Gardens, like gardeners, get tired.
Sometimes a bed or border needs a horticultural facelift, the infusion of new colors, shapes and textures to freshen its appearance. Other gardens need complete rejuvenation, which can be hard work but worth every aching muscle when you can give it a new lease on life.
Landscaping professionals like Jeff Rhea of Turf Landscape in Sumner, point out that landscapes have a lifespan. Plants grow old, woody and tired-looking. Even trees and shrubs may need replacing. Not to mention that gardeners get bored with what they’ve got and want something new and different. Maybe it’s time for a new plan.
But it’s natural to experience brain freeze at a greenhouse or nursery because there is such a vast array of plant material available. This year, Green Scene wants to make it easier to choose with garden designs using plants to be sold during the Green Scene Plant Sale.
The 36th annual event takes place from 9 a.m. to noon May 12 at the Agriculture Building on the National Cattle Congress grounds, 257 Ansborough Ave. Admission is free.
This week’s plans are shade gardens for filtered shade using lots of hostas and an herb pot.
Filtered Sun-Shade Garden
A) “Golden Tiara” hosta — gold leaf margins, heart-shaped, thin leaves, dusky lavender flowers.
B) “Liberty” or “Autumn Frost” hosta — “Liberty,” vase shape, medium blue green with bold yellow margin that fades to creamy white; “Autumn Frost,” wide, bright yellow margins that fade to cream, frosty blue leaves.
C) Lungwort — Flower clusters in spring, pretty speckled foliage throughout growing season.
D) “Sun Power” or “Heat Wave” hosta — “Sun Power,” wavy, gold leaves that are twisted and pointed; “Sun Power,” oval to heart-shaped yellowish green leaves; “Heat Wave,” thick, puckered chartreuse leaves that brighten to gold with blue margins in spring.
E) “Irish Luck” hosta — Glossy, dark green leaves, deep veining, pie crust rippled margins.
F) “High Society” or “June” hosta — “High Society,” wide blue margins, yellow center that brightens to parchment; “June,” creamy yellow-gold center, dark bluish green margin and streaking, color changes depending on sunlight.
G) Heuchera — Also known as coral bells, brings color to shade.
H) “Halcyon” hosta — Favorite, deeply ribbed intense blue leaf.
I) “Climax” hosta — Large, upright, green leaves, bright gold margins.
J) “Hudson Bay” or “Goodness Gracious” hosta — “Hudson Bay,” wide bright blue margins, apple green jetting and creamy white center; “Goodness Gracious,” dark green, wide yellow margins, deeply veined leaves.
K) “Krosca Regal” hosta — Upright vase-shape, frosted blue-green wavy leaves.
L) “Georgia Peach” heuchera — Large leaves, glowing peach with silver wash, heat and humidity tolerant.
M) “Christmas Rose” hellebore — Dark green, thick leaves, white flower that sometimes turns salmon-pink with age.
N) “Blue Angel,” “Devil’s Advocate” or “Queen of the Seas” hosta — “Blue Angel,” large, heavily textured blue leaves; “Devil’s Advocate,” blue-green leaves, green margins; “Queen of the Seas,” blue-green, thick heart-shaped leaves, pie-crust edge.
O) “Sum and Substance” or “Rainforest Sunrise” hosta — “Sum and Substance,” upright, heart-shaped, flat leaves in chartreuse to gold leaves; “Rainforest Sunrise,” thick, lightly cupped and heavily puckered light green leaves with dark margins and gold center.
P) Filtered or heavy shade tree
Fill in bare spots with tulips, daffodils and columbine for spring blooms.
18-inch Culinary Herb Garden
A) French thyme — Cascading, gray-green leaves; aromatic; faint clove aftertaste.
B) 2 basil plants, one “Thai,” second “Sweet Genovese” — “Thai,” sweet basil, small narrow leaves and purple stems, slight licorice flavor; “Sweet Genovese,” large-leaved Italian sweet basic, spicy flavor and aroma.
C) Rosemary “Huntington Carpet” — Glossy dark green foliage, blue flowers, fragrant.
D) Italian Parsley — Plain, flat-leafed parsley, less bitter than curly parsley
E) Greek Oregano — Coarse, oval, fuzzy leaves, strong flavor.
F) Heliotrope (not sold at Green Scene) — Dark green, crinkled leaves, vanilla-type fragrance; common name “cherry pie plant.”
Evenly space plants with tallest in center; full sun to light shade; begin clipping for cooking in a few weeks.
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