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Tip of the Day – Use Autumn Joy to fill gaps

12 Dec

Have a spot you need to fill in your perennial bed?  Not sure where to start?  Autumn Joy looks great everywhere I put it, and after 6 years it is everywhere in my garden.

I have managed to divide this gem of a plant into almost every area of my yard, front and back.  It is really easy to divide and move around, which is what makes it such a great problem-solver when you need to fill gaps in your gardening landscape. And it helps that it is hardy in both sun and shade!

I used to exclusively plant it in the back of the border but have recently experimented in the front as well. I like this the best because of its lasting, seasonal flexibility with color. In the summer, it is a beautiful green and then in the fall it transitions to a show-stopper burgundy.

The Autumn Joy’s flexibility extends to floral arrangements as well. I routinely add it to the bouquets in my flower share service – both as a green filler in the summer as well as adding some texture and dark red colors to bouquets in the Fall.

So the next time you have a gap to fill, try the Autumn Joy!

You had me at Monarda

28 Mar
Monarda, also known as bee balm, is my favorite perennial.  It was love at first sight eleven years ago when I saw this beautiful perennial growing in my neighbor’s yard.  I asked her what it was and told her how much I loved it.  A week later, she showed up with several generous divisions of it.  This was the beginning of my love affair with gardening.  She also offered to loan me a book on perennials.   At the time, I did not know the difference between an annual and a perennial.

So I took her advice and planted the monarda in a sunny spot and watered, watered, watered.  They grew successfully, and I was addicted to gardening.

There are many colors and varieties of monarda.  For example, White Flower Farm sells 6 different types.  My favorite is Monarda Jacob Cline.  I have had good luck growing this in sun and in partial sun.  It seems to like most soil conditions.

Monarda is a great perennial for many reasons.  It has an exceptionally long blooming season.  The flowers keep blooming with a strong burst of color for more than a month, which for a perennial is a very long time.  They are also used as an herb for tea so they are not poisonous, which is a bonus if you have pets or kids.  They also establish very quickly, giving your garden a full look faster than any other perennial.  Monarda also smells great.  Last but not least, they attract the best creatures:  Hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, bees and birds will all visit your garden daily if you have this wonderful perennial in your garden.

So. . .  if I were stranded on a desert island and could only take one plant with me, I would choose monarda.

Casa Blanca Lily

6 Apr

The Casa Blanca Lily is a must-have for every garden.  I love it. It took me a while to understand the differences in lilies.  There are many different lilies, never mind daylilies, orienpet, oriental, trumpet, Asiatic . . . It can be quite confusing.  But one thing I know for sure is everyone should have the Oriental Lily “Casa Blanca.”  I grew it in my own garden for the first time last year.  It is an outstanding, large, fragrant, white flower.  It has staying power – never have I seen a flower last so long.  I had it in a very shady spot and have since moved it to a sunnier location.  Lilies are great bulbs for suppressing weeds.

You can buy the Casa Blanca Lily this spring and summer as a plant potted up and growing or as a bulb to plant and watch grow.  I recommend you get some of each, for a little instant gratification.  Jungs Garden is offering this bulb 3 for $5.95, 6 for $10.95.  This flower also makes an excellent cut flower to bring indoors – you will enjoy it for weeks indoors as the blooms last an unusually long time.

Easter Lilies

5 Apr

img_1050img_1051Easter Lilies have hit the stores with very low prices.  You can get this flowering potted bulb for as low as $5.99.  Enjoy it for several weeks inside now.   Then this spring you can plant it outside in your garden and it will re-bloom next summer.  This is a great addition to your home and garden as it has a wonderful fragrance and staying power, not to mention it is beautiful.

Tip of the Day – Bargain Lilies

2 Mar

White Flower Farm Lilies

Mel’s Green Garden Tip of the Day:Must-have for your summer garden: White Flower Farm’s Strawberries and Cream Asiatic Lilium Mixture (item #S984206, 25 bulbs for $20).

This is a great Lily. It has 3 different colors of Lilies: the most beautiful shade of red, creamy white and a pretty pink. It multiplies through the years, getting more and more flowers. My mother-in-law gave it to me about 7 years ago as a gift, and I have bought more for this house. They start blooming in early June and continue blooming through July. The lilies also make great cut flowers. You cannot find a better value for your $ – order now!!!!

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