POSTED BY KIM — Oooh, the boss is out of town and Michael and I have been busy busy busy.  Yesterday we planted four new trees at the nursery, and in 50 years, they’ll be spectacular!    Maybe sooner than that.

We also planted along the drive (pictured above), and down by the entrance to the nursery.  This little corner actually belongs to the neighbors, I think, but nothing grows happily there but weeds.  *Not anymore.*

We popped in an ‘Incrediball’ hydrangea, and Michael’s truly inspired suggestion of Lobelia chinensis as a groundcover.  It’s quite aggressive, which is exactly what we need in this spot.  Zone 6 — fingers crossed that it makes it through the winter.

This is our neighborhood hawk. He's, like, 7' tall.

While we were planting, Michael pointed out this hawk that was sitting on top of a telephone pole watching us. He’s spectacular!  Michael said there are a couple of juveniles in the area, too.  I’ve also been checking for Persy, the owl, but no sign of him yet.

No shovel for Michael! His planting tool of choice: the pickaxe.

POSTED BY KIM — We have lots of shade gardeners in our area — lots of big trees — so I’m always up for the challenge when someone comes in with a problem area and they assume the worst — like they might be stuck having to plant ivy or <gasp> more hostas.

A great little shade-loving groundcover is sweet woodruff, or Galium odoratum.

It really shines this time of year because of its fragrant, dainty white flowers.

It’s a nice spreader, without being overly aggressive, so it’s great to have some around because you can always dig up a  piece and move it to a new spot when needed.  It grows to about 6″-8″ tall, and blooms in the spring.  But even when it’s not in flower, you have the great texture of the whirled leaves.

Lean in and smell your computer screen...

I've got it planted around the base of a hydrangea 'Tardiva' to hide the shrub's "scraggly legs."

POSTED BY KIM — I was so excited to walk outside today and find my iris cristata in full bloom.  I don’t know if you can tell by the picture, but these little woodland iris are only about 5″ tall.  I bought a 4″ quart plant about three years ago, and today I have the spread you see here, plus the same amount in another location.  They’re nice spreaders — not too aggressive, not too passive — and the flowers are powder blue and super sweet. (And native!)

My only complaint is that they last for too short of a time — but that’s part of their charm.  You have to enjoy them while they’re here.

Blue blue blue blue...

POSTED BY KIM — One of the few plants in my garden that’s in full bloom right now is the groundcover, Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue.’

It’s hard to find a true blue in the plant world.  A few that come to mind — Mertensia virginica Virginia bluebells, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Perennial plumbago, and this little beauty.

It stays low, maybe getting only 6″ tall, and is a nice spreader — not invasive, but spreading enough that you can split it and move it around.  Once it’s done blooming, then you have the dainty foliage that almost acts like a mulch — dainty foliage = no weeds!  Likes full or part sun and well-drained soil.

Try it under some rose bushes, spread amongst some perennials, or even in a fairy garden.

It's dainty enough, Georgia Blue makes a nice fairy garden plant, too.

POSTED BY PEGGY: One blog posting is not enough about the incredible Creeping Phlox. Call it old fashioned or say “been there, done that”, but before you do, go to your window and tell me what is blooming in your garden today. No other perennial blooms this early with such a punch of color than Phlox subulata.  Mine is blooming it’s head off with no help from me.  I’ve barely gotten my garden cleaned up.

During the last few years (since I’ve been working at Sugar Creek) I’ve been what’s called a perennial “collector”. I’ve been  planting just one of everything I can get my hands on, just to see how it does in our climate, when it blooms and how much maintenance it requires. This type of perennial gardening is fun and informative, but doesn’t give me the WOW factor I am looking for in my garden. 

Now it is time to narrow down my assortment.  Out with the non performers, in with the Rock Stars.

Phlox subulata is definitely a Rock Star in my garden. I like it so much, I added five more last week.  Still in the “collector” state of mind, I chose three different varieties/colors. They are all in the pink and white families so they should mix well together.  I planted them in a narrow border that runs between my fence and sidewalk.  My goal in this border is to have 100% plants and zero mulch. I’m tired of the mulch falling on the sidewalk. My goal is to have every square inch covered with plants.  I’m trying out lots of different Steppables ( a series of plants that are super low growing and can take some foot traffic).  Creeping phlox fits right in with the Steppables forming a tight ground cover that weeds don’t penetrate.

I planted ‘White Delight’ a bright white.  White is a good transition when you are planting more than one color. You can also see it at night. ”Fort Hill’ is a bright hot pink and ‘Candy Stripe’ is a fun pink and white stripe. It’s too bad it won’t be blooming the same time as my Peppermint Twist Tall Phlox.

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'

There are several different species of Phox to learn more, check them out here: http://www.sugarcreekgardens.com/Plant%20Listings%20and%20Photos%20Files%20and%20Images/Perennials/Perennials%20P/Perennials%20P.htm

A recent trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden confirmed I had made the right decision. The Creeping Phox were blooming in all their glory.

Creeping Phlox at MO Bot last week.

Creeping Phlox in border at Missouri Botanical GardenBright Pink Creeping Phlox at Missouri Botanical Garden

Bright Pink Creeping Phlox at Missouri Botanical Garden

Now does that say "Spring" or what?

