The large and bright fuzzy blossoms of Bolivian Spearhead Sage (Salvia oxyphora), aka Fuzzy Bolivian Sage, should catch your eye in late summer and early autumn. Equally attractive is the plant’s lush tropical-like glossy green foliage. This sage inhabits the edges of moist forests in the foothills of the Andes. It is grown as an annual in full sun in Northern […]
Archive for the ‘Annuals’ Category
Fuzzy Bolivian Sage
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2021
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Salvia oxyphora, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Fuzzy Bolivian SageSmart Water Use In The Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2021
When the heat of the summer settles in, water is in high demand. Here is some practices to implement when planting a water-wise garden, irrigating lawngrass, and better mulching practices to improve soil moisture levels: Lawn grass species vary in their water needs. Cool season grasses like fescues and bluegrasses are moderately drought tolerant, turn […]
Posted in Agastache (Hyssop), Alliums (onion), Annuals, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Euphorbias, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), Irrigation, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Landscape ideas, Lantana, Lavender (Lavandula), Lawn Care, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Prickly cactus, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rain barrel, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Sedum (Groundcover types), Sedum (Shrub type), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Smart Water Use In The Summer GardenMexican Bush Sage
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2021
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), aka velvet sage, is a perennial that lights up the late summer / fall garden (USDA hardiness zone 7b-10). Indigenous to Central America and Mexico, it can be grown as an annual that grows to about 3-4 feet tall. In the U.S., bush sage is only hardy from the lower […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Salvia leucantha, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Mexican Bush SageSeven Picks For Your Summer Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on June 26th, 2021
1. Coleus (Solenostemon) are known for their colorful foliage in containers around trees or shrubs. For shady areas select the Kong Mosaic™ or Wizard™ series. 2. Begonias, as a group, represent lots of variety series. Most garden begonia varieties should do well in beds, planters and pots. Begonia types like the Rex and Angel Wing are grown […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Begonia, Breeding Plants, Caladium, Coleus, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Fuchsias, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Torenia (wishbone flw.), watering tips Comments Off on Seven Picks For Your Summer Shade GardenAttracting Hummingbirds
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2021
In early spring many area gardeners rush to set out hummingbird feeders filled with a sugary solution to encourage these feathery critters to visit. However, the sugary drink also attracts ants, bees, and wasps. The solution does not furnish vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids that hummingbirds pick up from pollinating flowers and eating insects. In addition, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agastache (Hyssop), Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Campsis grandifolia 'Morning Calm', Canna lily, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Container growing, container shrub, Cupheas, Daylilies, Environmental Conservation, Flowering, Foxglove (Digitalis), Hibiscus syriacus, Hummingbird, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Monarda (Beebalm), Morning glory (Ipomoea), Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Penstemon, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Phlox, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sage (Salvia), Salvia leucantha, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Trumpet vine (Campsis), Weigela, Wildlife attractant, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting HummingbirdsGrowing Cosmos
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2021
Cosmos are native to Mexico. In the U.S. these old-fashion annuals bloom throughout the summer months and attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden. They produce colorful 2- to 4-inch wide daisy-like flowers that sit atop 3-5 feet tall slender stems. Cosmos make excellent cut flowers and dwarf forms are ideal in containers. Annual cosmos […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container garden, Container growing, Cosmos, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflowers, Wind protection Comments Off on Growing CosmosElephant Ears In The Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2021
If gardeners want to add some tropical punch to the garden, elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and a close botanical cousin (Alocasia) are one of the first plants that I recommend (USDA hardiness zones 7b-10). Also called ornamental taro, plants take off and grow rapidly after spring planting (when all threats of freeze injury have waned). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alocasia, Annuals, Colocasia, compost, Container garden, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Protection Comments Off on Elephant Ears In The GardenAnnuals To Plant In 2021
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2021
I spend spring, summer, and fall months visiting public gardens mostly in the eastern and southeast U.S. (Ohio/Pennsylvania south to Florida with camera in hand). I get ideas of new flowers to plant in my garden next year. Here are five flowering annuals that caught my attention. Begonia ‘Canary Wing’ – this golden leaf plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Catharanthus (Vinca), Coleus, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Fragrant, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, organic gardening, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Plectranthus, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Annuals To Plant In 2021New Soiree Kawaii® Vincas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2021
Vinca (Catharanthus), also called Madagasar periwinkle, is a popular summer flowering bedding plant. Soiree Kawaii® series of catharanthus hybrids from Suntory (C. roseus) continue among the favorites at California Spring Trials since their introduction three years ago. Vincas start blooming, and continuously thereafter, from spring planting to the first frost in autumn. Soiree Kawaii vincas perform […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on New Soiree Kawaii® VincasLove in A Mist (Nigella)
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2021
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is a popular cool weather annual. It is also known by several other names including “ragged lady” or “devil in the bush”. Nigella belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and is native to southern Europe, North Africa and southwest Asia. In its natural habitat, nigella is found on neglected, damp patches of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Nigella (Love-in-a-mist), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Love in A Mist (Nigella)
