Plant red, white and blue flowers now for a July 4 patriotic display

One of the cardinal rules of the gardening world is thinking ahead. For spring bloom, plant bulbs in the fall - and think about it far enough ahead to get them ordered.
The same thing, on a slightly shorter scale, goes for patriotic displays of flowers. That means it's time, now, to get the red, white and blue ready for July 4, now less than four weeks away.
Ideally, of course, some gardeners thought about it all much earlier. They're the ones who started their own plants from seed.
Fortunately, the nursery industry thought about it all for the rest of us, and provides the six-packs and starter plants to make our displays possible.
Petunias are probably the most popular for making single flower displays. Petunias are available in all three colors - red, white and blue.
You can combine them in a single planting or stagger them in mass displays of the patriotic color scheme. The new "wave" petunias make impressive displays. A single plant of each color in individual containers will be full and impressive by July 4. Or select a large bowl to place red flowers in the center, surrounded by a ring of white and an outer ring of blue.
The same idea can be followed in an in-ground circular bed.
Try red geraniums surrounded by a ring of white petunias or alyssum, and an outer ring of bright blue lobelia. For a softer blue, how about forget-me-nots?
Or reverse the colors - blue petunias in the center, white candytuft and red lobelia cardinalis for the outer circle.
If you are really ambitious, combine the colors to reproduce the American flag, or reproduce the scallops of a swag to outline a bed or border.
You might try hanging displays, either single colors or combination plantings. Remember, however, that hanging plants will require more attention to watering than those in the ground. Remember also that petunias in containers will need sun just as much as those in permanent beds.
Selecting containers can be a great deal of fun as well. Terra cotta or plastic pots can be slipped into baskets for a quick display. Weave appropriate color ribbons through the sides of the baskets to enhance their patriotic look.
You can also "double pot" in order to beat the heat that often sets in by early July.
Set a 6-inch clay pot inside an 8-inch one and pack the space between with well-moistened sphagnum moss. This will keep the inner pot cooler and help retain moisture.
If you select a non-draining container for the outer one, water that drains from the planted area will be soaked up by the sphagnum moss. Just be sure it doesn't accumulate and drown your plants.
Take a few minutes to stroll through your favorite nursery or garden center. You're sure to get plenty of ideas to make your garden display creative, interesting - and patriotic as well.
Happy gardening!
Helen Bale can be reached at htbale@infostations.com.