Star-Spangled Garden
Celebrate America’s 250th with a landscape that lasts all summer
As America gears up to celebrate its 250th anniversary, hues of red, white and blue are starting to pop up everywhere — from front porches and flowering pots to backyard patio decor. But creating a patriotic outdoor space doesn’t have to mean going all-in on flags and fireworks. According to Jim and Mick Gainan of Gainan’s Garden Center, the most beautiful spaces are the ones that feel natural and layered, with a splash of festive thrown in.
“Whenever you have a theme, it can get a little kitschy if there is too much,” Jim says. That’s why he is showcasing pops of color that act as an accent instead of the headliner. Take this space, with a small red Cyclamen plant sitting alongside rocking chairs adorned with patriotic pillows.
“You can’t go wrong with a dog pillow,” Jim says with a laugh. “These are things you can put out for the whole summer and then use again in the future for the Fourth of July. They are meant to last.”
The pillows are not only fade-resistant but antimicrobial as well, meaning when it rains, the inside of them won’t be a breeding ground for mold.
Another fade-resistant addition is what Jim calls the Real Touch blossoms that are new this year. “You have to touch them to see if they are real,” Jim says. “Sometimes you can’t tell.” They are part of a new line of permanent botanicals, which are perfect for spaces where watering can be a challenge.
“It might be a situation where you aren’t able to get a hose to it very easily or maybe you have a space between two garage doors and that’s all there is,” Jim says. “These faux plants, when used sparingly and in the right way, can plant up and look just like real plants in a patio pot.”
Since many are starting to see outdoor spaces as extended living areas, tables can be dressed in just the same fashion as your dining room table, with dinnerware that suits the season. Here, glassware is replaced with an acrylic variety. Chargers and plates are shatterproof and even the napkin rings have a firework vibe. Jim reminds us when entertaining outside, create a centerpiece that makes an outdoor expression. He chose blue pansies surrounded by a pop of lime-green moss. When the party is over, this centerpiece lives on for as long as the weather allows.
On the hearth of the outdoor fireplace sits another unique find. These blue orbs are called bee balls, and the purpose is to help provide water for these little pollinators.
“Water gets caught in them from sprinkler systems and from the rain,” Mick says. “Wherever the moisture collects, bees will find them.”
While this metal VW Bug is holding an azalea plant, the purpose of this pop of red is actually perfect for entertaining.
“It’s a cooler,” Jim says. “You can roll it between people with your beer and ice inside.”
Also perfect for entertaining is this bar cart, a new addition to the weatherproof Polywood line. It comes in the same colors featured in the line’s outdoor furniture sets.
“It’s completely sun resistant,” Jim says. “There’s a 20-year warranty on each piece. You never have to paint or sand it. It’s sturdy. It’s not going to blow away.”
Even décor can take a softer approach. Striped pillows or star-studded patterns nod to the theme without screaming it. “It’s a fun way of doing it so it doesn’t look so matchy, matchy,” Jim says. “I think for the eye, this looks and feels relaxing because of all the greenery around it. You have the pops of color with the pillows but everything else around it is very natural.”
Of course, nature has its own star-spangled palette, and you can plant these shades in all kinds of perennials and annuals. (See Let’s Hear It For The Red, White and Blue sidebar)
Mick suggests mixing these in with existing landscapes. “When you are planting, plant in layers with taller plants to the back and shorter ground covers towards the front.” he says. You can even add herbs into these spaces. “Although they won’t bloom for you, they make a nice filler and make everything small really good and fresh.”
For containers, he says, consider thrillers, spillers and fillers. “That would be the drama of something tall in the middle. A blue salvia would be unbelievable.” Surround it with a splash of red, “You always have to have a geranium or two. They are pretty spectacular and there are 18 varieties of them,” Mick says. Then finish it up with a trailing plant, like Bacopa or Alyssum, which trails small white flowers, and you are all set for the season.
He adds that you don’t always have to turn to annuals for your patio pots.
“You could even plant a perennial in the middle of a pot,” Mick says. “Just because it's a perennial doesn't mean it has to be used in a perennial bed.” He suggests planting a hybrid tea rose right in the center, saying that “the rose bush can be removed in the fall and planted in the ground.”
One of Mick’s favorites is Veteran’s Honor, a rose variety that brings forth the most beautiful shade of red. The result is a container that feels lush, dynamic and celebratory at the same time, especially when adorned with a small flag.
At the end of the day, a star-spangled garden isn’t about perfection. Whether it’s a few thoughtfully planted containers, a cozy patio setup or a full backyard refresh, the goal is the same: a space that feels welcoming long after the fireworks fade.
Let’s Hear It For The Red, White and Blue
Plants that help celebrate this patriotic season
White Annuals
· Alyssum
· Bacopa
· Begonia
· Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
· Petunia
· Verbena
White Perennials
· Columbine
· Bleeding Heart
· Lupine
· Peony
· Shasta Daisy
Red Annuals
· Begonia
· Dianthus
· Impatiens
· Portulaca
· Snapdragon
· Geranium
· Celosia
Red Perennials
· Astilbe
· Daylily
· Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Monarda (Bee Balm)
· Achillea
· Iris
Blue Annuals
· Ageratum
· Bachelor’s Button
· Browallia
· Heliotrope
· Larkspur
· Lobelia
· Pansy
· Petunia
· Salvia
Blue Perennials
· Columbine
· Delphinium
· Iris
· Lupine
· Russian Sage
· Salvia
