Flower Garden/Photo by GerFes/Public Domain/Wikimedia
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With the Eyes of March upon us; what
gardener is not looking forward to a warm sun and the feel of rich
black soil in their hands? Hopefully winter is at its end. This is
the time of year that most gardeners really look forward to their
planting season and begin to look for new and exciting plants to
grow. If you are like me you like to let your imagination
go wild during this time and envision your garden in all its
splendor.
The 2014 season looks very promising
with new shades of color, easier to maintain plants and more
varieties of favorite plants. Whether you are planting in solid
ground or in pots, the 2014 season will let your creativity shine as
bright as the sun.
Let us start off with a native
perennial, the Echinacea or Coneflower. This easy to grow native
plant is drought tolerant and easy to grow whether its throughout
your garden, as a border plant or in containers. The new head turner
this season is called “Supreme Cantaloupe,” a
double coneflower that is amazingly the color of ripe cantaloupes,
plus it is a carefree repeat bloomer for color all season long. Its
grows 26-29 inches tall with a spread of about 15 inches, will grow
in full sun or partial shade.
For an outstanding blue in your garden
the “Black and Blue Salvia” is your ticket if you
live in the 7 to 10 Zone area. This full sun to partial shade plant
is a midnight to steely blue that shows it glory in summer and fall.
It stands 30” to 36” high and is 2” to 3” wide. Although it
has no fragrance it attracts Hummingbirds and Butterflies. This hardy
plant is resistant to drought, mildew, deer, and foot traffic.
Black and Blue Salvia/Photo by Heather Abounader/CCA 2.0G/Wikimedia
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No garden would be complete without one
variety of Oriental Poppy growing in it and one with the most color
for your buck would be the
“Harlem”
with
it's deep burgundy-red color. A lover of the sun this red beauty is
28” to 30” in height and 18” to 23” wide. It tolerates
drought conditions and is a repeat bloomer, summer and fall.
“Harlem” grows in zones 3 to 5.
For those interested in a ground-cover, the Chrysogonum “Quinn'sGold” will do you nicely. This drought resistant, full to
partial shade plant grows in Zones 5-8 and can be evergreen where
winters are mild. It's cute small white to yellow zinnia-like
flowers produce from early spring to summer on leafy runners. The
plants stands only 6” high and has about a 24” spread and
infrequently is bother with pest or disease.
To add a whimsical fairy-like air to your garden or along your
border I think you would be happy with Geranium “DragonHeart.” This hardy geranium does best in Zones 4-8 in full
sun or partial shade. The two-inch flower color varies from magenta
to a ruby-magenta with black centers. It grows 12” high with a 18”
spread and blooms from early summer to mid-fall.
Geranium/Photo
by Jan Baker/CCA SA 2.0/Wikimedia
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Whether you enjoy planting what's trendy or like to try your hand at
growing some new perennials, be on the lookout in 2014 for its many
offers of new plants for color and shape.
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