A Note from Kay Johns:

Now that the holidays are over, Spring is on my mind.  Our collegiate work force (our triplet granddaughters) are home on Christmas break and are busily labeling thousands of pots in preparation for planting that will begin in February.

Each year at this time I formulate a planting strategy that will add more interest and beauty to our gardens.  This year I plan to concentrate on adding more architectural perennials to our gardens.

In my mind an architectural perennial is one that looks and acts like a shrub in the landscape, but is herbaceous and must be cut to the ground each year.

The reasons for using architectural perennials are many.

• They add needed structure to a garden design.

• They make a dramatic statement in the garden.

• Since they are cut down yearly, they do not outgrow their spot as readily.

• There is less maintenance.  There is no pruning other than cutting to the ground.

Listed below are plants that work well in this capacity.

	Acanthus spinosus
	Actaea  simplex ‘Hillside Black Beauty’
	Amsonia hubrechtii
	Amsonia tabernaem
	Amsonia tabernamontana var. salicifolia
	Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ I mage courtesy of  Walters  Gardens Inc.
	Aruncus dioicus Image courtesy of  Creek Hill Nursery
	Baptisia ‘Pink Ruffles’
	Baptisia ‘Solar Flare’ Image courtesy of  Walters  Gardens Inc.
	Baptisia australis Image courtesy of  Walters  Gardens Inc
	Flipendula rubra ‘Venusta’
	Kirengeshoma palmata ‘Margarita
	Persicaria polymorpha Image courtesy of  Creek Hill Nursery
	Rudbeckia lancinata ‘Autumn Sun’

 

A Note from Herb Johns:

Although at this writing, it seems hopeless I do know that the gardening season will be here shortly.  Because I am a year older I am thinking of how I can keep the pleasure of my garden, but make it easier.  One of the answers is low maintenance shrubs.  Hydrangeas, Spiraeas and Viburnums come in sizes ranging from 1 to 15 feet high and 2 to 8 feet wide.  You can find an appropriate one for almost any need.  Most of the ones that we grow are drought tolerant and require little or no pruning. Planting a mixture of these plants can provide interest from spring through the fall.  Refer to our web site to see what we have available and for proper care and placement of these plants.

This year we will be offering some new edibles. They have been making the health news because of their nutritional value.  These plants are hardy and very easy to grow.  We will have them for sale and will be growing them in a demonstration garden.  We are growing 2 different Lycium (Lifeberry or Goji Berry).  These large red berries are considered a “superfruit” by nutritionists.  They grow on a sprawling shrub.  The second new shrub is a native Lonicera or edible honeysuckle fruit commonly called Hackberry, Honey Berry or Blue Honeysuckle.  The large blue fruit is delicious and packed with nutrients.   After reading a lot about these plants, we are excited to give them a try!

Please note that I offer a free pruning workshop on Saturday, April 12^th at 10 AM.  No registration is required.  Join us!

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