ide in the spring by pushing a shovel thru the center of the plant.
Lysimachia punctata-Yellow Loosestrife
Have you ever wanted a perennial flowering plant that will grow and just take over, than look no further than the Yellow Loosestrife? The Yellow Loosestrife needs little to no care and in time can take over your garden. In a perennial border, set plants in a 10 inch plastic pot sunk in the ground to control runners. Now if you have large areas to fill with flowers, plantings near the street or a woodsy area this is your plant. The plant spreads like a wave coming to shore and when planted in the right spot it is wonderful. This plant loves moisture and it will thrive near streams or areas that has standing water in the spring. Partial shade is not a problem either and it will grow very well. The plant prefers a rich humus type soil. The plant will tolerate sandy or dry soil if planted in partial shade. Yellow Loosestrife will grow 18 to 36 inches tall and blooms for 4 weeks or more. The bloom is cup-or star -shaped about 1 to 2 inches wide. The flowers start almost at ground level and run to the top of the plant. When the plant is in bloom it is eye catching and beautiful. Loosestrife makes a beautiful cut flower, for bouquets during June thru August. The foliage makes a nice hedge in the back of flowerbeds, also great in mass plantings and meadow gardens. The plant fills in quickly and makes a great ground cover where nothing else will grow and thrive.
Your summer garden should be bright and colorful and there is none superior perennial than the Coreopsis Tickseed. If your garden is sunny than you need a pretty, daisy like flower that when in bloom is covered with hundreds of tiny golden yellow flowers. A new gardener can grow this perennial. The flowers are 1 inch or less in diameter, with a fuzzy center. The plant will grow 18 to 30 inches tall and just as wide. I love the Tickseed type best because when the plant goes to seed, the pods that they produced resemble insect-like seeds. If you allow this to happen, 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