Perennials Work Beyond the Blooms

May flowers are getting all of the attention right now.  And in the next few weeks this explosion of color will be spectacular!  As you see bright purples, pinks, and yellows pop up, if you are like me, you will head to the garden center to obtain the 'perennial of the week'.  Just be aware that in a few weeks, perennials blossoms will fade and you will just have the foliage to view in the landscape.

Beyond the blooms will be months of what can be a landscape full of interest, textures, contrasts, and soothing colors.  As the progression of flowers comes and goes, think about the setting, not as a Monet, but as a sunrise or sunset. The swirls and blends of soothing shades of leaves will be a delight. And who doesn't like to view a sunset?

Bright

 leaves of heuchera are brilliant examples of color available in foliage plants. I've grouped these closely so the shading will play off of its neighbor.  A mass planting , say five or seven plants, of just one of these would be an eye catching element in the garden, too. 

 

Ferns and Hosta (this hosta is H. Gin and Tonic) work in the shady garden.  The broad leaves of the hosta and the light, airy fern compliment each other well. 

This combination of Catmint (Nepeta), with its small  leaves, and open clump, sits next to Hosta, and a large Sycamore Tree. The tree trunk bark has alot of texture and adds to the tapestry .   The Sunny spot behind the tree is a Gold Thread Juniper. Don't forget to consider year-round interest when placing plants in the garden.  Our winters can be long and cold here in Zone 5b, and the evergreens and tree trunks put on a show all year long! 

The bright contrast of the euonymous is a year round event, too.  The chartreuse next to the deep green is stunning.  I've tucked a Hosta in the mix here.  The large leaf of the Hosta, and the smaller leaves of the euonymous have a nice effect.( And note:  no flowers!)

Some other elements that offers visual texture to the landscape are stones and boulders. 

The rocks have an edge, and the plant material tucked up close, softens the edges for a calming feeling.

When choosing plants the foliage and textural contrasts play an important role in the overall feeling of the garden.  Wide leaves next to light airy fronds or light colors beside dark shades all complement the eye.  The low round plant next to a tall, spikey one will go a long way to add interest to your yard.

Veriagated foliage, as in this Loriope, can bring a brightness to a group of plants and offer its own sublety.

It may not scream 'Look at me!' but the minds eye will quietly appreciate the effort.

I've presented an insight to my psyche.  I like the long term relationship of plants. I love the blooms when they are here, but the steadfastness of the full season soothes any loss I feel  beyond the blooms. Enjoy.

10 Money $aving Ideas for the Landscape

Nothing takes the fun out of a project than spending too much money and the end result got lost along the way.  Landscape projects can quickly get out of hand in costs and size.  Realistic plans that are doable are more likely not to break the bank. 

1) This is the planning part of the project.  Collect pictures of outdoor spaces that may work in your landscape.  Many times a professional landscape designer can actually save your money.

A design plan by a professional may have an upfront expense, but avoiding a costly do-over down the road is worth this added step.  Occasionally, I have had customers come to the garden center with photos of a space they are thinking of improving in their yard.  This is a great way to get an idea of plant sizes, colors, and costs.  Suggestions on plant spacing and maturity sizes can eliminate some experiences like these.



2) Realistic projects also help spread out the cost of an entire landscape





project over several seasons. Do-it-yourself projects may seem like a good option, but many mistakes and trips to the home improvement store can end up costing us in time and money.  Hiring  professionals for irrigation, or cement work is a good investment. Electrical outlets done wrong are annoying at best, and dangerous if done wrong.
 

3)  Sowing seeds instead of buying plants is another money saving step.  Certainly by starting seeds in small starter pots ahead of  sowing them outdoors can be easily done in a sunny windowsill. Direct seeding in beds can generate dozens of plants in a short period of time.
 


4)  Buying plants in small sizes can save money over buying larger potted sizes.  A quart perennial is cheaper than a gallon perennial.  Growers can charge less for the smaller quart sizes because they have less material used in the process.  Less soil, less containers, -  and more  smaller containers can be shipped, reducing fuel cost for transportation.


