Looking through the picture files again I decided there
were just some perennials that I would not like to do without
every Spring and Summer.
Everyone has their favorites they depend upon to be
fragrant, colorful and reliable.
These are also the ones that I tend to keep adding new colors
or new varieties of to the beds every year.
A few of them are:
Brunnera
‘Jack Frost’ is an early bloomer and who would
not love the tiny blue blooms. The foliage stays around all summer
for me adding contrast to the beds.
I also have Brunnera ‘Looking Glass’ but its foliage tends to die back here in the heat of summer.
Dianthus spreads in mounds and smell heavenly.
I have this white variety that I have had for years and
which has lost its name if it had one.
A new Antique Rose one that I grew from seed last summer
now has been introduced into the garden and I hope to see some
blooms from it this summer.
Creeping phlox is also the first to bloom along with the
tulips in the Spring. It is a tough ground cover that is just
the thing for that bank or slope that everyone has that tends
to wash away. This cover a whole section along the banking
on one side of the garage to keep it from washing away.
Astilbe
Is a must have for any shade gardener.
I have several colors of it.
From white, red, pink and lavender.
More pinks were added to the woodland bed last Fall and
I am searching for a pretty peach colored one to add to them.
Tall Phlox is one of my favorites and I keep looking
for new ones to plant every Spring. If deadheaded they well
keep putting on flushes of blooms all summer.
The blooms may get smaller in later blooms.
‘Adonis’ pink is an old one with a strong fragrance that fills
the yard on summer breezes.
‘Nora Leigh’ was new to bloom last Summer and
has lovely variegated leaves. I am told the variegations
may get lost over the years so we will see.
David tall white phlox is a very tall one with pure white blooms.
Also to the collection of phlox in the beds little “Laura’
was added last summer and it has a very strong fragrance
and is more compact in growth.
Besides the wild lavender phlox that comes up in early summer,
Nikki , Katherine and Miss Ellie will be joining these in
the summer blooming.
Achillea’s of all colors is another perennial I have come
to love. ‘ Richard Nelson’ is a lovely deep pink.
‘Oertel’s Rose’ achillea is a lighter shade of pink yarrow.
Achillea ‘Snow Sport’ with its white blooms will be joined
by newly blooming yellow Moonshine, Apricot Delight, red Cerise Queen, and light yellow Anthea this summer.
Wooly Speedwell Blue Veronica has upright candle blooms
that the butterflies and bees love.
A favorite by many gardeners is ' the ‘Lolypop’ lily.
This one has been around for years and just keeps
getting fuller and better every summer.
I planted over fifty new lilies last summer and fall that
I am so anxious to see bloom this summer if I can separate
them from the munching deer’s.
These are just a few of my favorite perennials that seem
to grow in numbers through out my garden beds and are
added to as the new varieties come out every Spring.
Echinacea’s are another favorite perennial in my garden
and several new ones were introduced to the garden
last Fall. Among them are Summer Sky, Harvest Moon,
Sunrise, will join Razzmatazz and Double Decker.
What are some of your favorite perennials that you
would hate to do without in the Summer?
Happy Gardening Everyone!
