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I added ‘Elvas’ to my Amaryllis collection this fall and it sure did not disappoint. It produced two tall, sturdy, 20-inch stems; each stem held 5 large buds, with each bud producing a beautiful double white bloom with raspberry-pink markings and a picotee edge. The blooms were very large at 8 to 9 inches. The blooms had no fragrance that I could detect, but the huge blooms themselves were absolutely stunning! I highly recommend this amaryllis.

In past years I had little luck growing Salvia: They always got powdery mildew, became spindly, and finished blooming in no time. This spring while I was at the nursery, a plant with very striking blue flowers caught my eye. It was Victoria Blue Sage, Salvia farinacea. I decided to take a chance on this one, and I am very happy that I did.

After purchasing it in a 6-inch pot, I planted it in a part sun and shade area of the garden, adding a slow release fertilizer at the time of planting. With ample water it has grown vigorously, forming a nice clump and producing many spikes of beautiful, intense, deep-blue flowers on blue stems, above deep-green foliage. This is a beautiful easy-care plant and will be replaced next year, as it is an annual in my zone 3a garden.

I had not grown Spider Flower plants before and I was delighted with the performance of Cleome Senorita Rosalita in my zone 3a garden. With the cool nights we experience here, I was not too sure how well this delicate looking plant would do, but it turned out to be one of the best new plants that I have tried this growing season. It is planted in a mixed bed, where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It was blooming when I first planted it from a 5 inch pot and it hasn't stopped since. It is a very attractive carefree plant with purple pink blooms that require no deadheading. It has not been fed since first planting, but it gets ample water. It will be on the top of my plant list next spring.

Drowning in Desire was new to my garden in 2012, I have been very pleased with its growth and performance to date. The blooms are beautiful, a lovely shade of red with a gold glitter edge that really stood out in the garden. It survived the winter quite well in my zone 3a garden and has increased from the 2 purchased fans to 5 fans this spring. I would definitely recommend this daylily.

Last year was my first introduction to growing Amaryllis, the cultivar was Red Lion, and I fell in love with its striking red blooms on the one scape it produced. I let it grow in a sunny window all summer. In early September I let it go dormant and put it in a cool dark cupboard for about 8 weeks, then potted it up in fresh soil. It bloomed beautifully. It was bigger and better than ever with two sturdy scapes, each of which produced four large and gorgeous long lasting blooms.

This was my first Amaryllis. After its initial bloom it thrived in my living room window and outgrew its pot. I was very surprised to see how large the bulb had grown in 8 months. I hope it will bloom again in December.

Desirable perennial which produces flat heads of pale pink blooms in summer. Green fern-like foliage. Great border plant. Flowers can be used in dried arrangements.
Plant in moist well drained soil. Fertilize in spring, prior to new growth. Cut back spent flowers to promote new blossoms. Divide plants in late summer to promote vigorous spring growth.

Brise d'Anjou' is a first class foliage plant for using towards the front of the border, where it's variegated green and cream leaves look for all the world like some exotic fern. Spikes of blue flowers rise above in early summer. This plant seems to prefer a shaded situation where summers are warm and humid, with protection from hot afternoon sun. also excellent in mixed containers.
Prefers a rich moist soil. Water well until established.

Balloon flowers are summer flowering cousins to the more familiar Bellflowers. Plants form a mound of green foliage, bearing inflated buds that open into star-shaped blue blossoms. This dwarf selection is great for edging the border, rock gardens or in mixed containers. Nice for cutting. Plants are later to come up in the spring.
Plant in average well drained soil. Water well until plants are established.

As a garden shrub Wine & Roses is a strong grower with no serious insect or disease problems. Reaching a mature height of four to five feet, it may be easily trimmed to maintain lower height. It can be used as a hedge, as a foundation plant or it can be effectively integrated into a shrub or perennial border to provide season long color. It's also perfect for use in a hummingbird garden or cut flower garden. A light shearing after it blooms in mid-spring will often be rewarded with a second bloom. To achieve its best foliage color it is essential to plant Wine & Roses in full sun. Sunlight brings out the dark pigments that gives Wine and Roses its dark purple leaf color.

Growth habit is stiff, upright branching, with clusters of spring blooms resembling lily of the valley cascading near the ends of the branches. New spring growth is bright red or pink when emerging. Mature foliage is lustrous dark green. Requires rich acid soil and ample moisture, protect from hot winds and sun.
Water regularly as needed. Feed in spring with an all purpose fertilizer prior to new growth. Prune as necessary. Remove old blooms.

Good accent plant with profuse white flowers on arching branches in spring. It is a dense vase shaped upright shrub with dark green foliage turning to orange red in the fall.
Water regularly as needed. Feed in spring with an all purpose fertilizer prior to new spring growth. little pruning is necessary. Prune broken or damaged limbs.

Hosta are among the best perennials for shade. Lush, tropical-looking leaves are topped with lily-like flowers. This species forms a neat mound of deep green shiny narrow leaves. Lavender flowers appear in summer.
Plant in average , well drained soil. Water well until plants are established.

Bright lemon yellow foliage matures to lime green on a compact mounding form. Fall foliage color is orange-red on red stems. Good as a filler with green leafed plants or for mass planting.

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering.

Orange Whisper Potentilla is a uniform mound shape shrub with an abundance of small orange flowers throughout the summer. Holds the orange color well. Continual blooming adds a striking contrast to any landscape.
Water regularly as needed. Feed in spring with an all purpose fertilizer before new spring growth. Little pruning is needed, prune broken or damage limbs.

'Abbottswood' Potentilla is an excellent dense spreading shrub with large pure white flowers. Blooms from spring until fall. Plant as a shrub border, low hedge, or mass planting. Water regularly as needed. Feed in spring with an all-purpose fertilizer prior to new spring growth. Little pruning is necessary. Prune broken or damaged limbs.

Small dense mound-shaped shrub with clusters of deep pink flowers in summer. Red shoots in spring turn into rich red-tipped chartreuse foliage holding its color into fall. Great for the border, foundation or in mass plantings. Remove old flowers to promote continued bloom. In colder climates, dieback is common. Prune to ground level in early spring, treat as a perennial.

A distinctive potentilla with semi-double flowers in a very attractive medium-pink. In climates with warm summer nights the color may fade to a lighter pink. The bright-green foliage is bushy and forms a mounded shrub. Water regularly during the first year to maintain a healthy plant. Mulch to retain moisture.

Propagation prohibited without a license.

Horstmann's Silberlocke is a slow growing cultivar with a handsome pyramidal habit. Introduced in Germany in 1979. It makes a good year round accent plant, and in addition is well suited to the smaller gardens; RHS AGM, 1993

Discovered in 1921 in the Mountains near Vladivostock, Russia, the genus Microbiota contains just one species. A ground cover par excellence. It looks like a cross between a carpet juniper and a fern, with green, scale-like leaves that turn bronze or purple in winter. RHS AGM, 1993