5)  In a similar thought, purchasing perennials rather than flats of annuals can save money.  The very fact that annuals need to be replaced ‘annually’ is the key.  And a border of perennials can be just as colorful when bloom times are staggered, and plants with colorful foliage are chosen. 



6) Perennials are plants that live at least three seasons.  Most live much longer.  As the second or third season comes around, perennials are easily divided, offering the landscape a new plant with no cost. I recently divided Hosta, 'Lime Delight'.  One clump gave me six root sections that I have spread around the garden to fill in black spaces.  Now that’s saving money!





I have picked up plants on the cheap at Garden Club plant sales, garage sales, and plant association sales like the Miami Valley Hosta Society is having Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Buying plants in this manner gives a chance to talk to the folks who grew the plant in your area.
 


7)  Compost is another great way to save money in the landscape.  No fertilizer bags to lug home from the store with that plastic packaging to dispose of in the trash.  Compost provides great organic material with no fuel cost to bring it to your home, no processing costs at a manufacturing facility, and  no chemicals to harm the soil, or leach into waterways.

At $3 per bag for trash haulers to remove grass clippings, it seems more economical to use a mulch mower and let grass clipping stay in the lawn.  This added organic matter is the same as one application of fertilizer – at not cost to the homeowner.


8)  Less lawn can save money too.  If we can save on gasoline to mow, less water used to keep lawns green, and less herbicides and insecticides are needed, money savings can definitely add up.


9)  Native plants, whether perennials, shrubs, or trees can save money long term in the landscape.  Native plants do not need to be babied with added fertilizer, excessive water, or pesticides.  Once established, native plants are quite pretty, and easy on the budget.



10)  One last tip on saving money in the landscape is to plan to purchase trees, shrubs, and perennials in the ‘off season’.  Many bargains can be found at garden centers and through landscapers in the fall and early winter.  Many of these folks do not want to store the plant material over the winter and are willing to offer great deals to the public.  As long as the ground is not frozen solid, trees and shrubs can be planted into winter.  Perennials may need time to get established before really cold temperatures arrive, so plan to pick perennials up in late summer and early fall to allow roots to take hold for best results. 
Planning landscape projects can save money.  Costly mistakes occur when we start a project that is too big and too complicated.
Consider what we bring in in terms of cost – soils, mulches, plants, cost of transportation, maintenance equipment needed.



Then be diligent in what the landscape produces as yard waste and disposal of leaves. Recycle yard debris and eliminate fuel costs of having it hauled away, and gain the added benefit of great organic material for the next seasons to come.

What thrifty practices do you incorporate in your landscape? 

Arbor Day Featured Tree–The Redbud

The Eastern Redbud tree, Cercis canadensia has been a favorite of mine since kindergarten.  In the early 1950’s our school sold Redbud trees to help a school fundraiser.  They were $ .25 each, and we sold 100’s of trees.  Each spring I recall that time of my life and smile a little when I see rosy wafts of color in the still stark woods in Southwest Ohio.  Along roads and streams the native redbud probably was not all attributed to my kindergarten class, but I like to think I had a little hand in this hopeful sign of spring.


The Redbud is a short lived tree that is grown in Zones 4 – 9, and when we bought this property, we had four redbuds that had outlived their beauty.  As I have documented in past posts, we have also had to remove pines, mulberry, ash, and blue spruce. So with this blank slate, we headed to the garden center to get a Redbud ,’Forest Pansy.’

Redbud, 'Forest Pansy'

The lovely dark purple and pink leaves are stunning, and I had my mind made up – until I saw some of the ‘new’ redbuds available in the marketplace.  So, let me show you some really great cultivars that breeders have developed in Redbuds.

The tree we finally brought home is a variety called ‘Solar Eclipse’.  The variegated green and cream leaf really caught my eye.
This cold hardy tree in Zone 4,  had pink-lavender blooms on the stems before leaves appear.  The leaves are emerging as a fresh golden orange.  This tree will stay small with a mature height of about 12 feet tall.

Blooms of Redbud, 'Solar Eclipse'

New Home for my 'Solar Eclipse'

Several varieties of weeping Redbuds that are available are ‘Ruby Falls’, ‘Cascading Hearts’, ‘Lavender Twist’.

