The long raised bed of annuals just east of the shelterhouse patio is fun to watch as it fills out over the growing season. Each spring, the CPOR garden supervisor creates a striking design of different plant colors and shapes to greet visitors. Garden volunteers assisted with this year’s planting May 13.

The 2025 plants, all sun-loving and drought resistant, include:

Petite Licorice
Bee’s Knees Petunia
Yellow Lantana
Wasabi Coleus
Monarch Magic Ageratum
Black & Bloom Salvia
Purple & Bloom Salvia
Sallyfun Deep Ocean Salvia

Canna Lily Pretoria and Diamond Head Elephant Ears add dramatic contrast and height. It’s a beautiful palette of complementary blues and yellows, purples and oranges. Consider some of these combinations for your own garden!

Note: If you’ve been a regular CPOR visitor over the years, you’re not imagining things: the annuals bed stone border was enlarged and renovated this past fall to eliminate the problematic grassy strip between it and the paver walkways and to provide a wider planting area.