Plan your flower garden around perennials!

Perennial plants reward us with an appearance year after year while their cousins, the annuals, make a one-time show and then they're goners. For your home landscape, the perennial is a winner, with its wide range of size, flower and foliage.

Planning for perennials in the garden is well worth the time, since you'll enjoy the plants for years. That doesn't mean you can't correct poor placement. That's another thing about these plants: Most of them are easy to move and many keep spreading and even need thinning every few years.

Gardens can be designed to combine "islands" of perennials with gaps to accommodate different annuals each year for contrast. Perennial plantings can also be established in back corners or in shady areas as long-range "leave alone" plots.

Listed below are some of these plants suitable for our area. Many can be started from seed indoors right now, or later from bedding plants ready to go in the garden. Some of them, like iris and peonies, can be purchased as roots or clumps ready to go.

• Delphinium: Likes sun and good drainage and stands tall at the back of other plantings. Some varieties are so tall (4-6 feet) they need to be staked. Flowers in late July. If promptly removed as they fade, there's a chance of a second flush of similar, smaller blooms. Colors range from white to pink to royal blue.

• Viola: At the other end of the size scale are the old favorites, also known as Johnny-jump-ups. Violas are smaller than pansies and will keep blooming if old flowers are picked off through early spring and in the fall. They serve as ground cover, edgings or as eye-catchers in rock gardens. They thrive in the moist, shadowy backs of patios.

• Iris: The range of this strong, easy- to-grow wonder is enormous. Huge Japanese types sport exotic blooms of dinner-plate size in June and July. The smallest mature at only 4 inches in height and pop out in May. The common variety for our area is the bearded iris, with a color range from white and gold to sky blue, purple and burgundy.

• Herbs: Tucked into your perennial garden may be numbers of plants you can eat. Chives offer pleasant, spike- like, mild onion-flavored leaves and balls of lavender blooms. Sage provides blue-flowering stems and silver gray fuzzy leaves. Sage can be dried for fresh fragrance in poultry dressing or a sprinkling on breakfast eggs. Peppermint, pineapple and a dozen other scented types of mint can join lemon balm for a fragrant garden. Be careful, as the mints and balms will spread. Each variety can be held to a container.

• Peonies: Big blooms with a fantastic color range. Once you've seen these golf ball-sized buds burst, it's impossible not to have them in your garden.

• Phlox: Colors like magenta, lavender and white are but a few of the choices for this great flower, which sports dozens of blooms in a grapefruit-sized blossom ball. Don't crowd them or powdery mildew will be an annual visitor.

Other great choices include bee balm, coneflowers, blue Veronica, coralbells, lupines and daylilies. Plan color combinations, height placement and range of bloom before going wild at the bedding plant displays this spring. Check catalogs for pictures or go to online nurseries like

• Spring Hill Nursery


• Nature Hills.com


• Dutch Gardens.com


• White Flower Farm


• etc.

Visit Flowers and Garden.com for more flower gardening related information.

Complete Preplanned Rose Garden

Flowers & Garden.com

Nothing can compare with a professional Rose Garden to provide your home with the ultimate in floral beauty. For this collection we have blended together eight distinctive Hybrid Tea Roses with three outstanding Climbing Roses. By planting them where they will be on display all through the summer, you'll add instant charm to your landscape and have a host of gorgeous roses to fill your home with elegant bouquets day after day.

Each of the varieties in this exceptional Rose Garden is a delight in itself, but when planted together they create a display of special grandeur. The three Climbing Roses create an especially clever color harmony--crimson red, pink-red and a bright yellow, double flowering rose. Planted together, the canes intertwine to create what appears to be a tricolored Rose--the delightful illusion of three colors on a single plant.

The Complete Preplanned Rose Garden Includes:

• Climbing Rose Zéphirine Drouhin
  
  Enjoy masses of delightful pinkish-red roses all season long.
  Extremely fragrant, 3 1/2 to 4" semi-double blooms on nearly thornless stems.



