The fall season is approaching fast and this may be a good time to start thinking about your fall gardening. There are lots of things that you can do now that will save you time later in the season. For example, you can start replacing those summer annual plants in window boxes and containers with some fall plants.

If you do get rid of the annual plants, don’t throw away the soil. That soil is still good so just toss it in a flower bed, border or even perennial plants. For your fall plants, be sure to use fresh soil and do follow the instructions given when you purchase your plants. If you want to still keep your annuals for a while, you can get an additional container and fill it up with fall plants. This way, you will have beautiful fall flowers while the annuals are slowly dying out.

Another idea is to keep the container with annuals and as they die out, replace them with fall plants in the same container so that by the time your annuals are all gone, you will have constant color around your garden. Or, if you want to leave things as they are, start a new container with fall plants and keep it in a separate location until you are ready to place it in your desired location.

No idea what you want to do about your fall plants? Start by thinking about the colors and styles you want. Go to your local nursery or any garden center and start looking at the various choices they offer. Do speak with a salesperson and discuss where you want to place the fall plants, the colors that you have in mind, and ask for more suggestions.

Months go by quickly so don’t delay and get going with your fall gardening ideas. Whatever you decide, the time to start is now so that by the time to cooler weather gets here, you will have beautiful fall color around your garden.

To your lovely fall garden,
Diana

Hibiscus plants are known for their large flowers with deep colored bases. There are many different varieties of Hibiscus plants available today and while they are usually viewed as a tropical plant, let me assure you that it can be grown in the North or colder climates as well. I know, because I had Hibiscus plants when I lived in New York. You just have bring the plants indoor when the temperatures begin to drop to protect them from very cold weather.

One way to determine whether or not you can grow Hibiscus in the area where you live is by the color of the flower. If the flowers are yellow, peach, orange or salmon and if the flower is double, then these are considered to be a tropical Hibiscus and will thrive in the warmer climates. The hardy type of Hibiscus don’t come in these colors and the flowers are not doubled which means that it can be grown in colder climates.

Did you know that Hibiscus is also a primary ingredient in many herbal teas? Yes, the next time you have herbal tea, check the ingredients in the box and you may find Hibiscus listed. Did you also know that dried Hibiscus is edible and a delicacy in Mexico? Also, white Hibiscus has been considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. So, Hibiscus are not only beautiful in your flower garden, but also good for you and here is small list of some of my favorites.

Hibiscus ‘Blushing Bride’- Botanical name is Hibiscus Syriacus ‘Blushing Bride’
An absolutely beautiful hibiscus! It starts with green foliage and round yellow buds brushed with red. These buds open to white double blooms with a dark raspberry color base which are hidden beneath multiple layers of petals and sometimes you will see a soft pink blush. This sun loving hibiscus can be planted as a hedge, against a fence, or in the rear of a shrub border. The flowers begin in early summer and it continues blooming until the fall season. It grows as high as 8 feet tall and about 5 feet wide and thrives in zones 5-9.

Hibiscus Southern Belle Hybrid Mix – Botanical name is Hibiscus Moscheutos Southern Belle Hybrid Mix
Here is a hibiscus that you can grow from seeds. The seeds come mixed to give you flowers in red, pink and white. The flowers are huge and the plant only grows to 4 feet tall making this a must have for your flower garden with 10 inch blooms. The blooms all have a red ring at the base of the petals and a spike of yellow in the center. It is tolerant to hot, dry conditions and thrives in zones 5-10.

