Monday, March 1, 2010

The Perennial Plant Symposium, Part II

I should mention that the name of the symposium on Saturday was The Exuberant Garden:  Creating Joyous Spaces, and that was the theme which wove through all of the presentations.

One of the presenters was Ruth Baumgardner, who owns Mouse Creek Perennial Farm in Riceville, TN.  Her program was entitled, "Putting the Oohs and Aahs into the Garden".  Ruth recommended several great plants to add "spice" to the garden, some old, some new, but all superstars.  Here are a few of her recommendations:

Amsonia "Blue Ice"
Baptisia Australis (an old favorite of mine)
Cassia Marylandii (such a show stopper!)
Dianthus "Prima Donna," which blooms in summer!
Filapendula "Flora Pleno," which looks like a fern, but grows in full sun

Iris Siberica "Caesar's Brother" (How can you not grow this?)
Dicentra "Luxuriant", planted in with hostas for early interest
Heuchera villosa "Autumn Bride," with big white plumes
Tricyrtis formosana "Gilt Edge" (Toad Lily - another favorite)

Time to go out shopping!

5 comments:

  1. Dear Tim, From the list I have known, grown and loved Baptisia australis although it is not always completely hardy in the UK.

    All the Sibirica irises are, in my opinion, worth growing and the one you picture certainly appears to be no exception.

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  2. Those are some nice plants. I really like the Iris. I couldn't find any pictures of Cassia Marylandii though.

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  3. Ben, I haven't been able to find any photos of Cassia marylandii, either. I've sent an email to Ruth, and will let you know what I find out. It is apparently tough as nails for clay and sun.....our kind of plant in north Georgia!

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  4. Amusing description of you in the header:-) Lovely blog, see you again.

    Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden, Hillevissan!

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  5. I have the last 5 on the list and love them all. One of my favorite combos ... Siberian iris and Oriental Poppies!

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