Zone Pushing

Thom Morgan

By Thom Morgan, Springmoor Landscape Manager

On the US Plant Hardiness Zone Map, I am in zone 7b so plants that are hardy in zones 9 and above need special attention if I want to keep them.

Why do I go through the trouble?  I like collecting plants no one else has, and I enjoy the challenge of pushing my zone.

Springmoor Floral Focal Points: August 2013

Rainy Summer Saves Money

Thom Morgan

During June and July we need 1.5 inches of water each week to maintain the lawns, trees and shrubs at Springmoor. In June, we received a whopping 9.5 inches, and in July, we got 3.5 inches.

With all that surplus water, we turned the irrigation system off and managed to save some money.

In Floral Focus

Pink crape myrtle

Humid August brings several plants to bloom along our walkways and landscapes. The Stella de Oro (Hemorocallis Stella de Oro) bloom all summer long, and strongly in August. Crape myrtles also bloom in late July, which is why we have five varieties at Springmoor: White crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia Natchez); Pink crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Sioux); Red crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Tuscarora); Lavender crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Muskogee) and Light pink crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Catawba).

The Mallow family begins to contribute their color in August, starting with Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), and the rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos “Disco Belle pink”). 
More popular members of the mallow family are cotton and okra.