Early spring can be prove challenging in the perennial border, since few
perennials are even stirring in most areas come March, so what a joy to find those few that are at their peak early on. Veronica "Georgia Blue" is one of those, and that brilliant blue is hard to resist. It is an evergreen to mostly evergreen perennial growing just a few inches high, but spreading to 2 feet or more, with glossy foliage that turns a ruddy purplish hue in cold weather. It blooms for several weeks from early spring onwards, sporadically thereafter, and the foliage will be nearly covered with blossom at the height of bloom. Found in the former Soviet republic of Georgia rather than our own state, this one is quite hardy, surviving temperatures of -20f or below, and is tough and adaptable throughout a wide climate range.

Useful in the foreground of the perennial border, in a larger rockery or as a small scale ground cover, Georgia Blue is also tops for planting with spring bulbs, as the mats of foliage stay low, and that blue color is the perfect compliment to the yellows, pinks and reds of your daffodils or tulips.

Like most primulas, P sieboldii prefers a bit of shade, though will accept more sun as long as the soil is moist, and it is very hardy -- withstanding temperatures to - 30f, and reportedly even lower. It is also one of the most heat tolerant of the clan, and can be grown in many areas where other primulas languish. Each spring it sends up its lush mass of foliage soon topped by the 8-12 inch whorls of blossoms, which can be cut and brought inside if desired. After its April or May blossoming, it then gradually goes dormant again much like many other ephemerals like common bleeding heart, and then rests until the following spring. A fleeting thing, to be sure, but a real garden treasure.

I can't imagine letting too much of the year go by without including the perennial plant association plant of the year, could I? Not with that name, anyway.....

The tall border phlox can be such an impressive sight when well grown with those large panicles of blossoms appearing atop the three or four foot stems, but many suffer from mildew to some degree, which disfigures their foliage and mars their impact in the garden. Growing them is often a case of either spraying, or putting up with the effects of the disease. "David" is one cultivar that while not completely immune to mildew, is resistant enough to be able to grow happily in most gardens without spraying, and is well deserving of the p.p.a. accolades.

If you can grow good roses, you should be able to grow this phlox. Just give it a sunny position in good, rich soil, and water regularly. Like your roses, border phlox don't like to dry out, but it is best to restrict your watering to the morning hours or else water from below in order that the foliage stays dry going into evening. The payoff is certainly worth whatever effort you put in to growing these guys, as those fragrant, pure white blossoms make terrific cut flowers, and will continue to bloom for several weeks from mid summer onwards. If you have ever considered planting a moon garden, don't let this one pass you by.

This one is more likely to show up in American nurseries as "Ruby Star" instead of its original German name, but no matter what you call it, it's a keeper. Coneflowers are well known to most gardeners, but the regular species can display rather muddy colors, and the drooping rays of petals lessens some of the impact in the garden. You might think of "Rubenstern" as a gussied up version of this old familiar, as not only is the color much more vibrant, but the rays are held out more horizontally, so the overall display is much greater. Like all coneflowers, it makes an excellent cutflower and is tops for attracting butterflies to the garden. This one can be grown successfully just about everywhere, and all it requires is a good bit of sun with a soil that doesn't stay too waterlogged, and will typically bloom for several weeks starting right about the time in mid to late summer when so many other perennials are petering out. It's sure always nice having some plants looking fresh when most others are flagging, so if your garden is starting to look tired by late summer you might like this one.

If you think of dayliles in terms of the wild ditch lilies, or the ubiquitous "Stella D' Oro", you might think again. Modern hybridizers have literally transformed this genus over the years, and in the last fifteen or twenty, especially, have made great strides improving the form as well as introducing ruffling, pronounced eyes and edges, and broadening the color range. The daylilies of today are nothing like those of years past.

There are many awesome blossoms available today, but this one is one of my favorites and so aptly named. Photos of dayliles often appear doctored in some way, but this one of "Awesome Blossom" looks right on the money to me (and thanks to Bill Jarvis for use of his photo) . Not only does it have a very dramatic eye and picotee that appear almost black, but the very edges of the petals show a burnishing of gold. You should see it in person!

I must admit, this one is still a bit pricy for most people's budget, but the expensive daylily of today becomes much more affordable as the years go by. Typically, a new introduction by the top hybridizers might cost anywhere from 50-250 dollars, but within 10 years, most have settled in price to the 5-20 dollar range. I'm sure this, and many other terrific modern dayliles will follow suit.

