| I LIVE IN MA. HOW I CAN BUILD A 4 SEASON PERENNIALS GARDEN |
| This is an interesting question. Most perennials disappear for the winter or would have their evergreen crowns covered by snow. In a cold winter climate such as yours it may be more realistic to look at creating an interesting structure for your garden with fencing, walks, a few shrubs including some evergreens, and other permanent elements such as a bird bath or bench that would hold snow in an interesting and attractive way to create a winter framework for your perennials. Then use plants that bloom in spring, some that bloom in summer, and some that bloom into the fall. Begin with the Hellebores and earliest spring bulbs and continue through peonies, iris, shasta daisies, lilies, daylilies, phlox, rudbeckia, yarrow, physostegia and echinacea, then move into fall with asters, boltonia, goldenrod, sedums, and so on. Those are just a few examples. There is a wide selection of plants you could use, depending on your personal taste and your design goals. Your local professional garden center staff should be able to help you analyze the growing conditions where you want to make your perennial garden and then help you select plants that would thrive there. A perennial garden usually requires some trial and error to fine tune and achieve the effect you have in mind, but it is a fun process. Enjoy your garden! |
