Plants We Love

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

In the comment section below, I posted about an anemone that F introduced me to and how it's become a favorite in the garden. Do you have any new discoveries or old favorites to share? We might just get some great ideas for our gardens for next Spring!

I'll share the anemone here again, it's a perennial and the variety is Lady Diana. I love that it is late blooming because while I have a lot of Spring color, I could use late Summer/Fall color. It has countless buds and is pretty much carefree. I have it in part sun and I had put a wire cage around it when I planted it last Fall to protect it from 8 little running paws. : ) By this Spring it outgrew the cage and held it's own! It's good in zones 5 - 9. Here's the photo:

I have one more perennial to share, a sedum variety called Angelina. I wanted something low to edge off a walkway. I had mulch there, but it would get knocked onto the walkway and wasn't ideal. I found this Angelina variety, it is a fun lime green and makes a big statement. It spread enough to fill in the area where I wanted it without being too aggressive to keep up. Occasionally I pull out a stray piece but it's easy enough to maintain. In winter, it's still there, doesn't die out. It forms a nice thick carpet, zone is 4 - 8. It's in the foreground of the photo:So what do you have that you love that we can learn to love too?!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

: )

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Linda, the roses are lovely and sound ideal! Now I am trying to think of where I can fit them in! The pansy is so sweet! I find those little faces hard to resist every Spring, but they die out when it gets too hot.  Do they do the same for you? Sometimes in the Fall, they will pick up again! I found a few in the clearance section this year and had to rescue them. Thanks for sharing!!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

 My Twizzle pansies are planted in an area that does not get extreme heat and sun.  I know they say pansies love sunshine, but mine are doing very well along the foundation of the house in a long planting bed that is only about 30 inches wide next to a walkway and they only get partial sun and no wind.  They finally die out about Dec - depending on our winter, and then do come back in the spring. I fertilized all my bedding area lightly 4 times this year and it made a difference. The last time was about  3 weeks ago.  I love to get things on clearance.  I stopped at Lowes yesterday and bought a huge fern in a 10 inch ceramic pot for $5 (originally $29).  That one will probably go in the master bath this winter.  Try a tea rose or grandiflora - I think you will love them!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Love the Marilyn Monroe rose.  That's a real frilly pansy.  : )

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

When I was out in the garden this am., I thought how did I forget the yellow plate dahlias as one of my garden favorites!  I originally planted them in 2010, so this year they is their 5th season and over the years have multiplied!  The one I picked yesterday is 9.5 inches in diameter and I have it in a vase on my kitchen table! This photo was one in the garden 5 days ago. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a beauty! I am too lazy to dig up dahlias so I will enjoy yours!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I am lazy also and if I had to dig them up each fall they would not be in my garden either!  A friend who lives about 2 blocks from me cannot get them to winter over, so I believe it is just where they are planted and the fact the tubers are planted in my flower garden about 10 inches from the foundation of our home. I also planted some red ones (however they are not plate size) and they are on there 3rd winter.  I generally forget to stake them, but this year I did and they have been glorious for months.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

How stunning and I love the color! I don't plant them for the same reason as F. How fortunate that you can leave yours in the ground! I may have to experiment! What a perfect beauty to bring indoors!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Beautiful dahlia.  I have never grown the dinner plate ones but do have several small dahlias, one of which I grew from seed and has been in the ground for at least five years  including the past two severe winters.  Another purchased dahlia was planted last fall and survived the winter.  Both are on the SW side of the garage and near the gravel walkway and one is between it and the small garden pond. 

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Anne, I've never heard of growing them from seed, that is pretty impressive! Lucky you to be able to grow them through the winter too!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

They are real easy to grow from seed.  They are like doodles; you never know what you'll get. : )  I have never tried to grow the dinner plates.  I understand the results is disappointing.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I love it when you get just the right spot for a plant.  It makes all the difference in the world!