appen, the plant will attract lots of seed eating birds like Goldfinches and Chickadees. The flowers begin to appear in early June and last until September. Coreopsis grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade. The plant will grow in average to poor soil but best in soils rich in organic matter such as compost and animal manure. The one requirement is a well -drained soil, as wet soil will quickly destroy the plant. Cultivate the soil around the plant in the fall so seeds not eaten can drop to the ground and start new plants in the spring. The flowers come in clusters on long stems and it makes a great cut flower that will help to soften larger flowers in summer bouquet. You can work the plants in meadow plantings, mass plantings, as edging and mix borders. When in bloom it will attract butterflies and don't forget they attract birds during the fall and winter. Feed in the spring to encourage branching and more blooms.
If you have a shade garden and are looking for plants that once established in the garden, needs little to no care then consider the Hosta family? The Hosta is grown for its foliage and some of us even like the flowers. The leaves appear in late spring through fall. The flowers develop late summer on tall stalks from the center of the whirled foliage and they are narrow lily like. The foliage can be heart-shaped, Lance-shaped or oval. The leaf edge can be smooth or wavy and often looks puckered or quilted. The leaf color comes in all shades of green, some shades of blue, and many variegated white or yellow forms. Hosta will grow best in a conditioned soil that is rich in organic matter such as compost and animal manure. Soils that are well drained will allow quick root development and new shoots will develop faster. These plants will also grow in full sun as long as you water regularly. Heavy shade is tolerated but plants will be less vigorous and grow more slowly. Light shade is best and the foliage will be thick and beautiful. Plants grow 10 inches to 3 feet tall and spread to as much a 4 feet wide. Use plants in borders, as a wonderful ground cover, edging around the house and as a specimen plant in a rock garden. When used in a woodland garden it brings all the other plants to life with its colorful foliage and flowers. As a bonus the flowers will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
When I am asked to select a few perennials that are easy to grow and almost a sure thing for new gardeners, I always start with Daylilies. Daylilies grow almost anywhere in partial shade, but prefer sun most of the day. When planting, condition the soil with peat moss, animal manure and compost to create a healthy soil. The better the soil, the larger the plant will grow and that means many more flowers for you during the summer. If your soil is heavy or contains clay, be sure to add extra compost and some coarse sand to the planting area. Standing water will rot the root system and kill the plant. The foliage resembles a dense clump of long grass like leaves that arch down, creating a very attractive plant even without the flowers. The foliage will grow 10 to 36 inches tall and has few insect or disease problems. The plant blooms in the summer for 4 weeks or more and your garden will be filled with non-stop color. Daylilies come in every color of the rainbow including hundreds of different shades of lavender, pink, purple, red, pink, salmon, yellow and hundreds of duel color combination. The flowers are funnel shape and develop on tall stems lifting them above the foliage. This perennial is wonderful when planted in rock gardens, wall gardens, on sloping ground and along fences. The daylilies will attract butterflies to your garden as well as hummingbirds. The flowers are also self -cleaning and fall from the stems as they fade. Plants will do very well even when planted in traffic islands or areas that get little to no care.
Asclepia Tuberosa-Butterfly weed
A benefit of growing perennial flowers is the arrival of butterflies to the garden. Sitting on your deck, patio or porch enjoying the beautiful flowers in 