Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Old-Fashioned Perennials

Golden Glow (Rudbeckia laciniata hortensia)

Shirley — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:58 +0000

The Golden Glow are in full bloom right now, and they are a really impressive sight with their masses of bright yellow flowers. Normally the clumps will be five or six feet tall... this year with all the rain we've had, they are even taller than usual... probably very close to eight feet. This plant has a tendency to flop over under the weight of its flowers... it's the one thing about it that I don't like, especially since I have too many of them to stake. So far this year though, all my Golden Glow are still standing tall... I'm wondering if all the moisture we've had has perhaps made the stalks more sturdy.

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What Do Bleeding Heart Seeds Look Like?

Shirley — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:33:55 +0000

"In your article about bleeding hearts, you mentioned seed pods and baby plants. Is it possible to collect and plant bleeding heart seeds? I know the seed pods must come after the flowers, but I have never seen any on my bleeding hearts. Could you tell me what they look like?" --Pat K.

Pulmonaria — Lungwort (Pulmonaria saccharata)

Shirley — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:59:06 +0000

Pulmonaria is one of the first plants to produce flowers in spring, sometimes even through the snow. Often flowers will form on stems that are still almost touching the ground, although the stems grow very quickly after that. I have often read that the flowers start with pink buds that change into blue flowers, but my pulmonarias keep the color of the bud... pink buds become pink flowers... blue buds become blue flowers. When the first flowers appear, there are almost no leaves on the plant, but leaves will grow within a few days or weeks. The leaves are different lengths and dark green with prominent white spots. Both the top and bottom of the leaves are covered with hairs that can be bristly or soft. Pulmonaria is a very tough plant... even our nightly spring frosts don't seem to affect it.

Still Loving My Hollyhocks

Shirley — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:40:58 +0000

I love my hollyhocks! Especially now, when most of the other plants in the garden have shut down and are getting ready for the long winter ahead, and the hollyhock stalks are still full of blooms. I grow the single variety because I used to have problems with hollyhocks living through our sometimes forty below [...]

Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

Shirley — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:30:23 +0000

Spiderwort likes moist, fertile soil and light shade and is an extremely easy plant to grow. It grows to a height of two to three feet and forms a dense cluster of ornamental foliage. Plants will spread rapidly if you don't keep them in check (don't ask me how I know!), but if you want even more plants than increase naturally, spiderwort can be divided in spring or early fall.

Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)

Shirley — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:58:47 +0000

Joe Pye Weed is a native perennial that grows readily in moist areas and forms clumps of tall sturdy plants that can grow up to six feet tall. In August the flowers start to open, the clumps become a mass of color, and the sweet fragrance of the flowers becomes a great attraction for bees [...]