Perennials

The Perennial Garden

Ah! Perennials! Some of the most wonderful plants are perennials.

Easy for the beginner, these ideal plants provide structure and presence

in any garden. As backdrops for annuals, as focal points, or as specimen

plants, they are equally indispensable in our gardens. A true perennial

is a plant that lives for more than one growing season. Some,

like columbine and feverfew, only live a few years. Others,

like peonies, have been know to outlive the gardener.

Perennials unfold with the passage of the seasons. They are

effective mixed with annual garden plants for contrasting colors,

textures, and forms. Wide swaths of color, too, are brilliant sights.

My first perennial garden sprang out of necessity to break up a wide

expanse of patchy lawn that was gently sloped with extremes of

sun and heat on one end and heavy shade and heat on the

opposite end. By creating a garden room off the

walnut burl path to the pond, we would achieve a gentle, ambling

walkway leading to other rooms behind shrubs and flowering

plants; in effect, a series of garden rooms.

I did some research to locate plants that would need minimal care and

that would thrive in this location, taking into account the soil and

light conditions. Many perennials grace shade gardens.

I gleaned information from many sources, filling notebooks

with plant names and their characteristics. I developed charts

and pencil drawings to aid me in making plant selections from

the vast array available. I noted flower colors, bloom times, and growth

habits for one whole year before deciding on the plants I wanted. Living at 3,000 ft

elevation, hardiness was also a factor to consider. Plant fragrance

held a high priority during these selections.

I fancied an oval shaped plot and outlined the shape on the existing

grass with a hose, first one side, then the other. I dug the outline out

with a shovel, then proceeded to remove the remaining grass

and clay soil. I had read about double digging and amending

the soil, and that was my first course of business. After the

area was dug and amended with compost, sand, and peat moss, Tim ran

the roto-tiller over it several times until the soil was fluffy. He

raked it level and spread triple 16 fertilizer which I watered in well.

I did not plant this garden right away. I waited to check light

conditions again at various times of day, taking notes of strength, and

length of light intensity. I noted if there was dappled shade or

any pockets of full shade; if it received morning sun or afternoon sun.

For whatever situation I had, there were plants that would excel in

those locations. There were also micro-climates to consider.

These would allow me to push our zone limits, enjoying the

plants needing warmer zones, like tropicals and orchids.

Happy planting day finally arrived after about four trips to the nurseries.

Plants were set out in their nursery pots and a pleasing

scheme developed. What I was aiming for was a perennial garden

which would have plants and flowers creating interest in all seasons.

They would complement each other, bring out the best in each

neighboring plant, and planted close together, would appear lush.

Currently the perennial garden is planted with shrubs, trees,

bulbs, and flowers that either have interesting foliage, that

complement each other, or that create the effect

I want, a charming cottage garden

of simply perfect perennials. The colors are splendid and amazing.

The Main Attractions

Pomegranate tree - deciduous, lovely orange and white flowers

Escallania - sweet, pink flowers in spring, evergreen shrub

Iris - golden yellow, with lavender, ruffled falls

Snowberry bush - little pink flowers in spring, white globes in fall

Oregon grape Mahonia - reddish foliage, saw-toothed edges

Barberry bush - deep burgundy color, small leaves, barbed branches

Lilac tree - fragrant, lavender flowers in spring

Jacob's ladder - tall, purple flowers, ferny foliage

Artemesia - silver/grey plant with deeply cut foliage

Ajuga - purple-tinged groundcover with purple spikes in spring

Flax - tiny, blue flowers floating atop wispy, long stems

Peony - Sara Bernhardt, pink, double ruffled, fragrant

Coreopsis - yellow, ruffled flowers on tall stems

Pink Yarrow - ferny foliage, clustered flower heads

Foxglove - tall plant, purple bells spiral on stems

Tearose - small pink flowers, ever-blooming

Euphorbia - evergreen, light green and red flowers in whorls

Assorted daffodils and narcissus

Daylily - yellow/gold variety

Calendula, golden-orange spheres

Asters - tall stems, purple, small, daisy-like flowers along stem

Mexican Primrose - pink, cupped flowers, spreads easily

Penstemon - ruby lips on swaying, slender stems

Cistus (rockrose) evergreen, white flowers, drought-hardy

Gladiolus, bright yellow

These plants have been arranged so they enhance their neighbors,

reflect a nearby color, or contrast with another plant. You will notice that

most of the plants flower in either pink or purple colors, or

the foliage is purple, deep burgundy, or silver and white. This is

by design as these are some of my favorite colors. Yellows and whites

perk up the palette throughout. Many of the plants are

evergreen, some flower in early spring, some in late spring, and

others in summer, with the asters and veronicas blooming in the fall.

This bed was edged with medium-sized blue rocks in a double layer.

For interest, the top of an old wooden trunk was propped up on one end of

a large, twisted piece of old, silvery driftwood. The trunk shaded some

pansies and violets and morning glories climbed the driftwood for a

pleasing effect. Interesting rusted artifacts or unusual large rocks were

set in among the plants. A wee, gray stone squirrel peeks out from under

the Escallonia, and this, too, creates a sweet picture.

Perennials are used throughout the other gardens, along with annuals,

bulbs, and rhizomes, creating living pictures that dazzle and

delight the eye. And always, as I plant each one, I whisper

"grow and prosper" and snuggle them into the warm earth.

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