Summer gardens are filled with colorful flowers and long sunny days—but don't let your time in the garden end when the sun goes down. This week, see how to make your garden glow under the stars and get tips for midsummer lavender pruning (yes, now's the time!), and take a look at some show-stopping hibiscus flowers. Plus, we’ve got a few space-saving houseplant picks that are perfect for offices or dorm rooms.
Make Your Garden Glow at Night
with a Magical Moon Garden
Who says the garden fun stops when the sun goes down? By combining white blooms, silvery foliage, and soft lighting, you can create a space that feels magical long after sunset. Get tips on plant choices, layout ideas, and accents that make evenings outdoors unforgettable. Photo by: Proven Winners.
20 White Flowers to Brighten Beds, Borders, Baskets
and Moon Gardens
White flowers do more than glow in moonlight, they cool summer borders, brighten shady corners, and pair beautifully with every other color in the garden. From cheery bidens to airy cosmos, this list features 20 white-flowering plants plus design tips on how to use them for everything from quaint cottage borders to glowing moon gardens.
Color note: White is the most versatile color in the landscape, offering cool relief on hot summer days and glowing beautifully in the dark evening hours.
Summerific® Week
August 3-9, 2025
Few flowers can claim they have an entire week dedicated to them, but Summerific® Hibiscus has earned that spotlight. These native perennials transform mid-to-late summer gardens with massive 8" blooms, vibrant color, and nonstop pollinator activity, just when many other plants are fading.
Hardy in Zones 4–9, Summerific® Hibiscus thrive with full sun, consistent moisture, and a bit of space to show off their full top-to-bottom flower coverage. They’re not only breathtaking but also valuable to native bees, offering a vital late-season food source.
Want to join the celebration? Share photos of your Summerific® Hibiscus on Instagram with #summerificweek through August 9 for a chance to win prizes from Proven Winners.
Learn more about Summerific® Week and explore the full collection!
Summer Pruning: Key to Lavender Care
Mid-to-late summer, just after blooms fade, is prime time for lavender pruning. This essential trim shapes plants, controls growth, and promotes future flowering. Timing varies by variety, so watch your lavender's bloom cycle. Learn how & when to prune your lavender correctly to ensure lush, healthy plants year-round.
PLUS, check out our video: How to Prune Lavender: A Beginner's Guide
Think your space is too small for plants? Think again. These 10 compact houseplants fit on desktops, shelves, and windowsills—perfect for apartments, dorm rooms, or any spot that needs a little life. Easy-care and stylish, they bring nature indoors without taking up a ton of square footage. Photo by: Proven Winners.
Plant of the Week:
Summerific® 'Cookies and Cream' Rose Mallow
I have this hibiscus in my own garden (pictured), and it’s a true showstopper, with pure white 6–7" blooms set against matte black foliage from midsummer into fall. Compact, yet flower-packed, it delivers top-to-bottom blooms and thrives in full sun with regular moisture and is hardy to zone 4. A perfect pick for moonlight gardens and late-season pollinators.
If you're looking at a heatwave on the horizon, here are a few tips to get your garden through it:
- Hold the fertilizer—heat-stressed plants can't process fertilizer well.
- Don't prune or cut back—those leaves are adding shade
- Don't transplant or divide—plants are just trying to survive, don't add stress
- Don't overwater—check your soil first; if extra water is needed, then go ahead.
- Add temporary shade—your plants will thank you.
- Refresh mulch—it cools the roots and holds in moisture.
- Monitor containers—they dry out much faster and root zones are less insulated.
Happy gardening!
—Linda
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