13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
I think I've found the perfect spot for it in the gravel driveway, now a court yard. It can spread as much as it wants as an understory for the pink flowering Rhodie can't think of the name at the moment and Sambucus 'Black Lace'. Of course my subconscious knew this when I bought it, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it LOL
Annette
I thoroughly enjoy big, blowsy peony Bartzella being taught her place by a passel of unashamedly screaming orangey red oriental poppies. The effect is somewhat tamed by an increasing number of Aquilegia canadensis in the same colours, and cool blue from iris and catmint. If either the peony or the poppy would be an all summer bloomer, they would be gone before they knew what hit them, but for a fleeting week or two, I love the club.
Though admittedly the rain does not do the poppies any good :-(.
I also just found the blood red 'Beauty of Livermere', to be planted to smoulder in front of a stooled purple smokebush.
Ooh Camp - I love glads in the vase! I don't have enough sun to have a cutting garden, but if I ever get that house on a couple acres that is my goal and start a cutting garden, glads will definitely be growing there! It is a joy when they start coming in for the season at the market, nothing like a large vase of glads to make a statement on the table :0)
penstemons are rather good too, Shannon, especially if you go for the finer leaved (and hardier) garden hybrids - such as the classic Garnet. Long season of flowering with minimal deadheading, flower earlier than phlox and seem to have none of the mildew/eelworm issues which can plague garden phlox. Super easy to propagate so just buy a couple and take lots of cuttings...which will also have time to put on a little show in a decent summer season. I rarely make suggestions as gardens are so personal and subjective but I am feeling pensive and remorseful after savage poppy venting on another thread.
I had to move two of my butterfly bushes this spring and after the long cold winter and 100+ inches of snow, I wasn't sure they would come back. They all did come back eventually, but they are a lot smaller than they were. So I am pinching the centers out to trigger more branching to get a good base on each shrub. I hope they will still be able to bloom this season. They are looking good at this point, just small. If they made it through last winter, I feel pretty confident about any winter we can throw at them.
Lilsprout, thanks for the great photo of 'Buzz Purple', I received one this spring and just know I'm gonna love it!
Another I'm excited about is 'Crown Jewels', the foliage is nice enough on it's own, never mind when decked out in purple blooms! Can't wait for this new plant to kick into gear!
From the label:
- With a Watering Can: Mix 1 tablespoon of Miracle-Gro® for every gallon of water.
For All Flowers and Vegetables: Use 1 gallon for every 10 square feet of flowers and vegetables, every 7 to 14 days.
For Roses: Use 1/2 gallon for small bushes. Use 1 gallon for large bushes. Feed every 7 to 14 days.
For indoor plants, mix 1/2 teaspoon (not tablespoon) per gallon of water. Apply every 2 weeks. We do not recommend foliar (leaf) feeding for houseplants.
Frogged, sounds like quite the project. Would you be interested in documenting the project? I love watching gardens adjust and change and yours sounds like it will be lovely at the end.
I have had really good results too with placing a few bars of Irish Spring soap in/around my gardens. Not sure why but it seems they don't like the smell of it.