Comeback Plants in the June Garden (and how I overwinter our plants in zone 7b)

Every fall, I try to preserve as many plants from our summer garden as possible. It's such a hassle to drag plants inside, and then back out, when we have a freeze during the winter. But really, how nice is it to have mature, free plants when spring and summer come along? Today I'm sharing some of our plants that have been blooming and growing after being almost completely dormant and surviving last winter.

I babied these pretty hibiscus over the winter, and they are really rewarding us now. They were either brought inside if we were having a hard freeze, or wrapped and covered if it was close to freezing. A few of our hibiscus plants have come back for 5 or 6 years. I do cut them all the way back at the end of fall to make it easier to bundle them up.

This was one of the tiny, bald, sad ferns that Maurie picked up from the clearance rack at Lowe's last summer. They were in such bad shape that the garden manager sold them to us for $1. They had really made a comeback by last fall, so I babied them last winter too, and they are happy campers now.

I love my caladiums! Even when nothing else will bloom in this stifling heat, they provide us with color. Every year I dig them up before the first freeze, wrap them in newspaper and keep them in a kitchen cabinet until next spring. I have read that they need to be treated with some kind of anti-fungal powder, but I have never done that and they seem to survive just fine.

 

I planted these elephant ears this spring, and they are doing really well. When winter rolls around I will cut them completely back and mulch the pots very deeply. I have had some that came back for 10 years or more, and only died when I forgot to mulch them one fall. I think it was the year we had the massive ice storm, so it wasn't a good year to forget about them. 

 

Almost all of our crysanthemums made it through the winter, and are blooming and growing like crazy. I'll cut them back when they are finished, and they will give us another beautiful round of blooms this fall. These don't get brought inside, because I just don't have the space. I gather them together on the east side of our home, in our small courtyard. They stay a little warmer right next to the house, and I make sure to cover them if it's going to be much below freezing.

 

These asparagus ferns have been with us for 4 or 5 years now, too. Again, I usually move them to the east side and cover them during a freeze. I did bring them in last year when it went down to the mid 2os, which was only two or three times. Same for the aloe plant and red begonias.

 

This is at least the third year for some of these kalanchoes. I even forgot a few of them last winter, and they too lived to come back again! Like the crysanthemums, I think they received enough heat from being close to the house, and they seem to me to be much hardier than most other tropicals. I have 6 or 7 of these, and they were blooming profusely for the last two months, but sadly this is all that remains. I know we'll have another flush of blooms once it cools down this fall.

 

So, how hot is it where you live? We are having days in the mid-90s, but often 60% or even 70% humidity due to all the rain we've been getting. Which we are really, really lucky to have, so I'm not complaining! I might be if we lived a little farther east, just a few blocks, as most of East Dallas was hit with a massive hail storm last week. There's hardly a home that didn't suffer some sort of damage. Imagine hail for 20 minutes solid, some of it lemon and orange-sized. One of my friends had over $9,000 of hail damage to her car. The Lakewood Country Club golf course was covered with solid hail, and it looked like we had a major snowfall. Maurie is an insurance agent, and he doesn't have a single client in East Dallas who didn't have damage, save for those of us in the M Streets who were spared from the event. We're feeling really sad for all of those folks, as it will be tough going to get their repairs done with such widespread damage. Apparently you can't even find a rental car around here right now. Crazy, crazy Mother Nature.

Thanks for coming by to see our garden! I'm slowly catching up with you all again, and getting into a groove now that it's summer. I'll be by to visit soon!

I'm joining Yvonne for her first Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stonegable, congratulations Yvonne! She has a wonderful giveaway this week, go see her here to enter! You'll want every single item in this awesome giveaway.

Love, Andrea

Comments

[Debbie@Mountain Breaths]

I love caladiums too, and you did a nice job with the plants that you grouped together. Very striking! It's 90 here today, but it will be down in the high 70's this weekend. Then back up again into the 80's.

You have beautiful blooms, and thank you for all the tips. Debbie

[Pat]

Whoa! I can't believe all of those beautiful plants made it through the winter. I only kept a few things in the sunroom to go back in the window boxes. All of your efforts certainly paid off! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

[Brenda Kula-Pruitt]

You've obviously got quite the green thumb! I love those giant elephant ears. I'm going to have to find some of those.
Brenda

[Yvonne @ StoneGable]

Andrea, Wow! You have such a big green thumb! I love that you keep plants wintering over in your kitchen cupboard! They must feel so pampered!
Thanks for all the great tips and gardening tidbits! And thanks for joining me for the first TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS.

[Stacey]

I'm a happy girl Andrea. Did you know we moved a few weeks ago? We moved to Rockwall!! All the plants you have shown are annuals in Edmond. I'll be happy to carry them over here. Of course, I'm not going to be planting too much this year. Too many boxes left to unpack and a small yard this time. Leaving my yard was very difficult.

[Patty]

Glad you're back -- I missed you!!! Tried the sliders recipe -- yummy. I, too, have overwintered a lot of plants that are supposed to be annuals -- I live near the Oklahoma border but with care, a lot of plants come back each year. Do you have "Blue Daze"? It's my all-time favorite for hanging baskets in the sun -- I have several baskets of it and "Blackie" sweet potato vine -- great plants.

Happy gardening, cooking and decorating --

Patty

[Debbie]

Beautiful plants! Up here in Southern Ontario, Canada I have to bring all my tropicals indoors for the winter. I have over 200, as well as close to 100 succulents. Lots of work, but it's my hobby and I love them all.
Been having a heat wave here too. Enjoyed reading your blog. :)