Everything Goes With Black....BLACK VELVET PETUNIA

I think I am in love!  These are incredible!  The world's only black petunia. A 'goes-with-everything' petunia to pair up with other sun-lovers. What a dramatic statement alone or mixed with bright pinks, corals, and yellows!  Game on...I am on the hunt for these!   Stay tuned for planter pictures~

Add Texture & Color With Lamium...Showy Ground Cover

One of my favorite fast growing perennials to be used as a ground cover!  Lamium (Spotted Dead Nettle)  prefers a semi-shady dry area with well-drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils and moisture.  It is best to cut this plant back after the first bloom to promote compact growth. This plant is also deer resistant & can also be used in containers with ease for a trailing addition of soft color and texture. 

Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial ground cover. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Clusters of soft salmon-pink flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall. Fairly tolerant of dry shade, once established.  Stems will root into the ground where they touch, and any new plants that form can be easily moved in spring or fall. Also easily divided.

Colors of Peonies

The peony comes in a variety of colors that add texture and dimension to any garden.

Of all the flowers you can grow, peonies are often the most luxurious and spectacular blooms in an early summer garden. Among the many reasons to grow peonies are fragrance and color. Doubles are extremely fragrant whereas single blooms are much lighter. Some have no scent at all. Colors range from white, cream and ivory through myriad pinks and roses. Several lovely yellows, which are intersectional crosses between herbaceous and tree forms, are also available, though the cost for these rare peonies is high.

Pinks

Peonies come in a large range of pinks, all the way from soft baby pink to stunning, bright fuchsia pink. The Albert Crousse variety is a double-flowered peony that comes in a light pink, is mildly fragrant and is a graceful addition to any cut arrangement.

Peonies come in many shades of pink.

White

White peonies come in variations of crisp whites and soft creamy whites. The Amalia Olson variety is an all-white variety that may have a tinge of blush upon opening. This variety is very sturdy and highly fragrant making it a favorite for cut arrangements.

Peonies also come in several variations of white and cream.

Yellow

The yellow varieties of peonies are a stunning addition to any garden. These varieties are a bit more rare and will be more costly. The Itoh Bartzella is a vigorous, bright yellow variety that can have blooms up to 6 inches in diameter, making for a stellar show. It is also used as a cut flower with a mild, spicy fragrance.

Yellow peonies are a relatively new color on the market.

Multiple Colors

You can also find varieties of peonies that have multiple colors among their blooms. The Bric Brac variety has twisted petals of cream to white with magnificent cherry colored, streaked ruffles along the edges of the petals. This peony brings both color and texture to the garden.

Taming Forsythia

Taming Forsythia....Not as hard as it may seem.  Forsythia is very durable and could be cut back at any time really.  BUT...it is getting ready to bloom shortly so you may want to wait until you get the best benefit of the vibrant yellow flowers before you trim back.  After that feel free to prune away!

Are Hydrangeas Salt-Tolerant?

 By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 16, 2011

Chosing the right hydrangea for salty conditions is important to keep plants in excellent health.

Hydrangeas are widely used shrub in many landscape applications. They possess the ability to combine structure, color and interest within one plant, filling their growing space with bountiful beauty. Some varieties are often listed with more salt-tolerant plants, while other varieties may not be as tolerant of saline conditions.

1. Hydrangea Macrophylla

   • Some hydrangea varities have a thicker leaf cuticle which allows them to be more salt tolerant.

     Hydrangea macrophylla has been shown to tolerate salty conditions quite well. This variety of hydrangea is used in many home landscapes as well as commercial applications. This variety generally has a mop-head flower and blooms most of the summer season. The flower heads can be dried as well.

   Hydrangea Serrata

   • Some hydrangea varities are not very tolerating of salty conditions and may sustain damage.

     Hydrangea serrata, commonly called the woodland hydrangea is another good choice for salty conditions. This variety of hydrangea tolerates salt just as well as Hydrangea macrophylla. Hydrangea serrata originated in the mountains of Japan and Korea and is said to be generally more hardy than Hydrangea macrophylla.