Hibiscus Disco Bell Hybrid Mix – Botanical name is Hibiscus Moscheutos Disco Bell Hybrid Mix
Disco Bell is another Hibiscus that you can grow from seeds. One packet of mix seeds will produce pink, white and red parasol shaped 9 inch blooms. It is ideal to use as a hedge or a border because Disco Bell only grows to 3 feet tall and blooms all summer long into the fall season. It is pest free and easy to grow in full sun and moisture rich soil. Grows well in zones 5-10 and tolerates heat

Rose Mallow ‘Plum Crazy’ – Botanical name is Hibiscus Plum Crazy
This one is a very different type of Hibiscus in that the flowers and foliage are both purple. Plum Crazy is all purple with large 10 inch blooms that begin in early summer and continue until the fall. It is an absolutely beautiful shrub that is bushy and only grows to 4 feet tall but blooms in masses all in purple color. These are ideal to plant as a hedge and should be spaced at least 4 feet apart. It is recommended that these be cut to about 6 inches from the ground in late winter. Plum Crazy grows well in zones 4-9 and it is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Rose of Sharon Blue Satin – Botanical name is Hibiscus Syriacus Blue Satin
Yes, a blue Hibiscus and it is beautiful. It has 3 inch blooms that begin mid summer and continue until the fall season. The flowers are blue with magenta throats and an ivory center. Absolutely gorgeous! It grows up to 12 feet high and 5 feet wide but if you want to use it as a border, just prune it to the size you want. Blue Satin is hardy in zones 5-9 and it tolerates heat and drought.

Hibiscus Peppermint Schnapps – Botanical name is Hibiscus Moscheutos Peppermint Schnapps
Here is another different type of Hibiscus in that the leaves are bronze color and the blooms are candy cane pink. Very pretty! And, it blooms from spring until frost. The foliage begins in the spring in tones of bronze and an overlaid of purple and green. Then by mid summer, the plant is covered with buds that open to 10 inch pink flowers with a dark red central mark. Peppermint Schnapps grows to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide making it ideal for containers or borders. It is pest and disease resistant and grows well in zones 5-9.

Hibiscus Sugar Tip – Botanical name is Hibiscus Syriacus Sugar Tip
This Hibiscus also known as Rose of Sharon has double blooms which begin mid summer and continue until mid fall. The leaves are very pretty too which come out creamy white around the edges thus giving the plant the name of Sugar Tip. The double flowers almost look like roses and are a pale lilac and a light shade of pink. Really beautiful! Sugar Tip is a shrub that keeps blooming even in intense hot days of summer reaching up to 12 feet tall and up to 5 feet wide. It is heat and humidity tolerant and grows well in zones 5-9.

So there you have it, a small list of some beautiful Hibiscus plants that will add beauty to your flower garden. No matter where you live, rest assured that Hibiscus plants will give your garden a tropical bold look

The thing to remember when planting Hibiscus is that these can grow very tall, so plan your landscape design properly. Once planted, these require very little care and because they are in the perennial family you will have them for years to come.  Enjoy! Diana
 

After writing an article on shade loving perennials, I have received several comments about the problems gardeners are facing dealing with deer and rabbits in the areas they live. As a result, I began some research to find perennial plants that deer and rabbits will leave alone. Yes, deer in particular are a big problem on those areas heavily populated by them such as in the mountains and foothills.

In my research, I found out that deer tend to avoid plants with strong odors or have a bitter taste in the leaves and many of the same plants are rabbit resistant as well. While there is no sure cure for the deer and rabbit problem in your garden, here are some perennial plants that deer and rabbits will leave alone.

Paeonia ‘Kopper Kettle’-Botanical name is Paeonia Lactifora Lemoinei Koppler Kettle
In the Peony family, this plant looks almost like a peony tree. Did you know that Peonies are the longest lived perennial of all? This one has 8-inch flowers with petals that combine red, orange and some gold tones. The flowers come out in late spring and early summer and if you cut them to place in a vase indoors, the plant may set another load of buds before the season is out. The plant then goes dormant as most herbaceous do, dying back in autumn and coming back in early spring. Kopper Kettle grows to 32 inches high and 24 inches wide and it tolerates heat, humidity, cold and poor soil. And, like all Peonies, it repels deer and rabbits. Grows well in zones 3-8.

Aconitum ‘Cloudy’ Botanical Name: Aconitum ‘Cloudy’
This one shade loving perennial is very pretty and the flowers begin in late summer which is great because it is at that time that most flower gardens need some color. Cloudy has hooded like bi-color blooms in white with strong brushstrokes of blue at the base and the tips of each petal. Why is this perennial named Cloudy? Because the blooms do resemble clouds scudding across the sky. The blooms crowd along slender but sturdy stems that point straight up and crowning the dark green foliage.

