Kerry’s Garden Design Tips and Musings
Okay, I was wrong. I really thought that I could continue to write Perennially Yours newsletters the same as before starting a full time job outside the home. Nope. Not possible (and that is coming from a Type A overachiever. Surprised?) The solution? I’m switching to bi-monthly newsletters during slower months plus these will include some of the gardening blogs that I’m writing for Faddegon’s Nursery (Kerry’s Tips and Insights). If you want to read all of the blogs, you’ll need to sign up for the Faddegon’s newsletters at http://www.faddegons.com/. Change is good. I keep telling myself that now that I’m an empty nester.
Some of my Faddegon’s blogs….
Add Sizzle to Late Summer Gardens. The lazy, hazy days of late summer are perfect for lolly-gaggling around the pool and enjoying barbeques in the backyard. All the more reason that our gardens show be dazzling backdrops. But many gardeners throw up trowels in frustration as they stare at peaked gardens with lackluster blooms. Thankfully, you can easily reverse this scenario by adding these sizzling late bloomers. Read more
Fancy Foliage. August is a time when gardens can start to look a little anemic when it comes to flowers, despite our best efforts. So why not think FOLIAGE? I am always drawn to big, splashy plants that politely scream for attention. You may get six weeks of flowers from longer blooming perennials but colorful and dramatic foliage plants strut their stuff for three seasons – more bang for your buck Read more..
All That Glitters IS Gold. Gold foliage jazzes up any garden. And since foliage works overtime – before, during and after bloom – or every month of the year in the case of evergreens, it’s a perfect color accessory. Gold, yellow and chartreuse leaves add sizzle, quickly grab the eye, and are exceptional for ‘connecting’ garden beds around a property. Gold is a perfect complement for darker foliage plants that may seem somber by themselves. A bonus is that many gold-foliaged plants thrive in part sun or shade, where they perform like illuminating beacons. Read more
All That Glitters IS Gold. Gold foliage jazzes up any garden. And since foliage works overtime – before, during and after bloom – or every month of the year in the case of evergreens, it’s a perfect color accessory. Gold, yellow and chartreuse leaves add sizzle, quickly grab the eye, and are exceptional for ‘connecting’ garden beds around a property. Gold is a perfect complement for darker foliage plants that may seem somber by themselves. A bonus is that many gold-foliaged plants thrive in part sun or shade, where they perform like illuminating beacons. Read more
Low-Maintenance Perennial Gardening – Reality or Myth? If you are like many people I talk with, you probably feel low-maintenance perennial gardening is a big-time myth! We throw up our arms in exasperation as our gardens mock us with their disheveled, lackluster appearances while screaming for attention. In many cases poor plant choices or maintenance practices are the culprits. Read more…
Tips for Prepping Gardens for Winter. Cut perennial foliage down to 2” to 3” inches of the ground except for Lavender, ornamental grasses, Russian Sage, Montauk Daisy and Mums. Also leave roses and Butterfly Bushes alone. You may choose to leave some perennials for winter interest and bird feed such as Sedums, Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, Astilbes and Globe Thistle. Read more