While winter is officially behind us, our recent cold and blustery days do not provide a feeling of springtime warmth… March provided southeastern Wisconsin with several warm “teaser” days, which have helped some daffodils, tulips and winter aconites to emerge. Gardeners must be patient a bit longer to witness the full beauty of a spring bulb explosion!
To bridge
the gap from late summer blooms until my tulip and daffodil displays appear, I
often turn to my winter-spring visitors… those flowering annuals that I rescued
and repotted before fall’s frost! A variety of colorful
plants have thrived under grow lights and sunny windows all winter long. Within two months, they will go outdoors and
acclimate to cool nights and partial sunshine… most plants will survive and
thrive through this transition in preparation for a summer show.
Pictured
here are some winter-spring visitors, still performing well in late March:
German
ivy (Senecio
mikanioides) and wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris) are examples
of trailing plants that will later be incorporated into my large container
plantings, grouped with other plants that bloom and provide color and texture
for each sun-loving container.
Shade-loving
coleus (genus: Solenostemon) plants are also capable of
transitioning from outdoors to indoors, and back outdoors in late May. (If coleus plants get leggy, take cuttings
and root in water so you can enjoy them another season.) Coleus shown here are cultivars ‘Dipt in Wine’
and ‘Electric Lime.’ They should thrive
in a part-sun container.
Finally, our bay window is filled with winter-spring visitors… Hibiscus, white and pink geraniums, lemon-coral sedum and amaryllis have found their Happy Place at our home.
Most plants shown here will reside outdoors by June 1st!
Even amaryllis plants will be moved to a shady outdoor location to build
strength for next year’s blooms. (The only exceptions are my phalaenopsis
orchid and jade plant shown; if outdoors, they might become food for bugs and
beetles!)
When
selecting plants this spring at your favorite garden center, please consider
ANNUALS as a viable part of your garden design.
They bloom 4 – 5 months outdoors… and many can come indoors in autumn to
become winter-spring visitors to keep your indoor spaces colorful and cheerful
during colder months!
M. Lynn
Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
