Red, White and Bloom

Tall red tulips add drama to the center of a flower bed that celebrates our American heritage. With careful planning, red-white-and-blue flower schemes can also be planted in star or flag-like shapes.

Old watering cans, chosen for their painted and weathered finishes, stand sentry among a potted arrangement of red geraniums, dusty miller, and white Shasta daisies.

Off-beat finds, such as this red-white-and-blue flying fish, add whimsical charm to a garden or lakeside landscape. Pole-mounted objects offer a functional advantage as well -- they just might help ward off garden pests such as birds or squirrels.

Flags and wooden stars are mounted onto a wooden pole to create a high-flying centerpiece among patriotic plantings.

A star-shaped flower bed, shown above left and below, includes a red-white-and-blue arrangement of petunias, salvia, and Madagascar periwinkle. The flowers rally around a handcrafted flagpole that was designed as the focal point for a summer garden.