Amanda's Garden

Amanda is one of our youngest gardeners and has done a wonderful job.  Record heat, a lack of rain and Japanese Beetle attacks have not slowed Amanda down.  She has done an excellant job of caring for her gardens.  Amanda has started a collection of perennials for sun and shade.   Lots and lots of flower pots.  Some are annuals grown for color.  Others are tropical and will winter over indoors.  Garden art adds fun and reflects the personality of Amanda, the artist.

	Amanda has chosen to vary the color, texture and leaf size in this perennial garden.  The rock compliments the black mulch.  Very dark mulch here makes the flowers "pop".
Lots of color in this bright, overflowing flowerpot.  Amanda has created a showstopper focal point.
	These tropicals will winter indoors and return to the shade of the porch next summer.
Amanda has mixed tropical houseplants with an upright growth habit and a vining habit to soften the stark shape of the mother-in-law tongue.
	Lush foliage, bright splashes of color and carefully chosen garden art great you as you leave home and head out into the world.
What a wonderful example of the intense impact contrast in leaf color can make.  Amanda has done a wonderful job of growing these plants during a very difficult growing season.
	Amanda has made an effort to effectively fill the spaces in this garden with low growing and mid size perennials.  She has anchored the garden with potted plants and a basket floating above.
A collection of Hosta in varied leaf sizes and shapes grace this shady corner.  Amanda has already started experimenting with dividing and multiplying.
	Canna will be blooming soon to feed the hummingbirds.  Canna need to be lifted in fall in our area.  Now the large leaves fill in space while Amanda waits for her perennials to gain greater size and minimize the meter.
Using an analogous color combination, Amanda has mixed orange and pink (next to each other on the color wheel).  This surprise basket is placed where it will be enjoyed as a view out a lower window.
	More big beautiful annuals spill out of planters.  Vegetables can be decorative, too.
A group of potted succulents tolerates the blazing hot sun and presents a charming centerpiece on the deck picnic table.