Mums

Garden Mum Facts

• Garden mums are day length responsive and bloom as daylight hours grow shorter.
• Flower types range from daisy-like, large cushion and small button, to spoon and spider types.
• Color choices available in a wide range of whites, yellows, purples, reds, bronze and coral.
• Plant garden mums in a sunny location.  Shade will encourage weak growth and poor flowering.
• In summer, mums may be pinched back up until August 1st to promote compact growth and better flowering.
• When plants are finished blooming in fall, do not cut back as was once recommended.  Garden mums stand a better chance of winter survival if not pruned severely.  Cut back old stems in spring.
• Once the soul freezes, an application of mulch around the plant will also increase its chance of survival.  It is important to remove the mulch in spring so the plant will not be smothered.
• Garden mums may be divided in spring or fall every 2-3 years.

For more information about garden mums, just click on the picture

Bulbs

Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs

It's a fact of life:  to enjoy the glorious bulb flowers that bloom in spring - such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, iris and others - you must plant them in the autumn.  That is the hard fact.  The fun fact is that nothing is easier to grow or more colorfully rewarding than flower bulbs. For more information on Spring Flowering Bulbs, click on the picture on the right.

 

                                                                                          Batlik Iris

Perennial Of The Year 2008

      Geranium 'Rozanne' has been named 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year!

       Each year the Perennial Plant Association (PPA), a trade group that works to educate

       gardeners on great performing perennial plants, selects their Perennial Plant of the

       Year. In 2008 the honor goes to a Geranium 'Rozanne.

                                          Easy to Grow!                                                                                                                     

                          Large, vibrant violet blue flowers

                          Blooms early summer into mid-fall

                          Deep green marbled foliage

                           Vigorous ground cover

                           Prefers moist, well drained soil

                           Divide every 3-4 years

                           Deer & Rabbit Resistant

                               H 18-20"      S 24-36"

Perennials

 

Astilbe

'August Light'

 

• Long, scarlet-red plumes
  
• Blooms in mid to late summer;
• one of the latest reds to bloom
  
• New leaves are tinted red, then
• change to medium green
  

 

 

 

Coreopsis

'Zagreb'  

  

The Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’, Coreopsis verticillata, is a prolific bloomer of bright yellow flowers that bloom from June through October. Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ is a little shorter than the rest of the Coreopsis family. With a plant height of 15” and a spread of 12-18”, its delicate dark green foliage has an airy and delicate appearance. ‘Zagreb’ should be planted in full sun. It is drought-tolerant and tough but does need well-drained soil.

                  

'Sweet Dreams'

'Sweet Dreams' features stunning bi colored flowers. Flower petals are white-tipped with a dark raspberry center. Flowers bloom in late spring to midsummer atop plants with fine, needle-like foliage. As summer progresses, under high light and temperatures, the raspberry color develops further out on the ray petals, developing a slowly changing color pattern. Clumps spread rapidly to form a groundcover.

 

 

Dianthus

'Strawberry Sorbet'

'Strawberry Sorbet' has intricately patterned deep velvety red flowers with bright pink splotched petals and a matching pico tee edge. Each fragrant blossom measures about 1 1/2 inches wide, providing terrific color impact in the garden or in containers. They contrast superbly with the mounded, blue-green foliage.

 

 

 

Geranium

'Jolly Bee'

'Jolly Bee' is a clump-forming hardy geranium that typically grows in a mound to 24” tall and 24-36” wide. It is distinguished by its large, violet flowers and almost continuous flowering throughout the growing season. It is similar in appearance to 'Rozanne' except slightly taller. Large, 5-petaled, violet flowers (2” diameter) with purple veins and light lavender centers bloom from late spring to frost. Deeply cut green foliage.

 

 

 

 

 

Hibiscus

'Disco Belle Red'

These Gorgeous 9-inch Hibiscus Blooms Can Take the Heat! Huge, parasol-shaped hibiscus flowers completely cover the compact, bushy 2 1/2-foot hibiscus plant! All summer long, enormous 9-inch rosy-red blooms cover these neat 2 1/2-foot hibiscus plants!

 

 

 

 

 

Speedwell

'Royal Candles'

The Veronica ‘Royal Candles’, Veronica spicata, also known as Speedwell, is an easy to grow perennial that adds beauty to any garden. This new Veronica is the most disease resistant perennial in its family. ‘Royal Candles’ produces wonderful dark blue, candle flowers from June till September. With its dark glossy green foliage, it has a plant height of 15” and a spread of 12-18”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ornamental Grasses

• Grasses are adaptable and can grow in poorer soils better than many other garden plants.
• Grasses require little effort to maintain.
• Grasses come in many heights, colors, textures and have varying water requirements.
• Grass seed heads and foliage add fall and winter interest.
• Dried grasses have many decorative uses indoors and out.
• Grasses can be used as ground covers, specimen plants, for erosion control, and as vertical design elements.

 

'Stardust'

Very narrow green leaves form a dense clump. Horizontal, yellow variegation appears in early summer, followed by red flowers in late summer, full sun.  Height 3-5 foot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Unicorn'

This is a vast improvement on the older varieties of Spiral Rush. Leaves are round and stem-like, with a unique corkscrew spiral all the way up to the tip. The selection is tall and sturdy, with a deep green color and evergreen habit in mild-winter regions. Flowers are brownish and insignificant. 'Unicorn' is a superb choice for beside a pond or stream, as a marginal water garden plant, or in any damp sunny area. Great foliage for cut flower arranging. Stems may be trimmed back hard in spring.

 

 

'Dewey Blue'

The glaucous grey-green to grey-blue leaves have an upright arching habit, which makes it a choice focal point or specimen for the center of the border. The height and habit of this plant varies depending on the soil fertility and available moisture. It is more upright and shorter in less fertile, drier soils.

In late summer or early fall (depending on your climate), strong, upright to arching stems are topped by light, airy, blue-tinged flowers followed by tan seed panicles which continue to provide visual interest well into the winter months.

 

 

 

 

'Huron Solstice'

This new selection has blue-green foliage that turns a deeper shade of wine-purple beginning in early summer. This grass is strictly upright from top to bottom, unlike 'Prairie Fire' whose leaves curl at the top. In late summer, deep purple panicles are produced.

Switch grass gets its name from the peaceful swishing sound it makes when blowing in the wind. All parts of this grass are very sturdy, and will remain standing thru winter unless snows are heavy. This provides important cover for birds during the coldest days of winter. This grass is very versatile from a design standpoint; it is effective as a specimen, in masses, for screening, alongside ponds or streams, or even in large containers.

 

 

'Elijah Blue'

Soft powdery blue, spiky foliage that keeps its color all year round makes this grass a top pick. One of the more durable and longer-lived varieties, 'Elijah Blue' is a small, clumping grass with a rounded habit. In early summer, wheat-like seed heads are produced on tall, spiky stalks in great numbers. Preferring dryer conditions, this is the perfect grass for rock gardens, in stone troughs or pots, for costal climates, or even for use as edging.