   Hydrangea Arborescens

   • Hydrangea arborescens, commonly called smooth hydrangea responds poorly to salty conditions. This rapid-growing variety of hydrangea is a common choice for landscape shrubs. However, if regularly exposed to salty conditions this plant will likely suffer damage and will most likely struggle to survive.

   Hydrangea Paniculata

   • Hydrangea paniculata, commonly called the pee gee hydrangea is the only variety of hydrangea that can be pruned into a tree form. Unfortunately, this variety will not thrive under salty conditions, in fact it is the least salt tolerate of the different varieties. If exposed to salty conditions the foliage will become necrotic and the plant most likely will not survive.

Is Flowering Quince Deer Resistant?

 

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 19, 2011

Deer resistance does not mean deer proof.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is an attractive shrub that blooms in early spring. Surprisingly, the flowers emerge from bare stems, before any leaves appear. This shrub has been nicknamed the Cinderella of spring as its bright blooms appear very early in the spring season. This shrub is commonly known to be deer resistant.

1. Deer Resistant

   • The term deer resistant does not mean that deer will never cause damage to the plant. No plant is completely deer proof. Deer resistant simply means that deer are much less likely to forage on your plants and shrubs. However, if they get desperate there are no guarantees that they will completely ignore any plant.

   Conditions That Force Deer To Forage

   • In the past several years new houses and community growth has crowded the deer population into the shrinking wooded areas, and the deer are forced to go into the nearby lawns for accessible meals. This has been an increasing trend causing landscaping headaches for many homeowners.

   Keeping Deer Out of Your Landscaping

   • Many homeowners opt to install fencing to keep the deer population at bay in the wooded areas. There are also many products on the market to deter the deer from foraging. It may become a costly venture to deter deer, but one thing to remember is that deer will return out of habit and if you can deter them enough they will hopefully develop the habit to avoid your garden.

   Other Pests

   • Deer may leave your Flowering Quince for last choice, but the bunnies will help themselves.

     Rabbits will forage on the leaves of the Flowering Quince leaving foliage damage. They are also

How Tall Is a Burning Bush?

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 26, 2011

Learning the growth habits of landscape shrubs is an important step to the planning process.

The Burning Bush is a highly ornamental shrub that features mottled bark and attractive winged fruits or showy foliage and white berries, varieties of euonymus can climb as vines or form small trees or low-mounding shrubs. It is a popular choice for landscape planning as many of the varieties have brilliant fall color that becomes a centerpiece in the late season garden.

1. Euonymus alatus Compactus

   • Annual pruning may be necessary to keep shrubs at desired sizes.

     Slow growing, Compactus can eventually reach a considerable size even though smaller than the species. Old shrubs that are never pruned can reach 8 feet in width and nearly as tall. Fortunately, they respond well to shearing and shaping, and can be used either as loose hedges with pruning, or as natural specimens allowed to take their full natural broad layered shape.

   Euonymus alatus Rudy Haag

   • Brilliant color is a must have in any fall garden.

     Rudy Haag Burning Bush has an excellent habit and form making this a popular selection. This variety is quite compact with average heights of 4 to 5 feet with equal widths. The fall color can be spectacular. The small, yellowish green flowers that appear in May are not showy much like the small fruits that appear in the fall. This very compact, slow growing shrub performs best in full sun.

   Euonymus alatus Nordine Strain

   • Consulting a local nursery or landscape professional is a good place to start in deciding which shrubs suit your landscape needs.

     The compact selection called Nordine, was introduced because of the abundance of fruits it produces. Nordine is another example of a more compact version with heights and widths much like the Rudy Haag selection. This variety may be harder to find locally and may need to be ordered through a plant nursery.

   Euonymus alatus Phellomanus

   • Euonymus phellomanus has small inconspicuous flowers in spring, followed by vivid lipstick-pink fruit in autumn, which split to reveal conspicuous orange seeds. This specimen will reach heights of 8 feet with widths at 6 feet. Another notable feature is the corky, winged stems which are particularly eye-catching once the leaves fall in the winter.