Sharon Vickers has shared some incredible photos of her garden in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, with us before (if you missed the most recent ones, check them out here and here) but she also sent in this charming set photos that show how she switched up her garden’s color scheme in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Canada’s flag is red and white, so she deployed masses of bright red and white wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens, Zones 10–11 or as annuals) to wrap her garden in a celebratory, patriotic color scheme.

View of the garden with each bed edged in a color of the Canadian flag. Annuals are perfect for a statement like this, since it is so easy to change them each year. Maybe patriotic colors aren’t your thing, but you can easily play with color schemes or unexpected ideas with your annuals. If you hate the result, just try something different the next year.

White and red begonias surrounding a tree. If only the tree were a maple tree, it would be a great recreation of the Canadian flag!

Usually Sharon edges her beds in white flowers. The bright red gives a different effect, glowing vividly against the green foliage behind them.

Another view of one of the Canadian birthday beds. Here the white comes from zonal geraniums (Pelargonium × hortorum, Zones 10–11 or as annuals).

Looking down the bed. Is it just me, or does the curving edge of the bed mimic the look of a flag flapping patriotically in the wind?

Have you ever done a fun color scheme in the garden to celebrate a special event, patriotic or otherwise? Send us some pictures! We’d love to see them and to share your ideas with the rest of the GPOD readership!

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