Newsletter for July 2026

The newest and flashiest Crape Myrtles come in shades of red. This is the newest variety, ‘Ruffled Red Magic’. The distinctive feature is its height – this plant only grows to about 12 feet. Crape Myrtles thrive on summer heat. You can choose from a wide selection of colors.

Roses are always in demand at Bay Laurel Garden Center. We have an extensive supply of lovely climbing roses. These roses require a particular kind of pruning – check in books or on the internet. All roses thrive with dead heading and fertilizing about every 6 weeks.

‘Bountiful Blue’ perfectly describes this blueberry from Monrovia nursery. Remember to plant in an acidic soil and fertilize regularly with an acid fertilizer. Although you will enjoy a harvest from one plant, we recommend another blueberry for pollination and a bigger crop.

Scabiosas are one of our most reliable perennials. This year we have had the fortune to receive blue, vivid violet, pink and white. Added to this mix is ‘Summer Nights’, the darkest of them all. The flowers are a bit smaller than the others but the color makes up for it.

Here is a charming Heliopsis perennial, ‘Sunstruck’, 14 to 16″ tall. Note the unusual variegation. We have not seen this genus lately, but it seems to be gaining popularity with new hybrids. Next week be on the lookout for Heliposis ‘Bleeding Heart’. This variety has dark purplish leaves and bright red/orange flowers, good for cutting. Grows 18 to 24″.

The succulent Delosperma is sold in six packs. It’s a great ground cover for drought tolerant areas. The flowers are found in shades of red, yellow, white and pink. We don’t always have all of them, so if you would like a particular color, just let us know. We also have access to flats of sedums which can also be special ordered.

It’s time for Dahlias. You will find them in 4″ plants, 1 gallon plants and even some of the giant dinner plate varieties in 2 gallon plants. They should bloom well into the fall. They have a great range of colors. You can choose to leave them in the soil over the winter or store them. If you have heavy soil, it’s probably best to store them to avoid rotting.

Aglaonemas or “Chinese Evergreens” make great house plants. They need minimum light and water. This is a particularly nice specimen. We just received a new shipment of house plants at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Come in and take a look!

Hibiscus moscheutos has the largest flowers in all of the Hibiscus kingdom. They can reach up to 1 foot across. The plants die to the ground in winter, but can grow 6 to 8 feet tall in a season. For best results, fertilize every 6 to 8 weeks.