Greetings from the Garden!
Whew it feels like forever since we’ve chatted. The month of May FLEW by in a flurry of annual fun. I love to watch the annual containers come into their own after settling into their new space!
2 caladiums, a coleus and wire vine
Dahlias, variegated ivy, wire vine and Juncus Blue Arrow
I just noticed; I think I have a thing for wire vine! Seriously, it’s a great vine for pots.
Now on to perennials! Things to think about as you ponder what perennials you want to plant.
- Where to place your garden is always a good place to start! Do you want to enjoy from your porch? A window? Do you want the neighbors to enjoy your gardens?
- What are the sun/shade conditions of the space(s)?
- How about the soil? Get a lab-based test kit from Gertens! And here’s a link to a previous ‘Scoop about Soil Stuff.
- Are you planting along a fence? A wall of your home? Consider the mature size of the plants when you are spacing them out.
The Baptisia is too close to the fence and the Blackeyed Susan is too close to the Baptisia
- Do you have a color scheme?
- Do you want all natives or a mix?
- Do you want to attract pollinators?
Look at the pollen on this Bumblebee’s legs!
- And please, consider your Climate Zone! In Minnesota we are basically divided in half with Zone 4b from just north of the Twin Cities south and Zone 4a north of that. However, there are pockets up North of Zone 3 and a pocket down South of Zone 5a.
- How much maintenance do you want to do?
- Vary plant heights and bloom times.
There are lots of things to consider and there are lots of plants you may try, love and then not love as much. REMEMBER, you can always change it!
Perennials offer color from Spring to Fall and don’t forget texture in Winter. They provide for wildlife including bees, butterflies, birds, insects, etc.; again from Spring through Winter too!
Grasses, Baptisia, Crabapple and more
There is a lot of life in those standing perennials as well as a nice visual in the bleak of winter!
Coneflowers, Shasta daisies, Switchgrass, Reed grass, sedum, JoePye weed
Bottom line(s): ENJOY the process, don’t put expectations of perfection on yourself. Give your plants time. Remember this saying, “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap!”.
And you can always change it up. Now, go out there and get planting! I’m super excited to see how this Spirea ‘Renaissance’ will look in a few years!!!
Perennially yours,
