y different look because of the unusual flowers. The plant will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The foliage, stems and flowers are steely blue but do not touch unless you have heavy gloves on, because of the very sharp thorns. Sea Holly plants grow upright and are very stiff looking. The uniqueness of this plant is well worth the precautions you take when this plant is in your garden. The cone shaped flower is surrounded by a stiff collar like incredibly spiny bract. Think of the poinsettia plant, the red leaves are bract not flowers. The flowers form in late July and last until September blooming for 4 to 6 weeks. Plant in a sunny location but Sea Holly will tolerate partial shade with fewer flowers. Soils must be well drained to sandy but added compost and animal manure will increase the size of the plant and number of flowers. Once planted in the garden they do not like to be moved, so do not attemp to transplant them. The butterflies and birds love the flower creating movement in the garden. Use Sea Holly in perennial borders, mass plantings, wildflower gardens, specimen plants for colorful foliage and in the cut flower garden. Fresh arrangements during the summer are spectacular and the strong stems can be cut and hung upside down in a cool garage for dry arrangements.
Aquilegia 'McKana Hybrids' Mixed Colors-Columbines
If you are looking to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your perennial garden then be sure to plant Columbine plants this spring. Columbine has perfectly designed flowers to feed them and these flowers hold large quantities of nectar that they love. The striking mixture of flower colors will brighten any garden. The flower has 5 petals forming a trumpet and this is surrounded with a second row of 5 additional petals that fold back like a collar but star shape. The flower colors are endless and many bi-color forms are available. The flowers begin in late spring and last until early summer. Each plant will produce flowers for 4 to 6 weeks on strong stems that sway with the spring breeze. Plants will grow best in partial shade but will do well in full sun. Columbine will grow 6 to 24 inches tall and just as wide depending on variety. Plant Columbine in the spring in a rich soil and add a lot of peat moss, compost and animal manure. The soil that is well drained but not sandy will give you more flowers and when the seeds form on the plant prepare for more seedlings for next spring. Standing water will or heavy soil will not be tolerated. When the flowers fade cut the dead stems off to encourage a larger plant next year. I like to plant Columbine in a woodland garden, Meadow garden, rock gardens, mixed perennial borders and in a cut flower garden.
Platycodon grandiflorus - Balloon Flowers
Trying to find a low growing perennial that will bloom in the summer can be difficult unless you know about the Bellflower. I recommend that you look for the "Blue Clips" and "White Clips" hybrids at a nursery near you. The foliage is triangular like English ivy and dark green. The foliage develops in a rounded mound 3 to 4 inches tall and spreading 12 to 15 inches wide. Flower buds develop all over the plant on short 2 to 3 inch stems and burst open with a cup shaped flower up to 2 inches wide. The flowers arrive in midsummer and last until fall. Bellflowers are easy to grow and long lived in the perennial garden. Plant in the spring in a sunny location to light shade for more flowers. These plants love a rich soil that is well -drained and never standing water. If your soil is sandy and you want to plant it in full sun be sure to add bark mulch around the base of the plant to help hold water in the soil. When planting be sure to add compost, peat moss and animal manure to encourage quick rooting. If the plants stop flowering cut it back in half and the plant will quickly send out new growth and start flowering again. Deadheading is important if you want this plant to continue flowering all summer. Insect and disease are seldom a problem with this perennial and they are perfect for the new gardener. Div