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SEASONAL STARS IN THE GARDEN


Do you find that there are times of year when your garden fades, when there is nothing stellar to notice and you have to say to guests “wait until fall (spring, winter or summer); my garden really looks good THEN!”
The secret to having a year-round beautiful landscape lies in planning ahead, cultivating plants which will shine during various seasons. There are few plants that truly are wonderful for all four seasons, but each time of year features those divas, stars, and yes even stalwart back-stage workers, to make yours a garden you can be proud of for 12 months of the year. The following is a list of only a few of our favourites. Please check with us for current availability. Trees may be tagged to hold for when they are ready in the fall.

SPRING
Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon Berry) native shrub, delicate white flowers, edible fruit.
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ a tree with four season interest, beautiful white flowers in spring, tasty black berries in summer, brilliant autumn colour.
Aronia (Chokeberry) three seasons of interest -- spring flowers become black berries in summer, then outstanding fall foliage.
Berberis ssp 4 seasons for these deciduous shrubs.
Cyclamen coum little groundcover similar to C hederifolium, except the coum species blooms in spring.
Euphorbia many varieties are evergreen, featuring brilliant chartreuse flowers to brighten your late winter to spring landscape.
Exochorda (Pearl Bush) pearl-like buds studded along branches.
Fothergilla flowering shrub, bright foliage in fall as well.
Grevillia ‘Canberra gem’ fresh new growth is very striking.
Magnolia stellata varieties bloom before leaves arrive.
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal) beautiful from spring until the last stems finally fade out in early winter.
Spireas especially ‘Goldflame’ which has bright orange/gold foliage.
Viburnum plicatum varieties -- a good structural shrub.
Zanthoxylum piperitum (Japanese Pepper Shrub) deer proof as well.

SUMMER
Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair fern) delicate fronds atop wiry black stems.
Alchemilla mollis Lady’s Mantle; lasts from spring until freeze-up, if cut back after flowering. Fresh foliage holds water droplets like diamonds.
Astilbe ssp flowers nicely in shade.
Buddleia attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
Catalpa ‘Aurea’ tree with large golden leaves.
Cercis Canadensis (Forest Pansy) small tree with burgundy heart-shaped foliage.
Fuchsia many hardy varieties; all provide summer flowers in shade.
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ brilliant yellow grass for shade. Perennial of the Year for 2009.
Hosta check out some of the newer varieties for pure zing!
Hydrangea ssp are at their best in late summer; many varieties to choose from.
Kirengeshoma collector’s plant, lovely in woodland settings.
Lilium ssp; plant several varieties for continuous show of colour.
Magnolia ‘Oyama’ best magnolia foliage, later blooming.
Monarda bee balm; very attractive to wildlife, except deer!
Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ and other Nepetas. Cut back for new flush of
bloom.
Paeonia (Peony) summer flowers, autumn foliage colour, and deer proof too.
Philadelphus (Mock Orange) fragrant flowers in early summer.
Physocarpus (Ninebark) strong structure, colourful foliage.
Pyrus salicifolia (Weeping ornamental pear)
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ (Golden Locust) bright chartreuse foliage. We always sell out of this tree long before it’s ready to leave the nursery in September.
Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’or ‘Black Beauty’ (Elderberry) shrub with glossy purple-black foliage.
Sinocalycanthus ‘Hartledge Wine’ very exotic looking flowers.
Spanish olive shiny black olives, attractive leaves.
Stewartia considered a four-season tree.
Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’ (Japanese Snowbell Tree) graceful habit, good foliage and white blossoms in summer, followed by little green pear-shaped seeds.

Note that many of the following perennials included in the Autumn section are also lovely in summer, but they are still going strong in Autumn.


AUTUMN
Acer rubrum or for a smaller tree, the Japanese Maples; what can be more lovely in fall than a red-leafed maple?
Aconitum (Monkshood) dark blue/purple flowers on this hardy perennial that deer do not eat.
Anemone japonica perennial with tall stems of simple elegant flowers, spreads nicely in garden bed. A classic.
Aronia (Chokeberry) autumn leaves are like red embers in a campfire.
Blueberry not just for berries, this has gorgeous fall foliage.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Dwarf Plumbago) blue flowers over red-tinged foliage.
Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura Tree) a favourite for its fragrance of burnt sugar as the leaves dry in late summer.
Clematis terniflora (Sweet Autumn Clematis)
Cotinus very colourful fall foliage after a summer of beauty as well.
Crocosmia many varieties, flowers are rich and vibrant shades of orange/yellow/red.
Cyclamen hederifolium sweet little ground cover, pink flowers.
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ dark foliage, evergreen, survived even this winter in a pot.
Fothergilla two seasons of intense beauty, shade tolerant shrub.
Helenium (Sneezeweed) brilliant reds and golds on deer proof plant.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Burnished copper colour in this stately grass. Look at Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’.
Passiflora caerulea (Passion Flower Vine) very complex flowers, a must-see!
Perovskia (Russian sage) yet another good one not on the deer’s menu.
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy) a classic, old fashioned and tough. Many varieties.
Schizostylus happy little spreading clump, flowers well into early winter.

WINTER
Acer griseum (Paperbark Maple) cinnamon coloured bark peels all winter, good contrast with evergreen shrubs and conifers. This is truly a four-season tree.
Betula (Birch) both Heritage and Fox Valley colourful, peeling bark that shows well in winter.
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ (Red twigged dogwood) variegated leaves in summer, bright red twiggy stems all winter.
Corylus ‘Contorta’ (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick) truly best in winter, with contorted and twisted bare stems wonderful in floral arrangements.
Cryptomeria interesting conifer with red-tinged soft foliage.
Epimedium surprisingly tough for such a delicate looking plant. Leaves take reddish hue in cold weather and make good cuttings at Christmas for arrangements.
Evergreen ferns Sword fern, Deer fern, Japanese tassel fern, and others add green to winter woodland.
Grasses left standing provide seeds for the birds as well as architectural interest in the landscape.
Hamamelis ‘Jelena’ (Witch Hazel) graceful shrub/tree for warm orange blooms in the darkest days of winter.
Helleborus ssp, people always gasp when they see these flowers up close.
Lonicera nitida evergreen small-leafed shrub, foliage takes yellow tinge in sun.
Mahonia ‘Charity’ and ‘Winter Sun’ taller shrub versions of Mahonia, tolerant of a variety of conditions, flowers in November.
Stewartia interesting branch structure when leafless.
Symphoricarpos ‘Alba’ (native snowberry) and ‘Amethyst’ purple berries.

By ensuring that there are a few outstanding plant varieties for each season, your garden will return your devotion and give you pleasure the whole year long.