Whether you’re planting a new perennial border this spring or planning to refurbish a tired collection, choosing plants that work well together, provide season-long drama and return from year to year can be a daunting challenge.
In his 10th book, “Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses: Expert Plant Choices and Dramatic Combinations for Year-Round Gardens” (Timber Press $34.95), the English horticultural icon Adrian Bloom takes the mystery out of plant selection and partnering for striking design. This is no classic English perennial border how-to; Bloom features designs that are bold and contemporary.
He begins with a pictorial tour through his family estate, the famous gardens of Bressingham, focusing on the perennials and grasses in the glorious combinations that carry the garden throughout the year.
The design chapter takes us around the world from a dry garden in Australia to a thumbnail of Rick Dark’s sustainable woodlot in rural Pennsylvania for options; and containers are a part of the mix.
Adrian Bloom is a nurseryman as well as a gardener and currently is spokesman for the Blooms of Bressingham brand that introduced so many wonderful plants to the world market. His ambition, in a world overflowing with time constraints, is to get folks gardening. So Bloom selected 12 perennials and grasses that are easy to grow and work well in combinations with themselves and others, including shrubs, and dedicated an entire chapter to their culture and use.
Bloom stresses the importance of origin when selecting species — plants native to Japan and China usually do well in the Midwest. Those native to New Zealand and Africa, not so much.
The section on preparation, planting and maintenance walks the gardener through these important steps that play a critical role in keeping the garden healthy and looking good. Timing — when to cut back and divide various plants — is included.
He provides an encyclopedia of another 240 plants to add to the mix. More detailed descriptions feature information on growth, care and design.
This is a great reference book for the beginning and weekend gardener. Avid gardeners may find Bloom’s plant selection a bit pass, but his combinations and experience with species make it a worthwhile addition to their library.
Appearances: Join me at 11 a.m. March 16 at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham for my program “Secrets to Growing Great Gardens: New Tools, Tips and Techniques.” The library is at 300 W. Merrill, (248) 554-4650, and the program is free.
Nancy Szerlag is a master gardener and a Metro Detroit freelance writer. Her column appears Fridays in Homestyle. To ask her a question go to Yardener.com. and click on Ask Nancy. You can also read her previous columns at detroitnews.com/homestyle.
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