SEATTLE — If you find yourself looking for something to do while social distancing, gardening guru Ciscoe Morris suggests starting a simple, but beautiful ornamental garden.
If you're new in to gardening, one of the most fun and exciting ways to get involved in this wonderful hobby is to put in a garden. You'll learn a lot, and it will get your mind off these troubling times. It's good exercise, plenty of fresh air and it's a great way to teach kids about gardening. It's a great way to be social as well, as neighbors who walk by see you out putting in a new garden won't be able to resist commenting on what you are doing, and you can chat while remaining appropriately socially distanced.
To get started, pick a small area in a visually noticeable spot to put in a new garden. A good place to start is right by the front door. If there's an old ugly shrub or bush, yank it out. It's time to do something new. Most of the nurseries are open, but some are on limited hours and others you need to make a reservation. They are practicing sanitation and social distancing, and limiting the number of people allowed in at any given time to keep you and their employees safe. When you go, make sure you know how big your new garden will be and if the area is sunny or shady. The experts at the nursery can advise you from a socially acceptable distance to help you select plants for your new garden, or if you feel comfortable doing it yourself, they'll help you find the plants you are looking for.
Start with a cool centerpiece. For my sunny garden I chose a Loropetalum 'Jazz Hands'. This slow growing shrub is an evergreen member of the witch hazel family with chocolate red leaves and fiery hot magenta flowers. For colorful flowers surrounding the centerpiece I chose Osteospermum 'Blue Eyed Beauty'. These are African daisies that bloom all summer long with yellow flowers with red centers that will match the color of the Loropetalum centerpiece. African Daisies are annuals in our area, but they'll add lots of color all summer long. To add fine texture I added in some Deschampsia cespitosa 'Northern Lights' (tufted hair grass). This grass grows to 16 inches tall, with multitudes of shimmering colors of slightly arching blades of green, cream, and gold tipped in pink mature to golden tones. The show continues in early summer with airy clouds of flowing panicles rising above the grassy tuft in gold, silver, purple and green hues. To add summer long color and attract hummingbirds I added in a Salvia Heatwave Sparkle' sage. This compact perennial is covered with masses of deep pink flowers with white throats dance above aromatic foliage from spring to fall. For fragrance and blue foliage I added a 'Firewitch' Dianthus. For added height and color in the back of the garden I put in a hardy Fuchsia 'Baghdad'. Fuchsia 'Baghdad's a compact shrublet with very attractive single flowers with red sepals and pink corollas that bloom all summer with blooms that drive hummingbirds mad with desire. Finally to fill in the back shady part of the new garden I added in a Hosta 'June', one of my favorite Hostas featuring lovely, compact heart-shaped, blue-green leaves, irregularly splashed with bright yellow and greenish yellow in their centers.
Everyone who sees your new garden will give you so many compliments, the next thing you know, you'll be so excited about gardening, you'll turn your entire yard into a spectacular series of mixed beds. The only problem will be to keep your social distance from all of the neighbors who will come by to compliment and admire your new garden!
Stay happy and healthy by getting out into your garden with your family!
Ciscoe
Segment Producer Heidi Eng. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.