Tuesday, December 23, 2025, our family gathered to celebrate a birthday. As the party was coming to a close, I looked at my phone and gasped. There were 18 unread texts all offering the same message: “Congratulations!” A two-year journey, that included reading a transcript of a Salem witch trial, learning that an ancestor was scalped by Native Americans in the War of 1812, and discovering that there are plaques throughout New York bearing the names of my ancestors, had come to a close. The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution accepted my application and acknowledged Abel Nettleton, my fifth great grandfather, as a patriot in the war that gained our country’s independence. This has particular significance as our country is celebrating our 250th year of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this summer.
As we embrace summer and the celebration of winning the American Revolution War, consider planting a few flowers that reflect our country’s history. There are many annual and perennial flowers that can be incorporated into a garden that allow us to show our patriotic spirit. For this column, I have broken them up into perennial and annual flowers. Perennial flowers, when planted in the ground, should come back next year. Annual flowers, often planted in containers, will complete their lifecycle within one year.
American Goldrush Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’) and American Goldfinch Baptisia(Baptisia ‘American Goldfinch’) both do best in full sun and offer gorgeous yellow flowers. Fireworks Solidago (Solidago rugoso ‘Fireworks’) is a tall perennial flower reaching 4’ high and wide and boasts arching firework like flowers. There is a series of award-winning hostas titled Patriot, Liberty and Loyalist. All are variegated and a bit more heat tolerant than other hostas. Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) is a native plant that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) extends a garden’s bloom time through its late fall flowers. Red, White and Blue Columbine (Aquilegia Kirigami) offer a variety of spring color. Pride and Joy Sedum (Sedum Rock ‘n Round® ‘Pride and Joy’) is a low-growing groundcover with pink blooms from late summer through fall. The ornamental grass Stars and Stripes Bulrush (Scirpus pendulus ‘Stars and Stripes’) has beautiful white flowers that resemble stars coupled with yellow and green striped foliage. All of these perennial flowers are appropriate in our northern climate and do well in a variety of situations.
While perennial flowers are a subtle way to honor our country’s heritage through their names, brightly colored annual flowers offer a very visual way to show our true colors. Whether planted in the ground or in containers, a combination of red, white, and blue annual flowers offers the chance to showcase the colors of our national flag. Three Angelonia varieties: Archangel Cherry Red, Archangel White, and Angel Face Blue, when combined make a vivid display and do best in full sun. Salvia Saucy Red, Salvia Victoria Blue, and Periwinkle Valiant White is another great flower combination for a full sun to part shade garden site. Traditional impatiens such as Bounce Cherry Red and Bounce White can be combined with the New Guinea Impatient Sonic White to add brightness to an otherwise shady area. Shade gardens would also benefit from combining begonias Bossa Nova Red and Bossa Nova White with Lobelia Techno Upright Dark Blue. The Easy Wave series of Petunias offer a tried-and-true way to add loads of color through long bloom time annual flowers. Easy Wave Petunias are available in Red, White and Blue and do not require deadheading (pulling off the old flowers).
In addition to planting flowers, gardens and our outdoor spaces offer other opportunities to honor those who have fought in war for our country. Setting aside a space in a garden to reflect upon family members or friends that fought is a significant way to honor their service. A garden stone representing their branch of service in that area and small solar candles may also be placed in that area.
As we come together as a community and nation to honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence, may be also continue to celebrate the freedom that our gardens and gardening in particular offers.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,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.
