Green Thumb Corner

The Paeonia 'Gay Paree', Paeonia 'Gay Paree', is a late season bloomer and a Japanese lactiflora type peony. It produces brilliant magenta guard petals which surround a ring of toothed pale pink staminodes in the center of which is a tuft of larger magen

The Scabiosa 'Pink Mist', Scabiosa columbaria, also know as the Pincushion Flower, has wonderful 2" pink flowers that bloom from June to October. 'Pink Mist' is a reminiscent of a pincushion full of pins. With its gray-green foliage, it has a plant height of 12" and a spread of 12-18", not to mention being disease resistant. It is best to plant Scabiosa in full sun, with well-drained soil and should be watered regularly throughout the warmer months to increase its overall performance. Deadheading after the first bloom will encourage repeat bloom time. 'Pink Mist' is great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds and does excellent in rock gardens. It will do excellent for front-of-the-border areas, with Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Dianthus 'Bath's Pink', in mass plantings or as cut flowers. ( PP 8957)

The Yarrow 'Moonshine', Achillea 'Moonshine'', is an upright canary-yellow flower that blooms from June through September. With evergreen foliage in mild winter regions, this non-spreading Achillea is a definite winner. 'Moonshine' Yarrow is

The Astilbe 'Visions', Astilbe chinensis, is a colorful feathery flower with raspberry blooms and lacy blue-green foliage. The flowers contrast wonderfully with the glossy foliage. Astilbe 'Visions' blooms in mid summer and are 15" tall and have a plant width of 12-18" Astilbe 'Visions' is more sun tolerant, but is most successfully grown in a shady area. A moist, well-drained area is key for this plant. In order to keep Astilbe looking good for the next year, do not cut it back in the winter, (the old foliage helps protect the plant from winter damage), but prune in early spring. Astilbe can be used as cut flowers, in perennial borders or shade gardens with Hosta's and Ferns. Astilbe is considered to be deer resistant and will attract hummingbirds.

The Astilbe 'Rheinland', Astilbe japonica, has wonderful clear pink flowers with mid green foliage changing to green in the spring. The flowers contrast wonderfully with the glossy foliage. Astilbe 'Rheinland' blooms in mid summer and is 24" tall and a plant width of 18" Do not allow Astilbe 'Rheinland' to dry out. It is most successfully grown in a shady area but can tolerate some morning sun. A moist, well-drained area is key for this plant. In order to keep Astilbe looking good for the next year, do not cut it back in the winter, (the old foliage helps protect the plant from winter damage), but prune in early spring. Astilbe can be used as cut flowers, perennial borders or shade gardens with Hosta's and Ferns. Astilbe is considered to be deer resistant and will attract hummingbirds.

Viette's Little Suzy (Rudbeckia speciosa) is a beautiful dwarf variety of the Indian Summer Black-eyed Susan. It is a popular, easy-to-grow perennial that has a long blooming period and excellent fall foliage color.

The Clematis 'Carnaby', Hybrid, has pink flowers with rich red bar down the middle of each petal. 'Carnaby' also has dark red anthers that make it very showy. It has a plant height of 10' with a spread of 3'. 'Carnaby' blooms from June and September with flowers that should not be missed. The dark green foliage makes a great contrast with the flower color. Clematis prefers full sun but will tolerate shade in the morning in a well-drained area. It is best to avoid heavy pruning on this perennial until it is fully established. Clematis 'Carnaby' needs a supporting structure to grow properly but will also grow over large shrubs. The tops of Clematis prefer full sun while their roots prefer a cool, shady area. It is best to heavily mulch the root zone to provide this cool, shady area. Strikingly colorful.

The Columbine 'Denver Gold', Aquilegia chrysantha, has large, very showy, yellow flowers that can measure over 3" across. The fragrant flowers reflect the sunshine of their Rocky Mountain home. 'Denver Gold' blooms in late spring, and if deadheaded, will be a heavy reblommer. With a spread of 15-20" and height of 24-30", you won't want to miss this. 'Denver Gold' should be planted in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moist well-drained soil. Columbine is a profuse self-seeder so it should be planted 12-18" apart. It is best used in rock gardens or in containers and for beds and borders, in cottage gardens and it attracts butterflies. Enjoy this popular flower in your garden or as a cut flower.

The Columbine 'Navy and White', 'Aquilegia', also known as the Spring Magic Series, is a beautiful, striking, easy to grow spring blooming perennial. The green foliage adds texture and color in the fall to any of your perennial beds. The exquisite 2" wide petals are navy and blue and are produced about 2-3 weeks earlier than other varieties in its species. With a height of 14" and a plant spread of 18", you won't want to miss this.'Navy and White' should be planted in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moist well-drained soil. Columbine is a profuse self-seeder so it should be planted 16" apart. It is best used in rock gardens or in containers and for beds and borders, in cottage gardens and it attracts butterflies. Enjoy this popular flower in your garden or as a cut flower. It is a definite eye-catcher.

The Heuchera 'Purple Petticoats', Heuchera micrantha, also known as Coral Bells, Alumroot and Crimson Bells is a robust, stocky Heuchera that's easy and reliable. This plant is simply superb! This new Dan Heims introduction is destined to become one of the best from the entire line of coral bells. The solid dark purple leaf has an intensely ruffled edge... simply dramatic! A mass of. 'Purple Petticoats' by a blue hosta would be striking! As in most Coral Bells, the flowers are insignificant The strongly ruffled leaves are a rich chocolate with bright burgundy undersides. Try it in combos with purples, yellows, and reds.

The Coral Bell Hollywood, 'Heuchera 'Hollywood', has white veiled foliage with lightly ruffled metallic leaves. In the springtime, dense coral flowers appear that last into the summer, being a strong rebloomer. However, Coral Bells are not known for their flowers, but their foliage. 'Hollywood' has a plant spread of 18" and a height of 8" It is best to grow 'Hollywood' in medium wet, well-drained soils, in full shade. (It can tolerate some morning sun.) 'Hollywood' look especially good around the edge of borders, near variegated plants, woodland edges, rock gardens, perennial borders, or in mass to form an attractive ground cover. Great for a beginner gardener. PPAF

The Coral Bells Lime Rickey, Heuchera 'Lime Rickey' (PP16,210), has outstanding chartreuse leaves that produce an abundance of small white flowers. The ruffled leaves then turn to lime green for the remainder of the growing season. For best results, Lime Rickey should be planted in full sun in the north, but generally prefers full shade in the south. Use this coral bells as a ground cover, in rock gardens, as a border plant or as an edger along paths and walkways. Lime Rickey should not be left out of any shade perennial garden.