Perennials
Perennial Garden Maintenance in August
If you grow perennial plants, this is a good week to do a flower garden assessment and some quick fix improvements. Since our fall season is so long on Cape Cod, the clean-up and other maintenance you do in August will result in a more attractive garden for the next two months. Here are some…
Read MoreJune is Perennial Month
June is a month when gardeners and garden centers celebrate perennial plants. And there are so many to enjoy! Perennials are wonderful in the landscape because they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But just as people come with assorted appearances and personalities, perennial plants do as well. The secret to having a good perennial…
Read MorePlants For More Landscape Color
One of the things that many of our customers request is “More color!” Usually they are talking about flowers, of course. We all want something that’s in bloom in every month of the year. But along with planning for plants that will flower, remember to look at foliage color and texture. If your garden is…
Read MorePassionate About Peonies
At this time of year the perennials are arriving at Hyannis Country Garden, and among all the wonderful new cultivars one old-fashioned plant remains a favorite. Many employees and customers alike are passionate for peonies! Here are some tips for success with these plants. Always grow peonies in the full sun. If your plants have stopped…
Read MoreWhat To Do In The Landscape In Early Spring
Thank goodness the temperatures are starting to rise on Cape Cod because there is so much to be done in the yard and garden. Here is a pictorial to-do list for the first week of April: 1. Rake leaves where they have gathered and cut old perennials that have remained in the garden all winter down…
Read MoreCan I Plant Forced Bulbs In The Yard?
At this time of year our greenhouse has a steady supply of spring-flowering bulbs. Everyone enjoys having a pot of the small Tête-à-Tête daffodils, grape hyacinths or other signs of spring on their kitchen table or windowsill in February. But after the flowers have gone by, many wonder if they can save these bulbs for planting…
Read MoreFlowers 12 Months Per Year
One of the most frequent requests my customers make during a landscape consultation is for more color…and by this they usually mean flowers. As a garden geek myself, I understand this desire and look for every opportunity to have something in bloom twelve months of the year. So in advance of writing this blog, I…
Read MorePlants For Winter Color
When I’m feeling cranky I’ve been known to say, “Winter interest? It’s a cup of tea and a good book.” But this isn’t really true. I want plants in my landscape that capture as much of my attention in the cold season as the steaming beverage and novel. In fact, both are a necessity for surviving…
Read MoreAre Fall Mums Perennial?
As I prepared to give my annual fall talk on perennial garden maintenance, a customer snagged me with the following question: “All those beautiful mums outside,” she said, waving toward the side of the store, “are they perennial? Will these fall flowers come back next year?” My answer was this: “Yes, depending on how you care for…
Read MoreFall Into The Future
In the fall many gardeners and home landscapers are anxious to wrap things up. We’ve coped with winter and gypsy moth larvae in the spring, seen drought-stressed plants all summer, and are watching our perennials brown and go to seed. So it’s natural that we’re ready to clear things out, dust off our hands and…
Read More