Cloudy grows up to 24 inches high when in full bloom and up to 18 inches wide. Grows well in zones 5-8 and if you need a deterrent for animals who like to nibble on your plants, then do plant Cloudy. It is untouched by deer, rabbits and other pests.
Note: Be careful with this one if you have pets as it is poisonous.

Helleborus Brandywine Strain-Botanical name is Helleborus Hybridus Brandywine Strain
Why is this one called Helleborus? Because breeder David Culp somehow collected the original plants for this strain from the Hellebore gardens of Europe. It has been said that he spent 15 years hand crossing them to select only the finest colors and flower form for the Brandywine. This plant has single, anemone, and double blooms along with a full range of solid, bi-color, and sometimes freckled forms and colors that can range from deep reds, pale greens, ivory, yellow, pink and apricot. Like all Hellebores, Brandywine Strain is resistant to heat, humidity, drought and cold. The deer and rabbits will leave this one alone. It grows 12-18 inches high and 12 inches wide. The flowers come out in late spring and early summer and thrives in zones 4-9.

Polemonium ‘Touch of Class’-Botanical name is Polemonium Reptans Touch of Class
This shade loving perennial has soft sage green foliage outlined in white and then blooms with pink buds that burst into blue blooms. In early summer, many pink buds appear bursting into bright blue blooms that last through the season. The plant is long, slender and the stems are russet brown reaching 14 inches high and 16 inches wide. You can plant touch of class amongst Hostas and Ferns for a magnificent look to your flower garden. It grows well in zones 3-7.

Nepeta ‘Joanna Reed’-Botanical name is Nepeta x Joanna Reed
This perennial is in the Catmint family and was found in the garden of Janna Reed of Pennsylvania who tested it for several years to get its top notch bloom power. The blooms are a rich blue violet color and looks great against its gray-green foliage. Joanna Reed blooms heavily in early summer and if you cut it you cut the blooms mid season, it will bloom again in the fall. It grows up to 3 feet tall and wide and tolerates drought and thrives in zones 4-8. Joanna Reed will resist deer and other plant nibbling pests but will attract butterflies.

Aquilegia ‘Clementine Salmon Rose’-Botanical name is Aquilegia Vilgaris Clementine Salmon Rose
The Clementine Salmon Rose is in the Columbine family and has double flowered blooms. When the flowers open, they are a rich shade of salmon and gradually they mature to a soft lavender purple color. According to other gardeners, a fully blooming plant can contain over a half a dozen different hues for a spectacular display. Clementine Salmon Rose is ideal for cut flowers for indoor beauty. The more you cut these, the more flowers you get. It blooms from mid spring through mid summer and grows well in zones 3-9. Deer and rabbits will leave this one alone but it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Heuchera ‘Sashay’-Botanical name is Heuchera Sashay
This heuchera has beautiful ruffled leaves in two different colors. Dark green in the back topsides and pale burgundy undersides leaves plus rosy mauve blooms on long slender stems above the foliage makes this Heuchera a must have for your flower garden. This carefree perennial is just 12-18 inches tall and slightly less wide and resists deer but loves butterflies. It tolerates drought and grows well in zones 4-9.

Thalictrum Actaefolium ‘Perfume Star-Botanical name is Thalictrum Actaefolium Perfume Star
Thalictrum flowers all summer long and has large clusters of 1 inch starburst blooms which are very fragrant. The blooms are soft lavender with bright white tips and its blue green foliage makes this a very nice contrast in your garden. It is deer and rabbits resistant. Thalictrum grows to 40 inches high and about 20 inches wide and grows well in zones 5-9.

Penstemon ‘Sunburst Ruby’-Botanical name is Penstemon x Mexicali Sunburst Ruby
Penstemon is a very hardy and easy to grow perennial that has ruby red 12-16 inches tubular blooms with white throats on long, narrow shiny green leaves. It is deer resistant but hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant. Penstemon grows up to 18 inches tall and tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and cold weather. It blooms from early summer to early fall in most areas and grows well in zones 5-9.

