2013 Perennial Plant of the Year

 

Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ or Variegated Solomon’s Seal has been named the 2013 Perennial Plant of the year by the Perennial Plant Association.

This shade-loving ground cover was picked for it’s hardiness in a wide planting zone range (Zones 4 to 8) .  Growing 18 to 24-inches tall and wide, the plant spreads by underground rhizomes to form “colonies” or mass plantings.  Solomon’s Seal is an excellent choice for the shady to partly sunny woodland garden as its variegated foliage can be used to lighten up a dark or shady spot in the garden.  The plant is known better for its arching evergreen leaves that are lush and variegated than for its hanging white flowers that bloom in Spring. 

 

Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is an excellent companion plant for Variegated Solomon’s Seal!  And you all know that I am a HUGE fan of planting bulbs in with groundcovers.  I do it all the time in my practice - it gives more seasonal interest to a mass of groundcover.

 

You’ll want to plant Solomon’s Seal in a shady spot that is moist but well-drained.  Variegated Solomon’s Seal is an excellent low-growing ground cover that will colonize but not spread all over the garden.

 

 

Each year, Perennial Plant Award winners are chosen by the members of the Perennial Plant Association for the plant's beauty, durability, suitability to a wide range of climate types, low maintenance, multiple seasonal interest, and easy growing nature.

Laissez les bons temps rouler! The Colors of Mardi Gras

 

It’s Mardi Gras!  Carnival season!  And Fat Tuesday is just around the corner.  Ever wonder where those fabulous colors of Mardi Gras came from? 

 

 

In 1872, the three colors of Mardi Gras were chosen by Rex, the King of Mardi Gras in honor of the visiting Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, who suggested the colors.  And where do you suppose he found these color combinations?

 

 

Purple Represents Justice.

 

 

Green Represents Faith.

 

Gold Represents Power.

 

 

The colors are found throughout nature. 

 

Johnny Jump Ups Viola tricolor

German Iris Iris germanica

 

Crocus Crocus sativus

 

On the Color Wheel, purple and yellow are opposite colors making them the perfect complimentary color combination providing the best contrast.  This effect makes them jump out at you.  While yellow is a primary color, purple and green are both secondary colors (a blend of two primary colors). 

 

 

For more information on New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, go HERE.  For more information on color in the garden, go HERE.  And to all of you who embrace the season, Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Flower of the Day

 

If you are into daylilys, you will appreciate this …

‘Creature of the Night’ Daylily

Flower color is  purple, white/near White with a yellow throat.  Height is 24 to 36-inches.  These little beauties grow in zones 3a to 9b in full sun to part shade.  I love the dark purple color!  I think I’ll get some for my summer garden.  How about you?

From Strawberry Pots to Tabletops

Suddenly, succulents are not just for strawberry pots anymore.  Remember when succulent plants looked like this?


Nowadays, in our waterwise world, they are looking more like this…
 
or this …

or this …

 Bend Weekly 

Yes, our beloved Hens and Chicks have found a new use or should I say many new uses.  They have become the plant of choice for living walls, green roofs and even tabletops! 

quinn tessentially me's blog

Sunset Magazine online can teach you how to make a tabletop garden such as this, step by step.

Sunset Magazine

Janice Eaton Kilby wrote the book on beautiful tabletop gardens.

 

And J Peterson at Garden Design gave it a pretty good review.

Yes, succulents have come a long way.  With their good looks, low water requirements and low maintenance appeal, they have become the plant poster child for the green movement.

Besserina

 

Halloween Plants

Happy Halloween Blog World people! 

What image do we think of first when we think of Halloween?  I’ll give you a clue … it comes from a PLANT.

 yaguargod at flickr

Pumpkins are the universal symbol for Halloween, at least in North America.  Here are some other plants that might also compliment the day and season.

Spooky-looking trees also do their part in haunting us each Halloween.  However, did you know that there are some real plant monsters out there too?  Here are a few.

Bat Plant or “Devil Flower”

Tacca chantrieri is native to Southeast Asia where it grows in the shady understory of a tropical forest.  It’s bloom resembles a flying bat or even a black cat with whiskers.  You can also find it growing in the shade in south Florida.  Imagine running into this creature on a dark and scary Halloween night?

  Venus Flytrap

The finger-like cilia of the carnivorous Venus Flytrap or Dionaea muscipula  actually resemble teeth.  These cilia help trap insects inside the two leaves, where they are soon digested by the plant.   This plant actually grows within a 100 to 200-mile radius of my hometown, Wilmington, NC.

Happy Halloween everyone.  I hope you have a SPOOKtacular one!

Perfect mates

 

Black-eyed Susans and Russian Sage

White Purple Cone Flower and Bent Grass

Japanese Hakoni Grass and water

 Feather grass and White foxglove.

Asiatic lilies and ferns

Finding just the right plant combination is much harder than you might think.  Water, soil and other cultural requirements play a huge role.  Knowing where a plant is found in nature helps immensely.  Being able to identify and recreate plant communities will often lead to success in the garden!

2009 Perennial Plant of the Year

The Perennial Plant Association has named the 2009 Perennial of the Year and it is Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola' .

Each year the Plant of the Year is chosen by a vote from the Perennial Plant Association members. Members nominate plants for Plant of the Year based on the following criteria:

• Suitable for a wide range of climatic conditions
• Low maintenance
• Pest and disease resistant
• Readily available in the year of release
• Multiple season of ornamental interest
• Easily propagated by asexual or seed propagation

Otherwise known as Japanese Forest Grass, this plant grows in Zones 5 through 9 in full sun to part shade. It will take full sun in the north and requires at least part shade in the hotter south. It prefers moist hummus-rich, well drained soils and will not do well in heavy clay. It grows to 18” in height to 3’ wide.

The bright variegated color should succeed in brightening up dark shady places. I think broader leaved plants such as hostas or fatsias would make a nice contrast to the Japanese Forest Grass, as well as brightly colored oriental lilys or even impatiens. Alliums would be fascinating poking out of this stuff!

It makes a nice plant to view up close and personal and its weeping habit would certainly draw the eye down to the horizontal surface of any water feature or patio.

Isn’t it a beauty?!

I can’t wait to try it in my own garden this year!

This week, I'm hooked on perennials. To see what others are hooked on this Friday, go visit Hooked on Houses.

Spring is just around the corner! Are you ready?

Click on the Photo to see the White Flower Farm Virtual Catalog.

Spring is just around the corner! My copy of the White Flower Farm Spring 2009 Catalog has arrived in the mail! This is a wonderful resource for all garden designers as well as amateurs as it provides great ideas for plant combinations as well as so much information about the plants and their requirements. Find new plants on the market for the season or tried and true winners from seasons past. This catalog has it all! The photographs alone, are worth the postage for the magazine or the trip to the website. They are truly stunning and are sure to inspire you to achieve great things in your own garden! Every plant I have ever ordered from this catalog has ever failed to impress me. It's a great company and features mainly perennials, bulbs, annuals, and more.