We love a good party as much as anyone here at GMG, so we asked some of our garden designer friends for tips on using plants to make your summer party sizzle!
According to James T. Farmer III, landscape designer and event planner, people planning outdoor parties think about the food and beverages but often forget about their deck or patio until the last minute.
He says it's really easy to create a tropical paradise right in your own backyard! "All you need are some beautiful hibiscus or mandevilla to instantly
transform your patio or deck into a summer party for weddings, graduations and
the Fourth of July."
No time plant? You can find stunning
patio ready pots at your local garden center, which can add vivid color to any summer occasion.
Bobbie
Schwartz, past president and certified member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), recommends creating a focal point
using a series of accessories. “Place three containers of varying heights near
an entryway to welcome your guests. Use at least one plant that can be repeated
in at least two of the containers to unify the look,” she says.
Farmer
says he often places plants right in a container and then just top dresses them
with sphagnum moss for a finishing touch. “I create instant containers by
removing the hanging basket wires and popping the basket right into a pretty container,”
suggests Farmer. “No digging or potting
required.”
Try bringing a little paradise home with Costa Farms’ new Tropic Escape
hibiscus. (www.costafarms.com). The over-sized flowers come in more than a
dozen hot showcase tropical colors like Caribbean Cocktail yellow, Tiki
Temptation orange, and Monsoon Mixer pink and lavender. The easy-care hibiscus bloom twice as long as
old-fashioned hibiscus and can take the heat through the hottest summer months.
Farmer
and Schwartz agree this year’s color influences draw inspiration from nature.
“Many of the new cultivars are lower
maintenance and longer blooming than plants of the past and they come in bold,
wow colors like purple, pink and orange that attracts birds and butterflies to your
backyard,” says Schwartz.
Next time you're planning your summer party don't forgot the plants to liven up your outdoor space!
-Stacey
We love nothing more than a beautiful container overflowing with colorful plants. It serves as the perfect decor for porches, patios and balconies. Costa Farms makes coordinating plants for containers simple and fun. 
