Plumbago-Leadwort

Plumbago isn’t a perennial in CA or FL, it’s more of a woody plant and can be propagated by layering or by semi-ripe tip cuttings in summer. It can be trained as a goundcover or a vine and is evergreen and blooms except in winter and prefers a slightly acidic soil and the colors vary from white, blue, purple, red or pink. In colder climates it makes an excellent patio plant, if you have a spot to store it over the winter. When I saw the plants in CA I fell in love with them. Even if it gets frost bit it still might recover. It takes at least 4 hours of sun a day and is drought tolerant and produces flowers on the currant season’s growth so pruning will not stop the blooms and may need a shot of manganese sulfate if the leaves turn yellow and is a favorite of butterflies.

Doronicum-Leopard’s Bane

Leopard’s Bane is best propagated in the spring after it flowers, by root division, because it goes dormant in the summer and is best planted in the shade in the south because they are shallow rooted, like astible, and need a well drained soil and are used mainly for naturalizing and varieties can range in height from 1-2'. Blooms are yellow and the plant is deciduous and is deer resistant.

Laurentia fluviatilis-Blue Star Creeper

Blue Star Creeper is easily propagated in the spring or fall by transplanting the rhizomes that spread out beyond the parent plant. Depending on the zone it could be either evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous and since it only reaches 2" in height it is a plant that can be walked on lightly and would be a great filler between stepping stones. It prefers a morning sun in a fertile moist soil, not too wet, and its blue blooms will add color to the garden from late spring to early fall in a neutral pH.

Celebrate July 4th, the USA’s Independence Day

Let’s give thanks to those serving the USA in foreign lands that help keep us free from the tyranny that strikes people in less fortunate countries where democracy is only a dream, even though some in the USA complain about gas, food, or whatever irks their fancy. Just imagine if the whiners lived in a Third World country where complaints might bring prison or death, i.e. China. We live in a land where some tell us that our lives are no better today compared to 20 years ago, but imagine if we did not have the Armed Forces that we have, what life could have been like without our freedoms. It is up to the individual to improve their life not a government’s grand scheme to hand out taxpayer “gifts” to the whiners and /or law breakers, or why do we have men and women who at a moments notice are ready to protect our freedoms by giving up their lives. That’s what makes the USA so great. What other country would do it? Trying to help others into achieving the dream of independence, something that seems elusive, which does not happen overnight and it costs some more then they could imagine when they brought their child onto earth. Hooray for the USA!

Monarda-Bee Balm, Horsemint

Bee balm can be propagated by division, by lifting the plant out of the ground and discarding the older woody stems in the spring, which should be done every 3-4 years or by layering. Bee balm prefers full sun and a damp soil, but not chalky, however it will grow in partial shade but it will not bloom as profusely, however it will spread faster. The blooms range in color from red, pink, lavender, white, and purple and flower from mid summer until frost and although butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees like the pollen, deer generally dislike the plant and depending on the variety, bee balm can reach upwards of 4 feet in height and the leaves are used in potpourri and to make tea. Bee balm is deciduous.

Myosotis-Forget-me-not

Forget-me-nots are also propagated by self-seeding or by root division in the fall. They prefer a shaded moist rich well draining soil and bloom from spring until fall. Colors are blue, white and pick. They grow in height up to 12" and need mulch protection in colder zones. Another plant that will grow under shade trees where grass will not grow however they must remain moist. Generally deer resistant. Depending on the zone it could be evergreen or deciduous.

Viola tricolor-Johnny Jump Up, Banewort, Wild Pansy

Johnny Jump Ups are easily propagated because it is a self seeding, self fertile, creeping annual or perennial in warmer zones, when planted in a rich composted well drained soil. There is no work involved to keep this plant coming back, year after year once planted. They drop their seeds in the fall in a shaded environment and they will bloom all season especially when deadheaded. They have colorful blooms which vary from white, yellow, blue, maroon, orange, bronze and purple and grow to a height of 9", but in the south they become dormant in the heat but perk back when it becomes cooler. Use under shade trees where grass will not grow. Generally deer do not nibble.