What’s a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter? A hellebore! It is an outdoor plant that is shocking to see blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year.These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed trees or something of that nature. What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few plants that do that! One variety is called a Christmas Rose. These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery. Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family of plants.

Another plant you’ll surely want to try is called Sweet Annie. This is actually an annual herb, in the worm wood family. The seed is very fine and you sow it in direct sunlight in the spring after all danger of frost is gone. Sweet Annie can get up to 6 feet tall. It’s fragrance is wonderful! My favorite use for Sweet Annie is in the fall to cut it to the ground and dry it. It can be used as wonderful, fragrant filler for dried flower arrangements, and it can also be bound with fine wire to form a wreath base of its own. Simply tuck in other dried flowers here and there around it and you’ve got a beautiful dried floral wreath with a fragrance to die for!

Another unusual one is called Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate. Yes, this really is the name of a plant! It’s official name is Polygonum orientale. It’s an old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect. It has large heart shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of small pink flowers. In rich, moist soil and full sun it can go to six feet tall. Best to sow the seed in fall or early spring where it is to grow.

Lastly another unusual plant to try is the Balloon Flower. These are perennial, meaning they will return year after year. The latin name for these are: platycodon grandiflorus. They are very hardy, durable plants and very beautiful. Balloon flowers are about the size of a ping pong ball and look like little balloons. Once they fully open up they split and you can see the center portion and the bloom then resembles a star. They usually come in shades of purple, pink and white. Very cute, the plants only get about 2 feet tall. Try one!

About The Author

By Valerie Garner-Visit Home Tips & More at http://www.angelfire.com/wa/hometips

rgarner722@hotmail.com

Price : $21.92

Product Description

With more than 130,000 copies sold since the original publication, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden has proven itself to be one of the most useful tools a gardener can have. In this expanded edition more than 200 color photographs have been added, showing perennials in various border situations and providing images for each of the entries in the AZ encyclopedia. In addition, there is a new 32-page journal section with room to enter details, notes, and observations about the requirements and performance of perennials in your own garden. Thousands of readers have commented that The Well-Tended Perennial Garden is one of the most useful and frequently consulted books in their gardening libraries. This new, expanded edition promises to be an even more effective ally in your quest to create a beautiful, healthy, well-maintained perennial garden.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-12-01
The way this book is layed out is great and makes it easy to find the info you are specifically looking for quickly. It uses both common and scientific (Latin?) names, which is a good feature in my book (no pun intended!) It has a very concise section on when & what to deadhead, and what to cut down at the end of the season and what not to (and why). Also covers the usual - bed prep, plant division, diseases & pests, etc. but in a very common sense way that makes you feel like you can’t go wrong as long as you have this book to reference. I have seen this book recommended by many people on The Garden Web site, so I was confident in buying it but it is even better than I anticipated.

Review date : 2008-11-03
It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a garden book and read it cover to cover. This one did the job. We design gardens for a living and frequently need a comprehensive guide to let clients tailor their garden maintenance. From installation through customizing maintenance techniques for individual species this book does it all….and well.

Review date : 2008-09-23
This book tells you what and when to do things to most perennials. It has made me a much better gardener and made my garden look better. I loved it so much that I bought a copy for my Sister-in-law.
I recommend it for gardeners on all levels.

Review date : 2008-09-20
I am in agreement with all of the other very positive reviews on the "Well Tended Perennial Garden", this has quickly became my new bible on perennials. The writer is very knowledgeable and opinionated; though at times her personal tastes on plants come through loud and clear. Though there were some instances when I strongly disagree with her, for instance her view on irises not being worth the effort, but that did not take away from the usability of this book.

The Encyclopedia of Perennials is a great resource, one place that you can go for information on a plant including not only the usual details regarding size, exposures, zones etc but also details on how to prune, the level of maintenance you should expect and related plants.

Review date : 2008-09-13
Great overview of perennial care. Easy to read. Great pruning, growing, staking, fertilizing, and overall care tips. Great for novice to expert gardeners.

Price : $22.30

Product Description

Timber Press’s all-time bestseller! Tracy DiSabato-Aust has devoted years of study to creating showplace gardens with minimal maintenance. Her methods of pruning and shaping perennials, thoroughly explained and illustrated here, produce more flowers, encourage lush new growth, discourage pests, stagger bloom times, and maintain vigorous health. Readers have given us rave reviews of this book since publication.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-10-24
The book was what I wanted, and in good condition. I’m happy with my purchase.

Review date : 2008-10-05
I enjoyed an earlier copyright of this book and the new one is improved. Great reference for any gardener, especially those that want to do the best they can with the perennials.

Review date : 2006-11-04
Most garden books concentrate on flower type, color, pairing or such. This book gets you into the day to day maintance such as pinching, dead heading and pruning in a stright forward manner. By following these guides a gardener will end up with much fuller longer lasting flowers. If done with perenials the pinched tops can be just stuck in the ground in a shady spot and have new plans even if 75% do not start.
HLM

Review date : 2006-03-21
This is not another book of pretty pictures of flowers. The book takes you from start (preparing the soil), to caring for your plants (pruning tips), to finish (dividing mature plants).

Review date : 2005-10-24
I’ve been gardening for 4 years and I learned a few really useful things from Tracy’s book; enough to keep it on my list of "most wanted" gardening books. There is a great deal of information on preparing beds, soil amendment, planting and some creative pruning ideas. I think of this book the same way I think of Jaques Pepin’s "La Technique" when it comes to cooking. It’s a basic, a classic, and it should be on your shelf, or better yet in front of you.