LET’S ALL MAKE 2026 A REMARKABLE AND MEMORABLE GARDENING YEAR
One HUGE event for 2026 that will help all of us make this year memorable is that it marks our nation’s 250th birthday.
With this HUGE celebration, the horticultural industry, along with the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, is asking all the garden clubs to promote red, white, and blue in our gardens this year.
Last fall, I spoke with a local garden club about this celebration and shared ideas for adding red, white, and blue to our gardens and landscapes. One tip that I shared is that the colors of red, white, and blue don’t necessarily have to come from plants and flowers. I talked about starting with using colorful, glazed containers. Personally, I have four blue glazed containers around my house. I also have a large blue glazed ball sitting in my front garden. So, I already have a jump on this red, white, and blue theme for 2026.
Another tip to share is that you can place our American flag in the pots. I do this with a couple of my containers.
The big challenge will be planting annuals, perennials, and shrubs for the red, white, and blue colors. However, come spring, there will be lots of annuals, both sun loving and shade loving, that we can plant in our gardens or containers. Some annuals include petunias, angelonias, impatiens, and many more. Until it is safe to be planting summer blooming annuals you can be planting red, white, and blue pansies between now and the first of April. I have already started thinking of what I want to plant this year. It won’t be what I normally plant. So, I have to break up my normal routine of planting the same thing year after year. Let your creative juices flood your mind this year.
I do know that we will be ready to assist you with everything needed to show your celebration of our 250th birthday.
HAPPY NEW YEAR & LET’S ALL OF US HAVE THE BEST YEAR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!