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Aurina - saxatilis
Alyssum Basket of Gold: Like
it's annual cousin, perennial alyssum is low growing and
spreading but not at all invasive. It is magnificent in
the spring when combined with bulbs and blue forget-me-not..
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Asclepias -
tuberosa
(aka Butterfly
Flower): Asclepias grows into a
24” bush that produces
a profusion of vivid red-orange flowers that attract Monarchs
and other colorful butterflies. It is a host plant, providing a
place for them to lay their eggs and food for hungry
caterpillars. It also happens to be
great in bouquets!
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Coreopsis - lanceolata Double Sunburst Seed
- Coreopsis is so easy to grow! Put the seeds in the
ground early (by Mother's Day) and it will bloom the first year
(about 11 weeks after sowing). It is a prolific bloomer.
It will self-seed but is not invasive. |
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Chrysanthemum - maximum
(Daisy
Alaska Shasta ) They are awesome
in bouquets, hold up a long time in the vase and both the pedals
and leaves are edible. They do not bloom until their
second year but are well worth the wait. By the third year
each plant will have formed a clump 18 inches across and you
will be sharing plants with your friends. |
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Gaillardia -
grandiflora
Dwarf Goblin (aka Blanket
Flower) Back in the days
when I used to deadhead the plants in my own
garden, I could not keep up with the blanket flower - they
bloomed so profusely. It is such a bright cheery flower -
it takes only a few in a bouquet to make it stand out.
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Rudbeckia Autumn Gloriosa
(aka Gloriosa Daisy): This cousin to the black eyed Susan
is frequently mistaken for sunflowers in our gardens. It
is gorgeous in the garden and great in bouquets. Is a
short-lived perennial (2-3) years but easily reseeds. The
plants that winter over bloom mid summer. We always start
new ones each spring so we will have blooms in the fall as well
- as it is one of those perennials that will bloom the first
year if started early enough. |
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Verbascum -
phoeniceum Shades of Summer.
I planted verbascum seed near one of our service berry trees
about four years ago then forgot about it. I noticed
something come up there but there were no flowers and the leaves
were close to the ground. The following spring, I walked
by the area on my way to get a wheel barrel and stopped in my
tracks. The non-descript leaves were now topped with tall
stems covered with a mass of flowers. This is one of the
things I like most about gardening - the surprises. Since
then I learned that verbascum is quite a heavy self seed and
will show up in lots of places. I does not like to be
transplanted and there are many colors and varieties. Cut
it back after blooming to prevent over seeding and to encourage
reblooming. |
