Trumpeting my garden with their presence, always after a gentle rainstorm, are my rain lilies ranging in colors from white, yellow, gold, to soft pinks. The Zephyranthes reginae always reminds me of yellow crocuses, such a treat to see in the middle of a warm summer. Naturalizing in borders and popping up among salvias and society garlic, these delicate but hardy, and literally no-maintenance, rain lilies are a blessing in a natural garden setting.
Living in a 1940 cottage bungalow that is situated two feet off the ground, my living room windows are fronted by an ever-blooming hedge of golden yellow thyrallis, Galphimia gracilis. The airy, light green leaves and thin stems allow circulation of wind and are less invitation for pesky insects, but do attract birds, bees, and butterflies.
Periwinkles, vinca major make any spot in the garden look happy with their white and pink petals with pink eyes dotting the center. Mine are in the borders of my garden and under the taller thyrallis shrubs. Needing full sun and infrequent watering, periwinkles thrive and bloom spring, summer, and fall in low-maintenance yards and in rock gardens, evident by their springing up in cracks of sidewalks.
Adding to my jewel-toned collection of flowers, underneath my oak tree are my purple contributions: small cluster of heliotrope flowers gently growing against the stalwart contrast of limestone rocks which are placed next to my fragrant king's mantle, thunbergia erecta. Thunbergia erecta will eventually reach six to eight feet high and four to six feet wide, blocking the view of the nearby interstate while providing privacy. It's an upright, weeping shrub that hummingbirds will seek out in sun or in light shade.
Getting back down to the groundcovers is my confederate jasmine. Although, confederate jasmine only blooms for a few weeks each spring and then sporadically through the fall, it's spectacular display of white flowers with a heady fragrance that can be smelled throughout the neighborhood is one in which memories can be made of. Growing up a small tree, which is destined for the wood chipper and climbing onto the side fence fence, this enthusiastic vine will be encouraged to climb and weave in and out of my wood border. If you love to sit on your patio relaxing, trying to make sense of the world or your day, inhaling wonderful scents like confederate jasmine will allow you to do just that.
Remember to include some non-flowering plants or out of season flowers as well, such as Dusty Miller, blue fescue, silver licorice, camellias, Indian hawthorne, and junipers.
