More perennial plants details:  Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ is a wonderful addition to the cottage garden.  If Scabiosa is dead-headed (spent bloosoms removed) it will bloom from spring until fall.  If planted in full sun the blossoms will bloom on 10″ stems that make wonderful additions to a bouguet for indoors.  I had experirence with this plant when I was consulting on ‘cottage gardens’.  It was nearly pest free and seemed to thrive and bloom, as we all wish every plant we plant in our yards would.  I hadn’t grown scabiosa in my own yard for some time however I happened to purchase some cut flowers from the wholesale florist for a dinner party.  I found white scabiosa, sold in bundles.  They were so pretty, especially when mixed with other flowers.  I began to search the nurseries around my area for white and so far have turned up nothing.  I will continue to search but meanwhile I will enjoy the blue in my garden.  If you know of a source for white scabiosa I would appreciate hearing about it.

As mentioned previously, I recently planted some new (to me) varities of perennials in my garden.  Salvia nemerosa or Meadow Sage is a low growing plant with blue spires.  It’s perfect for borders and seems to hold its blooms for a longer time than some.  The average height of the plant is 8-10″ tall and can spread to 18″ wide.  Salvia prefers well-drained soil and I used peat moss to amend the existing garden soil.  Peat moss is a natural organic soil amendment that, when mixed with your regular garden soil, seems to create a happy environment for the plants.  Full sun is ideal but the plant will tolerate some shade.

The second perennial on my list of easy care plants is the Angelonia. My nursery stocked 3 different colors, violet, white and pink.  The plant has small clusters of  flowers on spikes.  The leaves on the plant are delicate and the prettiest color of emerald green.  I have had experience with this perennial during my landscape days.  Once the plant begins to look leggy and disorderly you only have to cut it back and it will send new growth.  I would leave at least 6-8″ of height when you cut it back.  It will reward you with new growth and begin to bloom again.  It is a solid performer in the garden and rests in the winter months, which works for me since I’m in the garden less during those months.  The average height is 12″ and will prosper if planted with some composted planting mix to enrich the soil.

To be continued…

As I mentioned previously, I recently planted some new, and some not so new, perennial discoveries (for me) in my yard.  The Salvia nemerosa or Meadow Sage is a low growing plant with blue spires.  It’s perfect for borders and seems to hold its blooms for a longer time than some.  The average height of the plant if 8-10″ tall and can spread to 18″ wide.   Salvia prefers well-drained soil and I planted mine with the addition of peat moss.  Peat moss is a natural organic soil amendment that, when mixed with regular garden soil, seems to create a happy environment for the plants.  Full sun is ideal but this plant will tolerate some shade.

The second perennial on my list of ‘easy care perennials’ is the Angelonia.  My nursery stocks at least 3 different colors (violet, white and pink), and the plant has delicate flowers on stems that show off small, emerald green leaves.  I have had some experience with this plant in the past and found that once it’s looking a little leggy and disorderly you only have to cut it back and it will send out new growth and begin to bloom again.  It is a solid performer in the garden and usually rests in the winter months, which works for me since I’m in the garden less during those months.  The average height is 12″ and it will prosper if planted with some planting mix to enrich the existing soil.

To be continued…