Monday, April 2nd, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 29 comments
Seeds are the miracle makers of the garden world. Big things come from such small, seemingly inert packages. A carrot seed is small enough to get caught under a fingernail and yet will produce a delectable carrot in a few months. And what about sunflowers or corn? So much promise!
There's still time to get seeds started. If you live in a cold climate you can get a jump start by sowing seeds indoors. Gardeners who live in regions with long summers and warm falls be sure to buy extra now to start a second crop of blooms and vegetables midsummer.
Flowers
Sunflower 'Sonya'
Zinnia 'Benary's Scarlet Giant'
Gomphrena 'Las Vegas Pink'
Cosmos 'Cosmic Orange'
Polish Amaranth 'Oeschburg' (Amaranth cruentus)
Veggies & Herbs
Carrots 'Purple Dragon'
Lettuce 'Tom Thumb'
Tomato 'Sun Gold'
Yard Long Beans
Pepper 'Holy Mole'
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 1 comment
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 1 comment
Monday, January 30th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 244 comments
Congratulations Jim Wales, Julie N., Sandy Masingillo, Cindy Menn and Martha Wilson! Ya'll are the winners of the Weed or Wildflower Giveaway. Check you inbox for an email!
Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a comment. What a great response! We've got another giveaway coming in Monday's newsletter so be sure you're subscribed.
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is a spring flowering bulb that will easily naturalize. In Arkansas the blooms pop up in lawns along with wild violets, henbit and spring starflower. It's said that a weed is just a plant growing in the wrong place. So what do you think about grape hyacinths? Weed or wildflower? Tell me your thoughts in the comments section below for a chance to win one of my Bulb Garden decks.
So tell me is this a weed or a wildflower?
*Winners are selected by P. Allen Smith and his staff based on the content of the comment.
We've got lots of giveaways coming this year. If you don't win today, check back for more opportunities! To give everyone a chance contest winners are limited to one win every 3 months.
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 2 comments
Monday, June 6th, 2011 by P. Allen Smith, 46 comments
I am a hopeless collector of perennials. I can always find a spot in the garden for new additions. While I love trying new plants I have a few mainstays that I rely on for gorgeous flowers and foliage year after year.
SUN
Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.)
I'm excited that I now have developed 2 new varieties this year out of my daylily breeding program. I can't get enough of this old reliable favorite.
Hyssop Color Spires® Steel Blue (Agastache)
I love this plant. It has been a tremendous performer in my garden. No staking needed. After the flowers fade I cut back the old bloom stalks and it keeps on trucking.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
The wide drift at the farm is spectacular from mid May to late June. After the bloom I cut 25% off the top and it will flower again late August through September.
Mexican Sage 'Santa Barbara' (Salvia leucantha)
This plant is a mainstay in the late summer garden. It always gets comments from our visitors.
Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
We trialed this variety Flame™ Purple last summer. It proved to be an excellent re-bloomer right through the intense heat we experienced in July and August.
Lamb's Ear 'Helen von Stein' (Stachy byzantine)
'Helen von Stein' has grown in the garden at the Garden Home Retreat for the last 5 years. Love the giant leaves and fuzzy texture.
Artemisia 'Powis Castle'
The frilly foliage looks great with Supertunia® Royal Velvet and Superbena® Royal Chambray Verbena.
Coral Bells (Heuchera sp.)
Heucheras are beautiful as singular sensations in containers. Plant 1 variety per pot. Many of the newer heucheras like Dolce® Key Lime Pie can take a half day of sun.
SHADE
Variegated Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum')
The arching stems are a graceful addition to a shade border. Looks great poking up through hosta and ferns. Here I've combined it with Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica).
Hosta
Hosta are such a versatile plant. I use them in containers on my screened porch.
Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)
Subtle yet inspiring. I so enjoy seeing their pink blooms in autumn when the leaves begin to fall from the trees.
Chinese Ginger (Asarum splendens a.k.a. Hexastylis splendens)
This is a great low growing plant for shade. So easy and beautiful - I love foliage plants and this is a good one.
