Gardener's Group discussion

What perennials do you grow? What are your favorites? (Do you grow them or no?) What perennials have you tried that you didn't have much luck with?

Hostas and daylilys are the backbones of a couple of my beds. Not very exciting but they are tough and make it through our winters so I can count on them. I also love phlox and daisies and have come to appreciate heuchera in the past few years. I have a lot of hollyhocks (which took years to get going) and now I have to weed them out. I also love hydrangeas and have had luck with several varieties. Last year I planted a new variety of cone flowers which are a deep rose (not purple) and the centers are black. The centers last long after the blooms are gone, the birds love them for the seed and they are interesting to look at and mix well with fall blooming plants. Ladys' Mantle is another favorite along with clematis.

Your choice of flowers is lovely Cheryl.

Petra X wrote: "Your choice of flowers is lovely Cheryl."

Thanks. I like the old fashioned stuff for the most part, but have better luck with some than others.

Hmmm, I had commented but it disappeared.

My choice of perennials is similar. I have the regular cone flowers and leave them all winter, for interest. They look interesting with a tophat of snow. I also have a lot of creeping phlox on my bank, cat mint, and some grasses, but NOT ribbon grass. That was here when I moved in, and I am still fighting it! As my arthritis gets worse, I am trying to remove the plants that require more care.

Funny article on mossy phlox

VERY funny, but I will NOT dig up my creeping or mossy phlox- it is far too desirable a plant! People grow it everywhere here in Iowa. I never noticed an odor before, and neither have the teenagers walking past. Hmmm.

Miriam wrote: "Hmmm, I had commented but it disappeared.

My choice of perennials is similar. I have the regular cone flowers and leave them all winter, for interest. They look interesting with a tophat of snow..."

I once planted ribbon grass not knowing what I was getting myself into. Awful. I feel for you if you are still trying to get rid of it, it took me years.

Petra X wrote: "Funny article on mossy phlox"

I've grown creeping phlox but never noticed an aroma, but it was in out of the way area and required little work.

It makes me think of a day my friend Deb and I were sitting on the raised edge of a flower bed in front of a hotel in Vancouver. She kept twitching around and I finally asked what was the matter. She said she wanted to move because it smelled like we were sitting in cat pee. I had to laugh and it took me a few minutes to convince her the smell was coming from the purple salvia planted in the flower bed behind us.

Cheryl, I tried to just contain the ribbon grass for years- it was in a corner around an established Rose of Sharon. I have only been trying to get rid of it for a few years now. Ribbon grass does look nice in a container. It must be related to quack grass.

Salvia really stinks, doesn't it. I have wondered if that was part of the reason stray cats keep showing up under my porch, since I have it in a couple of places around the yard.

My favorite is my Autumn Joy Sedum. I had them planted in ground in 2 spots in my old garden, potted them up for the move here, one died but the other is still going strong, over 10 years!

Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, I tried to just contain the ribbon grass for years- it was in a corner around an established Rose of Sharon. I have only been trying to get rid of it for a few years now. Ribbon grass does ..."

I have salvia planted here and there in the yard and the neighborhood cats do come over, but I think it's to visit my two. Most of them are friendly and curious when they come up to the deck door, but there's an orange one who hisses, spits and bats at my cats through the glass. My big tom backs away and my little female hisses and spits right back. She's not only naughty but fiesty as well. Riggins is just naughty.

That's a lovely story. I love cats because their personalities are as different from each other as people's.

Some of their eccentricities are so funny too! I have one cat, she barely tolerates a pet or two, until I go in to the bathroom. Then she runs in and goes nuts rubbing against me, wanting held and pet! I could sit on the toilet for hours petting her, but if I try to do the same anywhere else, she does not tolerate it!

Miriam wrote: "Some of their eccentricities are so funny too! I have one cat, she barely tolerates a pet or two, until I go in to the bathroom. Then she runs in and goes nuts rubbing against me, wanting held and ..."

LOL! Over Christmas I was gone a lot and my two didn't get their usual amount of attention. When I was finally home for a day I noticed my big male being mean to my little female. Kicking her out of where ever she was sleeping, picking fights etc. I literally pestered him with attention that whole day and I haven't seen him do a mean thing since. Usually he never does stuff like that and now they are back to being buddies again. Don't worry, I also fussed over my little female too.

There usually is some explanation for bad behavior in kids and animals!

True! But whereas you can reason with, reward, punish or whatever a kiddy out of their bad behaviour, and possibly a dog too, cats are going to do whatever they want and the most you can do is to get them not to do something when you aren't around (they will still do it, but later).

