Category: Perennials
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PeeGee Hydrangea Full Bloom
PeeGee hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’) gives instant elegance to any landscape. PeeGee Hydrangea – Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ The white, reliable blooms of PeeGee Hydrangea slowly become pink as fall progresses. Other features of PeeGee Hydrangeas include a course habit and yellowing leaves as the temperature grows colder. Prune PeeGee hydrangeas whenever you see fit, for…
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Spring Flowers for Early Bloom in the Landscape
We all want to see color after a long dreary winter. However, what can we plant to get spring flowers sooner? Yesterday, I looked out the kitchen window and the Arnold Promise Witch Hazel was on fire. It’s mid-march and I’ve already got a flowering tree in full bloom. Arnold Promise Witch Hazel doesn’t have…
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Plants are People Too!
Today I spotted flowers on a stewartia seedling in the yard. I was beyond ecstatic. I felt the rush only gardeners and adrenaline junkies know. There was something special about those flowers. The flowers were flatter,brighter and more delicate than the parent. A flower on the parent stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia). The parent Stewartia growing in…
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Tree Peony Growing Tips
I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of my tree peony flowers along with some tree peony growing tips. Tree Peony Growing Tips Many people think tree peonies are difficult to grow. They’re not. However, tree peonies are slow growers and take a long time to become established. Once established, for me…
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Early-March Garden Inspiration
I woke early today, I don’t know why, perhaps because of Daylight Savings. Seeing the sunrise inspired me to wander the garden with the Pentax. The only other flower in bloom this week is Dorothy Wycoff Andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wycoff’). It’s early-March with little else going on and Dorothy is covered with red buds.…
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Early-March Blooms
Last week, I wrote about the blooms on Arnold’s Promis Witch Hazel. It’s looking better than last week with flowers continuing to emerge. This week I’ve got a few more things in bloom. Nothing is knocking it out of the park but need I remind you it’s early-March with temperatures going down to the twenties,…
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Attract Monarch Butterflies and Caterpillars
A couple of months ago I planted a few Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) on a whim. For this reason, within hours, possibly minutes, butterflies started gathering on the plants. Consequently, this morning, as I topped off the bird baths I found two Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars. Here’s the secret to attracting butterflies. Choose plants butterflies like…
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Husker Red Beardtongue – Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’
Husker Red Beardtongue has a gorgeous flower. Clean foliage. Easy to care for. Slow to spread. Attracts hummingbirds. Drought tolerant. Husker Red Beardtongue may be the perfect perennial! I don’t use Beardtongue as often as I should but every year when it comes into bloom I can’t figure out why. It’s mid-June and Beardtongue is…
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Small Details Make a Big Difference
I installed the landscape above last fall. It’s along a lake and required plenty of natives to work with the habitat and regulations. Blue Flag Iris – Iris Versicolor While designing the landscape I noticed Jewel Weed growing next to a footbridge. I wondered if I could do better with a more colorful plant. As…