• Climbing Rose Improved Blaze
  
  Most popular of all Climbing Roses. Has hundreds of huge, scarlet, non-fading flowers and is easy to grow.



• Climbing Rose Golden Showers
  
  The finest yellow climbing rose. Covered with 4" double blooms from spring to fall.



• Hybrid Tea Rose John F. Kennedy
  
  Magnificent blooms become increasingly white as they unfold. In the garden, pristine petals resist wind and rain.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Chrysler Imperial
  
  Deep red, fragrant flowers with 45-50 lush petals borne on long, straight stems.



• Sub-Zero Rose Maria Stern
  
  Lush, salmon-orange blooms with scalloped edges. A magnificent display of color that lasts for months and never fades in the sun.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Golden Eagle
  
  Spring Hill Exclusive Glorious, non-fading, deep gold blooms are produced in abundant clusters on long stems.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Audrey Hepburn
  
  Exquisite rose introduced in 1991 has very fragrant 4" blooms of apple blossom pink.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Caribia®
  
  Fiesta excitement all season long! Captivating 5" flowers feature red and pink markings on glistening yellow petals.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Royal Amethyst®
  
  Spring Hill Exclusive Regal beauty boasts fragrant, double blooms in a rare blend of lavender and purple.



• Hybrid Tea Rose Double Delight
  
  Unusual blossoms start out creamy white and turn cherry red. Spicy-scented 5 1/2" flowers throughout the season.

What makes garden design so challenging?

I think it's the fact that you're working with living things (plants) and other factors (the weather!) that you can't control - green thumb, or not.

A flower garden may be a living work of art, but unlike a painting that's actually finished when the artist packs the brushes away, a garden is always changing.

Plants don't always do what you expect: Many perennial clumps get bigger each year, but there's the odd one that will just disappear. Then there are plants that outgrow their spaces, turn out to be the wrong color or don't thrive no matter where you plant them - you get the picture.

Remember: nobody creates a prize-winning flower garden the first year — but you weren't going to invite the garden club over for coffee — not just yet anyway? ;-)

Planting your garden will be easier if you plan its design, layout and color scheme before you buy plants.

Easy-to-grow perennials ~ Pre-planned Garden

Pre-planned gardens spare you the endless decisions involved in choosing plants, and the time and trouble of meeting with a garden designer. You'll still have the satisfaction of preparing the soil, planting, nurturing the young plants, and watching the garden grow and develop. The catalog garden designs get you started right away, so you can get mud on your boots and dirt under your fingernails without doing a lot of homework first.

The most basic garden plans are usually rectangles and nothing to be afraid of. The plans are easy to follow, and they fit into almost any landscape. You can always make simple changes to the layout, adapting the design to wrap around a corner or dividing it in two and planting it on either side of a garden path.

Here's a chance to plant a spectacular garden that will brighten your landscape with constant color from spring to fall. Spring Hill Nursery's professionals have selected a total of nine easy-to-grow perennials ideal for any garden.

Easy to grow Perennials Garden includes the following:

• 3 Belladonna Delphiniums


• 3 Lemon Fluffs


• 3 Alaska Shasta Daisies


• 1 Bright Eyes Tall Phlox


• 3 Pink Coneflowers


• 3 Cloths of Golds


• 1 Peach Blossom Astilbe


• 3 Achilleas 'The Pearl'


• 3 Clustered Bellflowers

Planning A Cut Flower Garden

There are numerous possibilities for a cut flower garden, and much depends on your own preferences. Some easy-to-grow annuals for cut flowers include

• sunflowers


• tithonia


• zinnias


• coreposis


• cosmos


• gaillardia


• bachelor buttons


• larkspur


• snapdragons


• asters

as well as pansies and Johnny-jump-ups for tiny bouquets.