Geranium ‘Bevan’s Variety’-Botanical name is Geranium Macrorrhizum Bevan’s Variety
This geranium has fuchsia blooms and keeps blooming from late spring to late summer. In the fall when the cool weather begins, the foliage turns to reddish bronze color. The blooms are about 1 inch and are held above a mound of aromatic foliage which will attract butterflies but turn off deer by it’s mildly pine scented foliage. This Geranium tolerates heat and humidity better than most other geraniums. It grows up to 10 inches tall but spreads up to 24 inches over time and thrives in zones 3-8. It is recommended for containers, borders or edging in your flower garden.

Monarda Grand Parade-Botanical name is Monarda Didyma Grand Parade
This perennial has sweet scented blooms that are lavender and frilly. The shiny dark green foliage is just as fragrant as the flowers with a tangy scent of mint which is pleasant to us but somehow this smell keeps deer and other plant nibbling creatures away. Monarda grows up to 16 inches high and up to 20 inches wide and blooms from mid to late summer. It is recommended that the soil for this perennial be moist or even wet and grows well in zones 3-8.

Salvia ‘Purple Knockout’-Botanical name is Salvia Lyrata Purple Knockout
Purple Knockout has large dark chocolate burgundy leaves for spring and summer but in the fall, it turns to bright red. During the summer, small lavender to silvery white blooms appear for a spectacular show in your flower garden. The plant is then topped by long slender stems with small blooms that open as pale purple and mature to silver and white. In the fall, the foliage turns to bright scarlet and when frost arrives the plant remains evergreen. Deer and rabbits don’t nibble on this one but butterflies and bees love it. It thrives in well drained soil and grows well in zones 5-8.

So there you have it, a list of some deer and rabbit resistant perennials for your flower garden. You can have a beautiful garden without worrying about deer and other pests nibbling on your plants. Enjoy!

If your garden has dim areas that are completely on the shade, plant some flowering shade loving perennials and turn those areas into a beautiful flower garden. Shade perennials will brighten a dark shaded corner of your garden and you can even add life and color to the trunk of a tree that looks dull in your yard.

There are many varieties of shade loving perennials and these can be just simple green leave plants or those that flower as well. Some shade perennials tend to bloom early so for most of the summer, foliage will be the garden mainstay through the season. There are however, some that will bloom until the fall season.

While I am not familiar with all the shade perennials available in the market today, here is a small list of those that I know about. I do have some of these in my garden, not all of them but I have seen all of these at neighbors and friends homes. So, if you have an area in your flower garden that is in full shade, do plant some of these perennials.

Aconitum ‘Cloudy’- Botanical name is Aconitum Cloudy. This shade loving perennial is very pretty and the flowers begin in late summer which is great because it is at that time that most flower gardens need some color. Cloudy has hooded like bi-color blooms in white with strong brushstrokes of blue at the base and the tips of each petal. Why is this perennial named cloudy? Because the blooms do resemble clouds scudding across the sky. The blooms crowd along slender but sturdy stems that point straight up like crowning the dark green foliage.

Cloudy grows up to 24 inches high when in full bloom and up to 18 inches wide. Grows well in zones 5-8 and if you need a deterrent for animals who like to nibble on your plants, then do plant cloudy. It is untouched by deer, rabbits and other pests.

Astilbe ‘Heart and Soul’- Botanical name is Astilbe Heart and Soul. This lovely Heart and Soul Astilbe was developed by Dutch gardener Harrie Verduin. From what I understand, there has never been a lavender-pink Astilbe before that almost looks blue until this one was developed. The lavender and pink blooms are overlaid with a powder blue sheen to make this Astilbe very different than other varieties. Truly beautiful.

Heart and Soul plumes come out all summer long reaching 10 inches long and 5 inches wide. The plant itself reaches 32 inches high and 30 inches wide which is great to cover all those dim dark areas in your flower garden. It grows well in zones 3-8 and tolerates heat and humidity.

