A Garden Cocktail

There is nothing like a warm summer night in a garden fit to welcome good conversation and good company. Impatiently we’ve been biding our time in our pursuit of summer, working on new recipes for sizzling bbq’s, while perusing Pinterest in search of the ultimate cocktail. All for the start of patio season here on the West Coast. This is where the inspiration for my summer baskets struck, in the form of a cocktail; blueberry-pineapple champagne sparklers!

With delicious purple petals deepening to a dark centre eye, Superbells^® Grape Punch Calibrachoa is my favorite of the Superbells^® series, a perfect summer treat! Continuing with my purple obsession Supertunia^® Priscilla Petunia has a trailing habit graced with lovely lilac puckering petals, veined in an intoxicating deep purple.

Equally as enchanting is the always bold a Superbena Dark Blue^® Verbena. Like the name, the blooms echo a deep blue, bordering on indigo! Superbena’s are fabulous in containers and baskets, but also do remarkably well in landscape plantings, with a spread that allows for a beautiful groundcover effect. This Verbena does not need regular pruning to keep its long lasting blooms going right until frost!

Like any frothy summer concoction, these garden cocktails require a little tropical punch to keep them in balance. When putting this purplicious combination together I’ll be adding the bright chartreuse green of Illusion^® Emerald Lace Sweet Potato Vine. Loving the heat and humidity of summer this Ipomoea will keep looking fantastic well past the rest of the summer annuals. As a final touch, I’m adding a little fizz with Diamond Frost^® Euphorbia. This proven favorite works well in combination, or on its own. Bringing a little sparkle and bling to any planter or basket!

Individually beautiful, these summer favorites combine to create a perfect blend. Ripe for an enchanted evening in the garden!

^© 2012 Proven Winners