Redbud, 'Ruby Falls'

Redbud, 'Cascading Hearts'

Redbud, 'Lavender Twist'

The ‘Ruby Falls’ is a weeping Redbud with tiny pink flowers before dark burgundy foliage appears.  As the season progresses the leaves turn a dark green. Finally in autumn, the bright gold foliage takes of the show.  ‘Ruby Falls’ is good for a small garden since it’s mature size is only 6’ to 15’ tall.

‘Cascading Hearts’ is another weeping Redbud that will get about 15’ tall also with pendulous branches that are flexible and have a fuller weeping form. This Redbud has great fall foliage of orange and red.

‘Lavender Twist’ is an eastern Redbud in a weeping form and has zigzagging branches that mound to a mature height of 6’ to 8’ tall.

Redbud, 'Rising Sun'

‘Rising Sun’ really caught my eye since it’s spring foliage emerges with hints of orange and apricot. Flowers of pink, ‘Rising Sun’ matures at about 15 feet.

 

Redbud, 'Burgundy Hearts'

 ‘Burgundy Hearts’, also known as ‘Greswan’ is an eastern Redbud with pink flowers and these lovely glossy reddish-purple leaves.  They will fade to a green as the season progresses.  Growers believe this burgundy color will stay longer into the season than the ‘Forest Pansy’ leaf does.

Redbud, 'Merlot'

‘Merlot’ also has dark purple leaves that emerge after bright pink flowers.  Hardy in Zone 6-9, this small 10’ – 15’ dense trees is ideal for small yards.


‘Don Egolf’ will be a popular variety in my opinion.  It is a slow grower with dark green foliage, that emerges after vivid, rosy-mauve blooms.  This trees is sterile and does not produce seed or unsightly pods, and is not invasive.  It is compact in size and can tolerate most any type soil.  This variety is a Chinese Redbud, Cercis chingii.

Chinese Redbud, 'Don Egolf'

'Hearts of Gold'

This is the leaf color of an appropriately named variety – ‘Hearts of Gold’. The reddish new growth turns into this lovely gold but will eventually turn green.As the leaves emerge, they change from the opening color of red, to golden yellow and in inner leaves will be green.  The emerging leaves can give a show of all three colors at a time for great impact. The flowers are a lavender-purple.

Redbud 'Royal White'

One Redbud I saw at the nursery had white blooms.  It is ‘Alba – Royal White’ and it was stunning.  The ‘Royal White’ blooms earlier than some of the other white redbuds and it’s spring leaves start being burgundy, then fade to green.  Later in the season the leaves turn to a blue-green before turning yellow in the fall.  It does produce 4” pea pods that wildlife appreciate. ‘Royal White’ is a large Redbud and will peak to 30 feet tall. 

'Redbud, 'Appalachian Red'

‘Appalachian Red’ is smaller at a mature height of 15’ to 25’ and is heat tolerant.  Deep fuchsia red blooms stand out in the landscape, and the blue/green foliage turns brilliant yellow in fall.

Redbud, 'Traveler'

One other type of Redbud is the Texas Redbud.  ‘Traveler’ is similar to  ‘Lavender Twist’, but the red buds are smaller, and glossy leaves resist fading in the heat of summer.

Other popular Redbud varieties are 'Pink Charm', 'Pinkbud', 'Silver Cloud', and "Flame'. No matter what variety of Redbud you choose, I believe you will have hope and a smile that spring is truly here when these beauties bloom.  Arbor Day is April 27, 2013.  Let’s celebrate trees and plant a tree or three. 

Foliage – Create Great Gardens

More than color, foliage is that element of the plant that creates its identity.  Foliage can be big, bold, leafy, round, waxy, ferny, and strappy.  The type of foliage creates texture, contrast, and may be the focal point of a section of garden, or foliage can be the backdrop to any manner of visual delights we care to place there.
I have been known to rush to the garden center to purchase the latest perennial that was in bloom. But that love affair with that plant faded along with the blossom a few weeks later. So, what is left after the blooms fade?
Foliage – beautiful, season long foliage.  Here are some plants that I find create moods in the garden just for the color or texture that it’s foliage offers.

