Golden Flowers for Summer

Summer Gardening Tips

• Fertilize container plants every 10 to 14 days with a liquid fertilizer.
• Pinch off faded blossoms to encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer.
• Plant summer vegetables now for a harvest: tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and corn.
• Set out Brussels sprouts for a fall harvest.
• Attract birds to your garden with a concrete bird bath—available in many attractive styles and makes a great gift.
• Control earwigs with "Sluggo Plus," which contains spinosad added to the original iron phosphate formula.

Gold in the Garden

Brighten up your flower beds and containers this summer with these golden-hued plants:

Coreopsis

• Favorite among gardeners for their bright, sunny colors and long blooming season.
• Daisy-like flowers in gold, rust, and soft yellow on strong stems above rich green foliage.
• Most varieties are perennials with long blooming seasons.
• ‘Early Sunrise’: Double, 2-inch flowers on 2-foot tall plants; blooms first year from early summer to fall; attracts butterflies and birds; great as cut flowers.
• ‘Moonbeam’ (Threadleaf Coreopsis): Dainty, finely-cut foliage with a spreading habit; pale yellow flowers pair well with blue and purple flowers; drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
• ‘Baby Sun’: Thick covering about 16 inches high; fringed yellow flowers with a red eye; long blooming season.
• ‘Nana’ (Dwarf Coreopsis): Long-blooming ground cover with single, golden yellow flowers; ideal for rock gardens and prefers morning sun.

Marigolds

• Sunny annuals with yellow, orange, or red flowers; four types: French, triploid hybrids, single-flowered types, and African marigolds.
• Cheerful and easy to grow; suitable for borders, beds, pots, and cut flowers.
• Thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Yarrow

• ‘Coronation Gold’: Hardy perennial with golden yellow flower heads on 4-foot tall stalks.
• ‘Moonshine’: Smaller variety (2 feet tall) with buttery yellow flowers.
• Attracts butterflies and insect pollinators.

Gazanias

• Bright daisy flowers that bloom all summer; available in many colors, with yellows and oranges predominant.
• Ideal for ground covering or as a bright spot of color; may not overwinter in colder climates.