When it comes to growing flowers, I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb because not everything I attempt to grow turns out as expected. (See my third post in this series.) Instead, I’d say I’m tenacious and patient. Determined to have color in my flower beds throughout the summer, I’m willing to try new plants, move them around and give them a chance if first they don’t succeed. In fact, I always use brown mulch as it helps hide the evidence of moving things around throughout the season.

With any kind of gardening, it’s always a marvel when plants have a successful growing season. This is why gardening is on my Pure Joy/Fun list of goals I’m journaling with my Commit30 planner. Gardening gives me the opportunity to take pause, literally smell the roses and connect with the outdoor world I bring to life in my yard.

Perennially Positive

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with a handful of perennial flowers over the years. While I never had success growing lupines in my front garden, I’ve been lucky with many favorites that return each year.

New this year, I added in some pink and blue flowers to add in color accents around my Endless Summer hydrangeas and spirea shrub.

Annuals Add Interest Every Summer

I love annuals to add in instant gratification with pops of colors and fill in gaps in my beds or potted in containers. Over the years, I’ve learned to rely on my tried-and-true flowers including some shown below:

I always experiment with new annuals hoping they’ll be a hit for next year and this summer was no exception. Check out the new annuals I tried this year.

GARDENING POSTS: See all my gardening posts sharing what’s growing in my yard and garden recipes I make in my kitchen.