Very true, Petra. I am so thrilled that I finally discovered something that keeps them off the counters finally! Orange oil degreaser, left on the counter.

I'm pretty sure my cats get on the kitchen table when I'm not around (cat hair evidence) but I have never caught them at it.

The only window that the cat door would fit in was one above one of the kitchen counters (not the one I use for food prep). So since the cats come in often with mud on their paws I see they have walked all over the counters, jumped the sink, explored the top of the fridge and microwave and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it as they aren't allowed on the kitchen counters and don't do it when I'm around.

One thing I'm glad of is when they drag in a rat or lizard, they jump straight down on to the floor rather than dragging it around the counters, I can tell by the bloody streaks!

Petra X wrote: "The only window that the cat door would fit in was one above one of the kitchen counters (not the one I use for food prep). So since the cats come in often with mud on their paws I see they have wa..."

My old Siamese brought a snake in the house once and I am totally creeped out by snakes. She also brought in bats, mice, a squirrel and on a very memorable occassion, a live chipmunk. I picked up the snake with a pair of tongs and threw it outside and I suppose I would do the same with a lizard. After living with her for 14 yrs the cats I have had since have never set foot outside. I'm just too old to discover a snake slithering across the kitchen floor.

I don't mind any of those things, what I can't stand are spiders, especially tarantulas, and rats. They often bring in live lizards and grass snakes and tiny tree frogs, and I usually try and rescue them and put them outside, I don't mind picking them up in my hand.

There are boa constrictors here but they are very shy and rarely seen. I've picked one up and it was quite nice, warm and solid. Grass snakes are a bit cold and boneless feeling, but not awful.

Snakes don't bother me either, except the poisonous kinds. I remember swimming down in Tennessee and my brother started yelling at me- there was a cottonmouth swimming right behind me! That is probably why I don't do much swimming in ponds anymore.

When I camped out in Oklahoma, near the Texas border, back in the late 70s, I woke up, opened the tent, and the ground was wall to wall tarantulas! I guess they come out at night? Anyway, I waited a while before I went out to pee so they could all go home. What a sight!

Since I have dogs, my cats have to eat on my island, where the sink is. So I consider this my "dirty" area, and do food prep on the other counter, which is why I wanted to keep the cats off.

My grandkids love anything to do with animals including snakes, spiders etc. They know I loathe snakes and delight in bugging me when pictures of them come on TV or whatever. I think a snake crawled over my leg when I was real little or something and they've bothered me ever since.

Cheryl, my thought is that there is a gene for "fear of snakes" and another for "fear of spiders" since they are basically survival mechanisms, and that people either have, or don't have, the gene. Neither my ex nor I were bothered by spiders, but two of my kids are!

Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, my thought is that there is a gene for "fear of snakes" and another for "fear of spiders" since they are basically survival mechanisms, and that people either have, or don't have, the gene...."

LOL. I definately have the snake gene.

My Autumn Joy Sedum is blooming! I cannot believe it. Usually after a hard freeze, it's done until Spring when it begins to re-grow. Saw it when I got home from the doctor yesterday. Even on a frigid day, my garden knows when I need a little pick-me-up!

Jo wrote: "What perennials do you grow? What are your favorites? (Do you grow them or no?) What perennials have you tried that you didn't have much luck with?"

Like you, I am a fan of Sedum Autumn Joy. One of my beds is very sunny and dry, so I loaded it up with Sedum, Artemesia, Salvia and Lavender - they are all quite happy together. Unlike some of the others here though, I don't have such great luck with hostas - the deer and rabbits eat them. In my shady beds, I've done well so far with amsonia, foxglove, bleeding hearts, Solomon's seal and lots of ferns.

Lise N, aka 'No Ordinary Tomato' wrote: "Jo wrote: "What perennials do you grow? What are your favorites? (Do you grow them or no?) What perennials have you tried that you didn't have much luck with?"

Like you, I am a fan of Sedum Autu..."

I'm thinking of adding ferns to my shade garden. What kind do you grow?

I have the Japanese fern with silver and maroon leaves, cinnamon ferns, and then some oldfashioned fern that everyone around here grows (it is quite a spreader and was probably first planted when the house was built in 1900).

You might also look in to some of the woodland plants. They are subtle, but pretty. I have some like Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, Jack in the pulpit, and Merry Bells. Virginia bluebells are also nice, and spread. They disappear in the heat, like colombine do.

