The dog days of summer are upon us and what better way to enjoy this little bit of leisure time than with a cocktail in the garden.
First up, set the stage for the evening, said former Hoosier C.L. Fornari, in her book The Cocktail Hour Garden (2016, St. Lynn’s Press, $19.95, hardcover). Is the landscape past it prime? Have the plants seen better days? Remember that plants are like people, in that they have lifespans, and some age better than others. When shrubs, trees or perennials stop earning their keep because they bring you more worry than joy, yank them out and replace them with something else. Ask yourself: What do the plants bring to the party?
“I want readers to see their yards and gardens from a new, celebratory perspective. My focus here is on creating landscapes for evening relaxation, renewal and entertaining, so the party metaphor is fitting,” wrote Fornari, who gardens at Poison Ivy Acres on Cape Cod.
When sitting outdoors in the evening, think about fragrance and brightness. White and silver are the colors of the hour because they glow as nighttime falls. Dusty miller (Seneceo cineraria) , lamb’s ear (Stachys bizantina), and licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) are a few fuzzy, silver-leaf selections. Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa), flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) and moonflower (Datura spp.) perfume the air.
In the late afternoon and early evening sun, hummingbird moths and hummingbirds will join you, visiting flowers to imbibe on nectar. Set them up with hummingbird mint (Agastache spp.), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), sage (Salvia spp.), and bee balm (Monarda spp.) and they’ll come calling.
Here’s a Fornari recipe to sip while watching the birds and enjoying the cocktail hour.
Basil Margarita (for each drink)
5 or 6 large basil leaves
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce agave nectar
2 ounces blue agave tequila
Lime and basil for garnish
Salt for rim (optional)
Rub the rim of the glass with a lime wedge first and press the salt against the edge. Muddle basil a bit in a Mason jar or cocktail shaker, add lime juice and agave nectar, and muddle again. Add tequila and ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into the glass and garnish with the basil and lime.
Plants on display at fairgrounds
When at the state fair, visit the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden to see hundreds of All-America Selections plants and how they would look in your landscape. The garden is near the DNR building on the northside of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Photo courtesy Steve Mayer/Extension Educator
Nestled next to DNR on the northside of the Indiana State Fairgrounds you’ll find the Purdue Extension Marion County Demonstration Garden. Hundreds of All-America Selections annuals perennials, vegetables, and herbs are on display. Visitors also can check out tomato caging techniques, raised bed options, and environmentally sensitive ways control insect and disease.