lettuces, artichokes, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and dahlias. Most daisies are easy to grow in well-drained, sunny garden soil and suit almost any garden setting.

• Shasta Daisies: A hardy hybrid by Luther Burbank, thriving on rugged hillsides. White flowers (3 inches across) grow on stems from 1 to 3 feet tall. The ‘Crazy Daisy’ variety has shaggy, double white blooms with bright yellow centers.
• Gerbera/Transvaal Daisies: Showy flowers in bright colors, blooming all summer in sun or part shade. May not overwinter in colder climates.
• Painted Daisies: Old-fashioned pink and red flowers on tall stems; prefer afternoon shade.
• Marguerite Daisies: Tender but substituted by golden Euryops, which blooms all summer with yellow flowers and returns yearly.
• Coreopsis: Easy-to-grow perennials like ‘Early Sunrise,’ ‘Baby Sun,’ and ‘Nana’ bloom constantly. ‘Moonbeam’ has lemon-yellow flowers and threadlike leaves, pairing well with ornamental grasses.
• Dahlias: Tuberous perennials in all colors except blue, with blooms ranging from 2 to 12 inches. Plant tubers early for summer flowers.
• Sunflowers: Favorites like dwarf ‘Sunspot’ and 10-foot ‘Mammoth’ produce edible seeds. Compact branching varieties yield 4- to 8-inch blooms for cutting.

Use daisies to quickly fill spaces, create an established garden look, and brighten corners with their cheerful flowers.