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Known variously as creeping phlox or moss phlox, early-flowering Phlox subulata is a familiar friend, a welcome harbinger of spring. Its cheerful five-petaled blooms blanket slopes and spill over walls. We hear you: It’s hard to even imagine spring, let alone plan for it, while the dog days are still raging, hot and humid. But this really is the time to do just that.A crop of Phlox subulata planted in late summer / early fall has oceans of time to fill its containers with vigorous roots. So

This North American native genus took a long time to find its way into America’s gardens. Once it arrived, it quickly became a staple.Gaura produces prolific quantities of delicate blooms, in white, pink or bicolor. Borne on slender wandlike stems, they’re in constant motion in the slightest breeze. The small, lanceolate leaves may be rich green, variegated or red.l. Belleza™ Dark Pink Well-branched, with short flower stems loaded with dark pink blooms. Height 12 – 18”l. ‘Crimson Butt

Flights of Fancy in the Backyard Zoo!Don’t look now, but critters have taken root in your garden. Relax, they’re friendly – and they’re animals in name only. Let’s meet one... heck, make it two – in one plant! Aquilegia: Bird of prey, or bird of peace? The genus name comes from the Latin for eagle (aquila), because the long petal spurs reminded Linnaeus of an eagle’s talons. But the common name, columbine, is from the Latin for dove (columba), because someone else thought the flower resembled d

What comes to mind when someone says “groundcover?”First, you picture the two or three species you see everywhere. Next, you yawn. Right? Wake up and smell the coffee! Groundcovers don’t have to be the same old ho-hum stuff. There are fantastic choices in our perennial lineup. Let’s look at a couple. Iberis sempervirens ‘Purity’ Most of the year, this is a low-profile, semi-woody groundcover with small, leathery, dark green leaves. In early spring, when it smothers itself in clusters

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson bought some real estate from France. The Louisiana Purchase involved a staggering 828,000 square miles – over half a billion acres, give or take.But nobody really knew what he had bought. Zillow was no help. So Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to do a two-year walk-through.Among the many marvels they found was a succulent-leaved perennial called “bitter root” by natives. A river and a mountain range bear that name still. The newcomer was named