Athyrium ‘Ursula’s Red’- Botanical name is Athyrium Nipponicum Ursula’s Red. This perennial is a Japanese Painted Fern and the colors are silver-white and rich wine-red and it has an iridescent look with these magnificent colors. You can plant Ursula’s Red in a container to place in the patio, or better yet, mix it in with other green leave plants for a spectacular look.

Long elegant fronds of gleaming white on top and rich wine-red underneath start to come up in the spring. Somehow, as the season progresses, those red tones begin to populate to the top and the white changes into silver to give you a gorgeous two-toned effect. This Japanese Fern was developed by Ursula Herz of South Carolina. In a mass planting, the texture and color of this hardy fern are spectacular. It grows up to 20 inches tall and up to 2 feet wide and it thrives in zones 4-9.

Bergenia ‘Eden’s Dark Margin’ – Botanical name is Bergenia Eden’s Dark Margin. Bergenia’s common name is ‘Pigsqueak’ because if you hold a leaf just right between your thumb and fingers and rub it hard, it will squeal. I haven’t tried this yet so I don’t know if this is true. Eden’s Dark Margin is ideal as a ground-cover with its year-round maroon foliage. As I understand it, Bergenia’s were usually planted in certain climates like the Pacific Northwest but now you can plant them anywhere.

The foliage is the real thing for this ground-cover as the leaves are big and winter tough. Some other varieties look pretty bad after a cold long winter but Eden’s Dark Margin performs well in rough climates. The blooms come out in 6-8 inch spikes in early spring and are a rich purple-reddish color. The buds can be frost tender but once opened, the flowers are very tough. Eden’s Dark Margin grows to 12 inches high and 12 inches wide. It is recommended that the soil be moist but not wet and it should not be planted in heavy clay or very wet areas. Grows well in zones 3-8.

Brunnera ‘Mr. Morse’- Botanical name is Brunnera Macrophylia Mr. Morse. This Brunnera is beautiful with large heart shaped leaves and many sprays of tiny blooms of white flowers. You can use Mr. Morse as a ground-cover, a border or just to fill bare spots in your flower garden. Mr. Morse was introduced by Chris Ghyselen of Belgium.

The leaves of this Brunnera reach up to 6 inches long and each leaf is patterned in a marbled swirl of green and white for a dramatic look. It blooms in late spring and summer. The blooms are clusters an inch or two across of tiny white flowers and the plant reaches up to 15 inches high and wide. Grows well in zones 3-8 but it is recommended that you give it a heavy mulch during the winter months.

Convallaria ‘Rosea’- Botanical name is Convallaria Majalis Rosea. Soft pink and fragrant bell shaped flowers are the main attraction of this beautiful perennial. The plant itself has broad green foliage and thin flower stalks that bear over a dozen soft pink bells that dangle from its curved stems. It is an early spring bloomer that you can plant on those shady areas such as under a leafless winter shrub, under tall trees, or on bare spots where your ground-cover is not visible yet from its winter rest.

Rosea is just 7 inches tall which makes it a good choice for borders, containers or beds. It grows well in zones 3-7 in just about any type of soil.

Epimedium Pubigerum- Botanical name is Epimedum Pubigerum. This Epimedium is rare and from what I understand, it is an Eastern European and Western Asia species and it is now available here in the states. It has orchid like tri-color blooms that arise along wiry stems that are almost 2 feet long. In the spring, Epimedium starts with heart shaped leaves that are green tinted in purple. When the cooler temperatures arrive in the fall, the leaves turn into a bronze color and remains that way through the winter.

The leaves of this exotic plant are attractive but the flowers are by far more beautiful. The flowers appear in clusters of up to 50 on each stem and are white and rosy pink with a middle layer of solid yellow. Epimedium blooms from mid spring until early summer and when not in bloom, the plant is just about 10 inches high. When in bloom. Epimedium can grow to 2 feet tall. It grows well in zones 5-9 and likes rich, moist acidic soil.

As I mentioned before, I don’t have all the shade loving perennials listed here but have seen them all and these are beautiful. So if you have a shaded area in your garden, go ahead and get some shade loving perennials.