You might want to consider a wildflower mix, many of which provide a natural, "airy" feel to bouquets. Keep deadheading, or trimming off, spent blossoms to encourage the plant to continue producing flowers, rather than expending its energy on seed production. Consider planting some bulbs for spring bouquets, and remember that you can force some fruit trees branches to flower indoors in early spring. Many flowers also have attractive seedheads, which can be harvested throughout the fall and even into winter.

Flowers for shade gardens ~ Begonia 'Double Yellow'

The Begonia Double Yellow, a spring planted tuber, displays big yellow flowers with petals that look like roses and they perform in the shade. They have an elegant robust look and the plants are filled with blooms. They are ideal for shady areas in need of color, under trees, and on decks. They look stunning when planted alone in large containers. They provide nonstop color when planted in containers or beds. These tuberous begonias feature double, vividly colored, 6 inch flowers. Tuberous Begonias perform best in a partly shaded outdoor location away from strong winds. Fertilize regularly and keep the containers moist.

• Flowering Period: June-October


• Soil Type: Widely Adaptable


• Growth Rate: Medium


• Sun Exposure: Shade to Partial Sun


• Mature Height: 12 - 18 inch


• Moisture Requirements: Average - well drained

How to attract hummingbirds to your garden!

Attracting hummingbirds to your garden made easy!

From their private perch these tiny birds keep a constant eye on their surroundings. With grace, agility and speed hummingbirds launch at any intruder, whether that is another hummingbird or a larger bird wandering into their territory.

After a quick battle, the victor returns to his (or her) perch, preens and is on the lookout once again. A hummingbird’s blazing speed, agility, amusing squeaky chatter, and tractor like sound of wings as they buzz by, makes them a truly unique and amazing creature. Best of all, there are simple things you can do in you yard to create an environment that is inviting to hummingbirds.

Get your preplanned Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden from Spring Hill Nursery NOW!

How to begin a new flower bed!

Before you begin a new flower bed, it’s a good idea to map out your ideas. Use a garden hose to mark the outlines of the new bed or border, or set potted plants on the ground where you’d like to plant them. Then stand back and take a look. Make adjustments now before you start digging.

Once you know how you want your new bed to look, you’re ready to remove the sod. Cut along the outline of your bed with a spade, then slip the spade just under the grass roots and cut a small strip of sod, rolling it up as you go.

After you’ve removed the sod, you’re ready to dig the new bed. Begin at one end of the bed and shovel away one blade-depth of soil, piling it on the opposite end of the bed. Next, loosen the subsoil below about 1 foot deep, and add compost, sand or other soil improvements.

Now move to the next section of the bed and remove the topsoil, piling it on top of the loosened subsoil in the first section. Continue in this manner until you come to the end of the bed and cover the subsoil in this section with the topsoil from the first section. The loosened, enriched soil will work wonders for your plants!

Flower Bed Ideas ~ The Perennial Border Garden

PRE-PLANNED GARDENS take some of the guesswork out of gardening. Even if you don't know a delphinium from a day lily, garden plans and the plants that come with them are package deals designed for success. All you have to do is dig a few holes and prepare to accept the compliments.

Here's the crowning touch of Spring Hill's special Pre Planned Gardens -- a well planned Flower Bed Idea --a Complete NeverEnding Perennial Border Garden designed by gardening experts to provide beauty for your landscape from spring through fall. The garden has been created to fill a 18'x8' border, combining spring-, summer- and autumn-flowering perennials in an "everblooming" ribbon of color. An ideal mixture with something always coming into bloom, it has plenty of tall accents and enough "flower power" for both border display and cutting. And it comes back faithfully every year. Each of the 63 prime quality plants will provide increased beauty year after year, with a minimum of care, and is fully protected by the Lifetime Guarantee of Satisfaction. Detailed planting instructions and diagram will be included with your shipment.

