I will never stop seeking out new plants to experiment with in my gardens and I will continue to push the boundaries of what my landscape will allow me to grow successfully. It isn't always the smartest approach, but it is reality. Then again, I think most gardeners think the same way.
After struggling with my poorly draining clay soil, little to no shade and hungry deer that roam my yard like violent gang members for so long, I may have finally come to grips with the fact that my plant palette doesn't need to increase as much as I need to add more of what I know already works. Make those "proven performers" the backbone of the garden and then experiment a little while filling in the gaps.
Recently, I was getting myself lost in all of the photos I took over the past year or so and noticed that there were two plants in particular that kept putting a big ol grin on my ugly bearded face. Two plants that define not only the term "low maintenance" but also the term "multi-seasonal". What more could I ask for? And these two plants definitely fit into the aforementioned "proven performers" category.
I have written previously in great detail about both of these plants and I'll include a hyperlink to each of those original posts down below.
For today, I just wanted to bask in the awesomeness of both of these plants through photos taken of each from spring through fall.
I am going to do my best to add more of these workhorses through additional purchases and/or some form of propagation (post on this topic surely to follow) in the very near future.
Without further ado:
Amsonia tabernaemontana (Eastern bluestar):
Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet' (Sweetspire):
And wouldn't you know it, they look damn good together in a fall combination:
Like the old saying, "Dance with the girl that brung ya".
Until next time ...
John
