Early in the pandemic my husband starting cutting our son, Christopherâs hair. It started out of necessity and grew into something that they both enjoyed. As Christopher was preparing to go back for his junior year in college, he decided that he wanted to try something different and go to a hair salon. He read multiple reviews and booked an appointment online with a master stylist. His new trendy look gave him the confidence needed to enjoy in person, on campus classes for the first time in 18 months.
The outdoors has been featured prominently as a safe and enjoyable space during the pandemic. Many of us are turning to the outdoors as a way to de-stress and focus on the positive. Outdoor living areas have become more important and more used than ever before. Gardening and outdoor living trends have led to peaceful discoveries and a renewed sense of pride in our own backyard. Here is a look at the top trends of 2021.
Doing more with less space: Gardening is scalable. Whether your outdoor area includes simply a patio or a 1 acre lot, you can, and I would argue should, add to the enjoyment of that space with plants. Planting flowers, vegetables and even shrubs in containers is a wonderful way to capitalize on the space you have while minimizing the maintenance required.
Growing your own food: A few seeds planted in the spring can result in a sizeable harvest several months later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, watermelon, lettuce, zucchini, carrots, eggplant and pumpkins can all easily be grown. Donât like the weeding that is often required when vegetables are planted in the ground? Earth boxes and even some hanging baskets make the perfect place to grow a bountiful harvest.
Cutting Gardens: A great way to add seasonal color indoors is by planting a cutting garden outdoors. A cutting garden is a collection of flowers that are grown specifically to harvest them. The flowers from this garden can be placed in vases while they are fresh or dried and enjoyed for many months. Zinnias, cosmos and celosia are annual flowers that are excellent cut flowers. Perennial flowers such as Autumn Joy Sedum, garden phlox, liatris, yarrow and black eyed susans work well in cutting gardens also. Dahlias, gladiolus, Asiatic lilies and tulips are examples of bulbs that bloom prolifically.
Versatile Outdoor Living Spaces: Gone may be the days that we head inside after the first frost. Through the use of fire pits and blankets we are able to enjoy our backyards for weeks maybe even months longer than ever before. A comfortable and function outdoor living space can accommodate gatherings, work from home offices and even just a place to enjoy life for a few hours.  Shade sails cut down on the heat in the summer and a ceiling fan can help keep the mosquitoes away.
Pollinator Friendly Gardens: For years when I met with homeowners regarding their landscaping they would often say âI donât want anything that attracts bees.â While none of us wants to be stung, we have come to recognize the vital role that bees play in pollinating our food. Planting things such as allium, coneflower, gaillardia, heliopsis, hydrangea, oak, salvia and spirea will not only add beauty to a yard but also help to support pollinators such as birds and bees.
Cottage Gardens: Current garden trends are leaning towards an informal, relaxed look. Creating a romantic feel through the use of climbing roses and tall perennial flowers can mimic a countryside type of garden. Herbs can also be incorporated into cottage gardening.
Pantoneâs 2021 Color of the Year âIlluminating Yellowâ: Does your garden need a little pick me up? Consider adding a few yellow flowering or yellow leaved plants. Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry is a shrub that has chartreuse leaves and will grow 3 ½â tall and 2â wide. Kodiak Black Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle has bright yellow flowers in the summer coupled with burgundy foliage in the spring and fall. Summer Nights Heliopsis, also called false sunflower is a new introduction that grows about 3â tall and blooms throughout the summer.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., and a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