Cheryl, I got three books from my county extension agency that feature plants that do well in Iowa. Your county extension agency may have similar resources. The county extension offices are supported by the state ag colleges. These have been really helpful in selecting plants, but also identifying plants that were already in my yard or in parks.

Miriam wrote: "I have the Japanese fern with silver and maroon leaves, cinnamon ferns, and then some oldfashioned fern that everyone around here grows (it is quite a spreader and was probably first planted when t..."

Thanks for all the info! I'm going to steer away from the old fashioned ferns. My dad grew them on the north side of his house and had to go after them with a machete to keep them in check. The silver and maroon sounds very interesting. Also, duh on my part, I'm sure my daughter would have some good suggestions too as she just spent years in school learning about plants!

There are a lot of wild ferns here they are very pretty, but I know what you mean about needing a machete to keep them in check.

We have ferns on the shady areas of the hills here but they're dormant by summer. Had gotten my bff's hubby Japanese Ferns for his bday one year - beautiful multicolor varieties - they have a nice, shady bed that's irrigated (hot and dry even in their CA bay area neighborhood).

Yes, your daughter probably has some very good ideas. Also your local library may have some good books.

I had tiny wild ferns growing along the side fence last year in the back yard! First time I ever saw them there and we've lived here 6+ years. Wonder if they'll return?

Jo wrote: "I had tiny wild ferns growing along the side fence last year in the back yard! First time I ever saw them there and we've lived here 6+ years. Wonder if they'll return?"

How fun, I love it when that happens!

My ferns are just starting to peek through the soil. Give them a little time.

Do any of you have hollyhocks?I planted them for the first time last year but I don't see any sign of them. When do they begin to reappear?

Did you sow from seed or plant plants from the nursery? They're actually bi-ennials so they may not bloom for a few years, then bloom for a few years then either take a few years off or be done.

My zone five hollyhocks are all up about a foot. They are well established, though. I have a whole area for them, and a few scattered here and there. And a wagon load of seeds!

I bought the plants from the nursery. I was under the impression that they reseed themselves well. I don't even see one shoot.I think that I should be seeing some activity by now,even if they were not going to bloom.I guess I will have to start again from scratch. I have been guarding that area of my garden and it is bare;-(

I could send you some seeds... lots and lots of seeds. email me your address at Yahoo. miriam.righter@

peg wrote: "My ferns are just starting to peek through the soil. Give them a little time.

Do any of you have hollyhocks?I planted them for the first time last year but I don't see any sign of them. When do th..."

I do have hollyhocks but it took me years to get them started and I used seedlings instead of seed. For no discernible reason they took off about 5 yrs ago and now they reseed everywhere and I have to pull them like weeds. I wish I could send you all the seedlings I have. Don't give up yet, they might surprise you!

I'm wanting more Azaleas and Clematis this year! Both are in bloom (the Clematis is about a month early) and I'm really enjoying them. I just got 2 Clematis last year for the first time for my garden (Daniel Deronda) and I did have Azaleas when we first moved here but they died off within a couple of years and last year bought 3 hardy Pink. I'm thinking more pink Azalea (since that's my favorite color) in addition to pink Clematis! (Again because it's my favorite color and they have such gorgeous two tone colored Clematis with pinks!)

I discovered that there was a trillium in with the cleone (turtlehead) that I transplanted last year! I am so excited. Also my Jack-in-the-pulpit has spread some.

Thanks for the encouragement,Cheryl. I am going to give the hollyhocks until mid-May before I give up on them but in the meantime I am going to plant some new seedlings. The hollyhocks I had last summer grew to be well over 5 feet tall and they were covered with blooms. Here's hoping for the best!

Everyone I've ever known that had them said they were hard to get started but once going they were very hardy. Good luck!

I love hollyhocks, real old-fashioned English cottage garden flowers. My grandmother used to have them together with honesty, lupins, delphiniums, sweet william and snapdragons, none of which you see much of these days.

Petra X wrote: "I love hollyhocks, real old-fashioned English cottage garden flowers. My grandmother used to have them together with honesty, lupins, delphiniums, sweet william and snapdragons, none of which you s..."

These are the kinds of flowers I love. I have lupins, delphiniums and snaps growing in my milk jugs and it looks like I will have enough of each to make a decent display.

I have the delphiniums,lupins,sweet william and snapdragons. It's just the hollyhocks that are being difficult. I planted a whole packet of seeds and so far, only one is growing. I'm not giving up,just more determined to make them grow.I'll put them on life support if I have to :-D