Memorial Day celebrates the armed services, so I went in search of red, white and blue

Blue was not a problem – I have hydrangeas everywhere and they are are all standard mop head blue. Alice Morse Earle commented that the hillsides of Long Island looked like they were moldy when the hydrangeas were in bloom and although many will disagree, it can get rather too much.

Then the white was just as easy because the gardenia is in bloom. I think these look much brighter white than the ones at the front and they are maintained for longer too. The front gardenias are in full sun and turn yukky brown in just a few hours. These are in afternoon sun, but shade for the rest of the day, and look much fresher. This one still has early morning dew on the petals.

Finally red. This was more of a problem because the Knockout roses are past their initial bloom and the echinaceas are not quite out yet.The nearest I could get was this reddish pink dianthus.  Its full  name is Diantus Scent First Passion, and yes it it very scented.