Aralia ‘Sun King’, Perennial Plant of 2020

We are still in The Time of The Beast, but … who knew?

If nothing else positive comes out of this time, one truth has become self-evident:

The garden is essential

One state after the other shut down, one company after the other closed doors, one job after the other was lost. Like a belching volcano, the coronavirus was all about, essentially invisible but for the havoc it wrought. If unemployment hit 20%, if food lines included our friends, if Nieman Marcus went bust, then without doubt, horticulture was doomed.

However, a funny thing occurred on the way to ruin. A garden happened.

Who knew? It turns out while so many other things faded away, we were discovered. People who normally bought a few plants bought a few more. Folks realized this war was not going away quickly, and unable to travel, traveled to their garden. We were force-fed this thing called time – and while the generals bickered, those in the trenches used that time to plant some vegetables, herbs, flowers and trees. They went out to the local garden center, masked and gloved and bought back plants for victory gardens or their containers on the porch. If they remained closeted, instead of going to the garden center, they went online - and the Internet hummed.

I picked up the phone, or simply asked local garden centers and landscapers how they were faring. Everyone was moaning about something, nothing new there, but the moaning was colored with surprise.

“I can’t even get mulch for my jobs, so many new gardeners are buying it up.”, a local residential landscaper.

“Margarita sweet potatoes, you’re kidding - none of my annual growers have anything left!”, a local IGC

“Our calls for jobs were three times the number we had this time last year. I think people have more time to notice jobs that have been put off.”, a tree maintenance contractor.

“My online sales have gone through the roof”, a national grower

“Allan, I can’t wait to plant some tomatoes and okra this year, where do I buy soil for my new raised bed?”, my new gardening neighbor.

“Where are all these people coming from?”, this writer - who found 1900 people following him on Facebook Live during an evening walkabout through his garden.

We don’t hold a candle to the health workers who risk their lives every day treating the infected, my daughters included. Perhaps we should not compare ourselves to grocery stockers, mask makers or those producing ventilators. However, while we may not provide dollars for the rent or oxygen for the lungs, we provide something almost as important - therapy for the soul. We are essential. I just wish it didn’t take a pandemic to make us realize this.

June is Perennial Gardening Month

June is Perennial Gardening Month: So, let’s not only go gardening, let’s celebrate a few great perennials as well. Here are a few of my favorites that may still be available in the IGC or online. Much more easy-to-read information including deer pressure and cultivars for the following plants may be found on my App, “Armitage’s Great Garden Plants”.

Summer Phlox

Phlox paniculata: Not only are they beautiful, not only are they native with dozens of nativars available, not only do they attract pollinators, but they are easy to grow, fragrant and essentially no-brainers even for the beginner. New breeding has resulted in far fewer mildew problems, and plants are available as tall, medium or short.

I love them all but some of my favorites include Candy Store series (eg ‘Bubblegum’, ‘Coral Crème Drop’), ‘Jenna’, and ‘Delta Snow’.

Nepeta

These have kind of gotten lost in the rush for new cultivars, but they are wonderful complements to almost all plants in the garden. The smaller ones (Whisper series), and the medium size ones (’Junior Walker, ‘Purple Haze’) hide the legs of roses or other taller garden plants.

Lilies

Bulbs are surely perennial, and this is a group of plants I would not be without. From the outrageously bright coral lily (L. pumilum), to the eye-catching Asiatic and Oriental hybrids, they are simple and beautiful. And for the native enthusiast, the more difficult but wonderfully rewarding native lilies like the turk’s cap, L. superbum are available for pollinators and gardeners alike.

Switch Grass

Panicum: I would not be without my switch grasses. So many excellent choices are available, and even in my small garden, I must have half a dozen. I enjoy the summer form and substance and the lovely, if not extraordinary, fall color. ‘Cape Breeze’ and Apache series are on my favorites list.

So many more fabulous perennials ...

Which brings me to the good news – nay, The Great News!!

Herbaceous Perennial Plants 4th ed. is now available: Pre-publication information:

Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition

from $89.95

This is just not any book on perennials – it has been called the Bible of Perennials. That may be so, or not, but there is no doubt that it is one of the very few new references of perennials published in the last 10 years. Not only is it new, with the newest cultivars and more genera and species, it provides up-to-date nomenclature changes (is the name Dicentra or Lamprocapnos, Cimicifuga or Actaea? What do mean Joe Pye weed is no longer Eupatorium).

The new edition also provides a great deal more space for the issue of Invasive Plants and links to every state’s list of Invasives. Nomenclature and Invasives are moving targets, changing every year. So, while these lists may change, at least this book allows us to be as up-to-date as we ever have been - in a single place.

Of the many excellent reviews of this book, perhaps the one fact that the book is enjoyable to read by the professional botanist and horticulturist as well as by the amateur gardener speaks volumes to the writing style of Dr. Armitage.

Excellent information, interspersed with Dr. Armitage’s straight talk and pithy opinions have made this book a classic, this edition only makes it better.