The Geraniums of Cordoba, Spain, above. 

The common geranium becomes extraordinary when planted en masse. Ivy-leaf geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) grow like vines, up to three feet or more in length, making them an ideal selection for hanging baskets and window boxes. 

Scented geraniums (Pelargonium graveolens) have edible flowers and fragrant leaves, and work well as house plants. Flower production is more modest than the ivy-leaf geraniums, but the soft, fine-textured leaves make up in fragrance for the lack of showy flowers. Choose from rose, lemon, nutmeg, peppermint, or apple-scented geraniums. 

Color-massing geraniums in window boxes or planters for decks and patios is an inexpensive way to add seasonal color to outdoor living spaces. Use large containers so they don’t dry out quickly in the heat of summer, and group them together to make watering easier, and create more of a visual impact. 

Geraniums are heavy feeders. A regular feeding schedule (once a month) will produce an abundance of blooms. Mildly acidic soil is ideal (pH 6.5) for healthy plants. Be sure to water plants first thing in the morning, before the heat sets in, so the roots are well irrigated. Plants weakened by drought are much more susceptible to unwelcome pests and diseases.

Not surprisingly, I didn’t get too many people interested in the photo-post about the disease-ridden Impatiens walleriana, so let’s see if we get more interest in the “pretty plants” gardeners can use this summer, while Impatiens are on hiatus (at least as far as my clients are concerned). (And if you don’t know why you shouldn’t use Impatiens walleriana this summer, check out the link above.)

First the good Impatiens news: you can still use SunPatiens and New Guinea Impatiens, as they are not affected by downy mildew. There are many flower and leaf colors to choose from, and these two types of Impatiens will tolerate more sun than the shade Impatiens walleriana.  

For other shade garden plants, Heliotrope is not only a lovely violet-purple, but it is also fragrant, so it’s a perfect container garden or borden garden choice. Fuchsias look lovely dripping from a hanging basket or container garden. Coleus? The riotous foliage combinations work well with just about any flower garden favorite: there are trailing Coleus and upright Coleus to suit your every need (and they make excellent bedding plants). And lastly, the Begonia (and I’m not talking about the “wax begonias” planted en masse in front of every subdivision and shopping center across the country). Look for the dark-foliage or spotted-leaf Begonias, or dragon-wing and angel-wing Begonias, dripping with flowers from spring through late fall. There’s nothing more elegant. 

There will be plenty of choice for the shade garden this summer, so keep your eyes open.