This wonderful preplanned garden includes 63 of the prime quality plants listed below:

• 1 Zebra Grass


• 3 Blue Fringed Daisies


• 3 Cranberry Apple Fantasia Mum


• 3 Moonbeam Coreopsis


• 3 Red Coral Bells


• 6 Dragon's Blood Sedum


• 6 Lily-of-the-Valley


• 3 Double Hollyhocks


• 3 Mixed Lupines


• 3 Super Shasta Daisy


• 1 Jungle Princess Daylily


• 3 Laced Romeo Carnation


• 3 Moorheim Beauty Phlox


• 3 Blue Chip Campanulas


• 3 Mixed Hardy Primrose


• 3 Mixed Monarda


• 3 Tall Hybrid Phlox


• 3 Black Eyed Susan


• 3 Achillea 'The Pearl'


• 3 Pink Dragonflowers


• 1 Royal Standard Hosta

Click here for $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Preplanned Gardens ~ Fast Growing Sun Garden

You can capture the charm of a wonderful English cottage garden around your home with this collection of 16 easy-care perennials. In creating the Fast-Growing Sun Garden, Spring Hill's experts were inspired by the traditional gardens of England's countryside and the cheerful flowers they produce with only a minimum of attention summer after summer.

Though selected for fast growth, this pre-planned garden will produce an attractive "old-fashioned" appearance. The hardy and prolific Wonder of Staffa Aster is a splendid cultivar of England's traditional Michaelmas Daisy. Stella de Oro Daylily adds fragrant yellow blooms throughout the summer. Double Hollyhocks are a popular feature of English cottage gardens, as are the white Ballerina Carnations, Mixed Monarda and Pink Coreopsis.

These showy plants-all proven performers in American gardens-will turn any sunny area of approximately 60 sq. ft. into a riot of color the very first year, and will continue to bloom brightly for years to come.

View Spring Hill Nursery's Step-by-Step Garden Plans Here!

Kiss Gazanias ~ Flower of the Year 2005

You'll find the Kiss Gazania Mix to be ideal for sunny flower beds and borders. But why stop there? These tidy gazanias are ideal for edging walkways or planting in pots and window boxes, where their cheery blooms will attract plenty of butterflies. Or, tuck them into your rock garden-the drought tolerant plants will feel right at home. Wherever you grow your Kiss Gazanias, be sure to plant plenty! They're so easy to grow that you'll want to fill your entire landscape with them.

Click here for $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

New clematis varieties come ready to enjoy in containers

Clematis is one of the most spectacular and versatile of all flowering vines. Its beautiful flowers demand immediate attention wherever this “queen of vines” is grown.

This is especially true when you grow the large-flowered hybrids, which have brilliantly colored blooms that can range up to 8 inches or more in diameter and have as many as 100 blooms in a single season. But don’t overlook the smaller-flowered types, with equally distinctive flowers that range in size from 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter.

As is the case with many horticultural plants, the pronunciation of the name clematis is controversial. Botanists say KLEM-a-tis; most local gardeners prefer to use the colloquial, klah-MAT-is, for this beautiful climbing vine.

The traditional method of displaying clematis is to plant it at the base of a wall or fence and use latticework or a trellis for support. However, some types are more effective when allowed to trail over rocks or downward from the top of stone walls, and larger ones can be used to cover an arbor or pergola.

Good news! This spring, Hines Horticulture, a wholesale nursery based in California, will introduce a new type, which has been developed specifically for containers by Raymond Evison, a clematis breeder in England.

The plants are said to be hardy in our area, free-flowering and reach a height of 3 to 4 feet when grown in containers. They will be perfect for a small garden, patio, deck, front porch or balcony, or used as a ground cover. A single plant should be charming on a willow teepee, iron obelisk or small trellis.

Three cultivars will be offered: Cezanne, with violet flowers; Picardy, with pinkish-red flowers and contrasting yellow sepals; and Versailles, with wine-red flowers. Their flower sizes range from 4 to 7 inches wide, and plants bloom from early to late summer.

These new plants will be available in patio-ready containers, which can be wintered over or planted in the garden at the end of summer. For details on these new clematis and nearby dealer locations, visit www.hinesvines.com on the Internet.