 
The staple in my garden is the Hosta.  Mini-hostas 2 inches in diameter, or large Hosta that span 4’ – 5’.  The leaves are so varied in each variety.  Some are gold, some are dark green, some are blue, some are chartreuse, some are green with white edges, some are white with green edges.  Some are blue with green stripes, some are light green with dark green shades. Some Hosta are puckered, while some are smooth.  The point is, the foliage is the attraction and the design element in the garden.

I pair Hosta with plants that have a airy feel in the foliage.  Plants like Astilbe or ferns. My favorite fern is the Japanese Painted Fern – Athyrium niponicum, var. pictum.  This plant does well in shade, and fronds are in various shades of burgundy, silver, green, and rose. 

Japanese Painted Fern

One plant that has great foliage is Hakonechloa macra,  ‘Aureola’, a grass that holds its best color in part shade – right along with the Hosta. 

Maiden Hair Fern

Maiden Hair fern has a airy frond, with black stems.  A very nice plant for shade that is slow growing.



As this Hosta is tucked up near a boulder, the ferns creep in behind, the moss on the stone gives texture, and the Celandine poppies offer yet another shade of green, and a deeply lobed leaf.  No blooms but a lot of color and texture.
 
Another plant group that I’m enchanted with is the Heuchera, Coral bells.  There are many, many new cultivars coming on the market, and the color of these plants is amazing.  I think that ‘salad’ textures are a good comparison, and many of my Heuchera stay looking fresh all through winter. 

This photo is varieties from the “Crisp” series, and I have the ”Dolce” collection.  With names like Carmel, Delta Dawn, Plum Royale, Cajun Fire, Apple Crisp, and Black Out, one can surmise a full range of colors from Black, Browns, Orange, Purple, Red, and Silver.  Mass planting of one variety would most definitely catch your eye from across the yard, or, as in this photo, a mix looks delicious.


Other plants offer a coolness in the silver foliage they offer.  Plants like Rose Campion, Artemisia, and lavender  have a silver foliage that blends well into a hot, dry garden.  A nice silver plant, “Helen Von Stein’ Stachys byzantina , has wide soft velvety leaves.

Brunnera

A spring plant that holds up well with enough water during the heat of the season is Jack Frost, a Brunnera macrophylla. Hardy in Zone 3-8, the shade garden is a great place for Brunnera with Hosta and ferns.

 Pulmonaria, hardy to Zone 4-9, likes moist, woodland setting with rich soil.  The silvery shades brighten a shady garden with names like Silver Shimmers, Raspberry Splash, or Victorian Brooch.

Pulmonaria, Silver Shimmers

Pulmonaria, Victorian Brooch

Pulmonaria, Raspberry Splash

 Sunny gardens usually produce plants that like to show off with spectacular blooms.  Here are a few colorful plants that rely on foliage for added interest in the sunny garden.

Marchen Sedum, Dragon's Blood

Sedum, Vera Jamison

Fuldaglow Sedum

These sedums are low growers but don’t underestimate the impact of these bright burgundy flesh.  The Fundaglow is paired with a silver foliage plant, and the contrast is evident.  Many silver foliage plants do well in the full sun, as do the sedums, and both require minimal watering.  I believe the grass in this photo is a Blue Fescue, a small ornamental grass.
Husker Red, a Penstamon,  is one of my favorites for it’s burgundy foliage.  It too, will take sun.  Paired with Artemisia, lambs ear, or the annual, Dusty Miller, this plant is stunning.

Husker Red in Landscape

Black Mondo Grass with Baby's Tears

This black foliage is called Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon planiscapus, ‘Nigrescens.  It is mixed with a Baby’s Tears ground cover in such a way that both plants become featured. Black Mondo grass can be planted en masse or individually as it is here.  Hardy in Zone 5-10, Mondo grass is evergreen.  

Many thanks to SeasonalWisdom.com for this lovely photo using colors and textures of foliage plants in this manner.

These perennials are only a few of great plant choices when you are looking for foliage that will carry the garden past the blooms.  Thanks for visiting today, and leave a comment, please.  I’d love to know what foliage plants you use in your garden.