it's all about gardening during these long, full days of spring. we're not just focusing on our vegetable & herb garden; we have been spending time in our front flower beds. we lost four big, beautiful lavender plants to the harsh winter so we've been filling in the holes with other perennial plants. it's so exciting to invest in plants that will grow fuller year-after-year. i love adding annual flowers to our pots on the porch, but i am reserving our front flower beds for perennials. i thought i would share my favorites with you today!
1. hostas: i love their bright green color & leaf shape. they're easy to maintain, too.
2. creeping phlox: phlox typically flowers before most any plant in the spring so it provides a pop of color when everything else is still in a deep winter sleep. we choose creeping phlox to grow over our wooden borders. i am so excited to see its growth next spring!
3. lavender: i already miss our big, beautiful lavender bushes. i added one lavender to our bed in hopes that it will survive our winters. it smells so yummy. during the summer, i cut off the blooms to add to little flower bouquets for friends.
4. peonies: i added a peony from the nursery, too. it shouldn't bloom until next spring, but i cannot wait. the soft peach color & smell is my favorite.
5. coneflowers or echinacea: i absolutely love coneflowers. they are native to this region & are easy to maintain. this season i found coneflowers in a citrus & red color instead of the usual purple. i am so excited to see the beautiful flowers for the first time.
6. hydrangeas: hydrangeas are a southern tradition & a must for any garden down south. my mother-in-law gifted me two hydrangea bushes last summer that are doing quite well, despite a surprise freeze we had a couple of weeks ago.
7. purple salvia: this is a new one to me, but i already love the big purple flowers.
8. creeping jenny: i absolutely love creeping jenny's bright green color & it does so well here. it is such a beautiful ground cover.
i still have my eye out for a shasta daisy. they're so bright & cheery!
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purchasing perennials can be expensive. we always keep an eye out in the newspaper for special deals on plants throughout the season. take a look at the reduced price cart of plants at lowe's & home depot. we have found beautiful plants that just needed a little tlc. in addition, fall is a great time to purchase perennial plants before nurseries close for the season.
what are some of your favorite perennial plants?
- natalie