If you are new to dayliles, or just want to reintroduce yourself, I suggest visiting Bill Jarvis' fine site at http://www.ofts.com/bill

Miss Jekyll described her aster garden in Wood and Garden:

"They have, as they well deserve to have, a garden to themselves. Passing along the wide path in front of the big flower border, and through the pergola that forms its continuation, with eye and brain full of rich, warm colouring of flower and leaf, it is a delightful surprise to pass through the pergola's last right-hand opening, and to come suddenly upon the Michaelmas Daisy garden in full beauty. Its clean, fresh, pure colouring, of pale and dark lilac, strong purple, and pure white, among masses of
pale-green foliage, forms a contrast almost startling after the warm colouring of nearly everything else; and the sight of a region where the flowers are fresh and newly opened, and in glad spring-like profusion, when all else is on the verge of death and decay, gives an impression of satisfying refreshment that is hardly to equalled throughout the year."

New York asters, the Michaelmas daisies of English fiction, come in a variety of colors and styles. Heights range from as short as eight inches to eight feet. Massed plantings of asters provide color echoes of late blooming Buddleias and Hydrangeas.

A. novi-belgii ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ is one of the smaller, lavender-blue cultivars (estimates range from 1 - 3 feet.) As with phlox, asters are susceptible to mildew; good culture which keeps foliage dry and soil moist should minimize it. Rated as cold hardy in USDA z. 4/9, A. n-b. ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ should survive in most of our gardens. Naturally, the good ‘Professor’ wants a sunny, moist spot in rich loam. Ahh, don’t we all?

As autumn approaches, our gardening thoughts often turn to fall color and our gazes turn skyward as we enjoy the reds, yellows and oranges provided by so many of our trees. At ground level, though, our gardens all too often lack punch, as blossoms dwindle and our roses, annuals and perennials become ratty. If you are looking for one last hurrah in your borders before winter, few plants can rival fothergillas, and "Mt Airy" is one of the best.

Fothergilla gardenii "Mt Airy" in Spring

Mt. Airy is all season performer, and small enough to be used in mixed borders, as it seldom grows more than head high and can be kept lower very easily. It gives a nice display of whitish, bottle-brush blossoms in spring before giving way to the soft, blue green summer foliage. The real performance arrives in fall, though, when the plant erupts into various shades of red and orange which can last for several weeks -- quite striking even here in western Oregon, where our autumns are often wet and mild, and
even better in cooler climes. I find them best in a spot receiving some protection from hottest sun, but they will thrive anywhere between full sun and fairly dense shade in a good soil that doesn't dry out too much.

Evergreens play an increasing role in the garden during the winter months, but many still long for some color in the landscape. One way to have your cake and eat it too is through many of the versatile heathers, which offer foliage as well as floral interest. One of the best of these is "Wickwar Flame".

Heathers are evergreen shrubs, typically spreading wider than high, and can be used as ground covers, in rockeries or in the mixed border. "Wickwar Flame" grows to 1 1/2 feet or so, with summer foliage a soft gold in color. It produces its mauve colored blossoms at a most welcome time in late summer through fall, and right about the time the bloom gives way, the foliage gradually changes color through shades of russet through red. This is a real all-season performer. I especially like them situated close to brick walls and walkways, which shows off their foliage to great advantage.

Like their close relative the heath (erica) , these plants will thrive in soils decidedly more acid than most plants tolerate. Give them a spot in full sun to light shade in a sandy, well drained soil, and shear them annually for best performance. They can rot in a wet, heavy soil, but are pest free other than that and are very useful in deer country.

What better way to spend a dreary winter day than curled up with a few gardening catalogues, dreaming of the coming season and planning new additions? Each season's rose catalogues are no exception, so if you find yourself with a little time and inclination, you might seek out Sally here.

Sally Holmes is considered alternately a hybrid Musk or simply a shrub rose. Some mention her as a climber. However you consider this rose, she is a beauty, producing her simple and elegant blossoms in enormous clusters over a long season. Apricot colored buds give way to ivory colored blossoms when open -- the apricot lingering longer in cooler weather -- and the clusters can approach a foot or more in size.

This is a vigorous and nearly disease free rose, growing to as much as 10 feet with support in favorable climates. For most folks, though, 5-6 feet is more typical. One of Sally's attributes is her versatility, as she can be grown as a free standing shrub or as a small climber, and her disease resistance comes in usefull when planted in a mixed border. Few catalogues mention cutflower use, but I've cut large single sprays of blossoms, and had them last reasonably well, not to mention the fact that one cluster is a bouquet in and of itself.