“Green fingers are the exterior of a verdant heart.”

— Russell Page

Aperfect twist of silk scarf can catapult an ordinary outfit into a fashion achievement. Joy prevails in such moments. We gardeners can achieve a similar moment by planting summer bulbs.

Placed with strategic aplomb, these subtropical plants lend glamour and sizzle to your garden. Many are available in pregrown bedding plants from garden centers.

Who could resist burgundy-splashed shamrocks (Oxalis) and shimmering black-flowered calla lilies (Zantedeschia)? Calla lilies come in great hues of red, orange, yellow, magenta, lavender, green and gold. An elegant and long-lasting flower that should be grown in full sun to partial shade.

Colorful canna, the garden peacocks, strut their magnificent foliage. They come in dwarf (18 to 36 inches) and tall (3 to 12 feet) sizes, and their multicolored striped leaves are dramatic accents in your garden. They thrive in full sun and are high on attitude.

Dahlias will anchor your late-season garden and bloom their hearts out till frost slows them down. Plant dahlias in full sun and don’t be shy to cut the blooms for a colorful bouquet. Snip off faded flowers; you will be happy you did. The more you cut dahlias, the more flowers they produce.

Another great shade plant, caladium, is known for colorful “painted” leaves in combos of greens, whites, pinks or reds. Add this real show-stopper and you have the makings of a splendid summer show. They will light up your garden with the brilliance of an impressionist painting.

All tender bulbs are warm-weather lovers. No nippy nights or frosty morns for these tender bulbs. Now it’s primetime for summer bulbs. So add them to your perennial/ annual garden and watch the razzledazzle they will create.

You can lift and store these bulbs over winter indoors and enjoy them again next season.

Container gardening offers great flexibility and is the answer for gardeners with limited space. Mix and match foliage plants with colorful annuals, add some new cultivars for your enjoyment and let loose your inner monkey. Be adventurous and get to know which plants perform well for you. And don’t forget to water!

Pruning is virtually the same as plant “surgery.” If you want your “patient” to recover and flourish, use the right tool. If you are like most gardeners, hand-pruners will be the tools you will use the most.

There are two types: bypass and anvil. Each cuts in a different way and is designed for specific jobs. You will want to own both and know when to use them during different seasons and growth stages.

Bypass pruners use blades that slide by each other with a scissor-like cutting action. This lets you make clean, quick-healing cuts on healthy roses, shrubs and plants. Anvil pruners use a straight-edge blade that cuts against a soft metal anvil. These are designed for trimming dry and woody growth.

One more word on mulching:

• It increases the amount of organic matter in the soil, creating nutrient-holding abilities.

• It keeps the soil evenly moist and saves on water.

• It controls soil temperature, which helps maintain good root growth.

• It suppresses weed growth.

• It encourages earthworms and beneficial bacteria to move in. It’s a good thing!

Enjoy your summer!

“What a gardener needs is a cast-iron back with a hinge in it.”

— Charles D. Warner, 1871

Gotti Kelley, past president of the Navesink Garden Club, serves on the board of the Garden Club of New Jersey.