POSTED BY KIM — Once again, my neighbors Peter and Renata have the prettiest yard on the street.  They have a bed right in front of their house that is swathed with creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) and grape hyacinth.  The story is, when they first bought the house 50 years ago, the phlox was already there, planted around some rock that got thrown in the bed when the house was originally built.  Once they’re finished blooming and the ground warms up, Renate will tuck in some asaparagus fern and begonias to keep some color throughout the summer.

Phlox perform best in full sun with really well-drained soil.  Rock garden conditions are ideal.  Once they’re finished flowering, you can trim back the foliage to tidy up the plant’s appearance.  Semi-evergreen in St. Louis.

Rumor has it, Peggy recently planted creeping phlox at her house — one in every color.    And there are lots of colors!  White, pink, hot pink, red, purple, purple/white striped, pink/white striped.

There are also some woodland phloxes available that take shade and are very fragrant.  Consider trying Phlox divaricata ‘Fuller’s White,’ ‘Blue Moon,’ ‘Montrose Tricolor,’ ‘Parksville Beach,’ and ‘White Perfume.’  But if you have rabbits, provide a little protection.  Those suckers love phlox divaricata!

The view from my kitchen window -- lucky me!

POSTED BY PEGGY: Monkey grass is also know as  Lily Turf or Liriope Grass.  Liriope is pronounced (lir-RYE-oh-pee).  I find it one of the hardest plant names to pronouce.  It doesn’t roll off the tongue like other botanical names. I’ve heard lots of interesting interpretations over the years.

Liriope is a tough groundcover plant. It survives in full sun or deep shade, wet or bone dry conditions. It will stop erosion on even the steepest hillsides. It will spread and fill in quickly.  Weeds don’t stand a chance in the thick mass of solid liriope. There are two types or species of Liriope Grass. 

The Liriope that Spreads 

Liriope spicata spreads.

There are lots of  places for spreading liriope, by itself in a contained area, like the right-of-way between the street and the sidewalk.  Another might be a steep, shady embankment where there’s room to keep it in check.  Or in full shade, where its spread is less aggressive.

The Well-Behaved Liriope

Liriope muscari mounds.

Liriope muscari is the “clumping” kind that does not spread by runners and basically stays where you put it (think “m” muscari = mounding) .  It blooms purple, not white like spicata, but it shares all the good qualities of the spreading kind – incredible toughness and adaptability, without the invasive behavior.  There are lots of great varieties of Liriope muscari.

The varigated variety has a green-and-white leaf  that brightens up any shady spot.

Variegated Liriope muscari

Liriope ”Big Blue’This lilyturf cultivar is a tufted, grass-like perennial which typically grows 12-18″ high (sometimes to 2′) and features a clump of strap-like, arching, glossy, dark green leaves (1″ wide). Clumps slowly expand by short stolons, but do not spread invasively like Liriope spicata. Erect, showy flower spikes with tiered whorls of dense, lavender flowers, somewhat resembling grape hyacinth (Muscari), rise just above the leaves in late summer. Flowers give way in fall to blackish berries which often persist into winter.

Liriope 'Big blue'

For more varietes of Liriope go to: http://www.sugarcreekgardens.com/Plant%20Listings%20and%20Photos%20Files%20and%20Images/Perennials/Perennials%20L/Perennials%20L.htm

Regardless of what variety you have, it’s time to trim it. Liriope can be cut by hand, weed whacked or mowed. Liriope stays evergreen all winter, but looks tattered in the spring.  If you look closely, you will see the new growth shooting up.  Cutting back the old growth will allow the new growth to freshen things up.

Liriope Grass Before Cutting in Spring

Lirope Grass after mowing

New emerging Liriope Grass

Arum 'Chameleon'

POSTED BY KIM — Savvy gardener and Sugar Creek customer Caleb M. from Perryville, Mo., passed along this photo of a new arum in his garden.  Arum ‘Chameleon’ has golden green variegation that makes this groundcover a diva!  (I’d like to make a terrible Boy George pun here, but I’ll hold back.)

He found this sweet arum at a mail-order nursery in New York.  Oh, the temptation!

There are a few things I’ve learned about foliage color in my time at Sugar Creek, and I’m going to share them with you here:

1.  Variagated foliage is striking and a great way to add some pizazz to your garden.  The  white seems to sparkle, especially in the shade. 

2.  Any kind of yellow-green foliage is like a spotlight — it immediately attracts your eye.

A close up

3.  I’m a sucker for both.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Variegated foliage

• Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
• Hellebore ‘Pacific Frost’
• Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’
• Iris pallida ‘Variegata’
• Carex ‘Evergold’

Yellow foliage

• Hosta ‘Stained Glass’
• Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lemon Daddy’
• Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’
• Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’
• Acorus ‘Minimus Aureus’

Thanks for passing along the pics, Caleb.  I’ve already made a spot in my garden for a little chameleon. 

POSTED BY KIM — I forget about this shady groundcover and then *plink!* it appears out of nowhere.  It’s

Arum appearing again in the fall

arum italicum and is actually evergreen in my garden, although it does go dormant in the summer (which is why I kind of forget about it).

In many of the pictures I’ve seen, there’s always a very nice show of red berries, but I’ve yet to get them in my garden.  Maybe next year!  This is an especially fun plant for me because when my husband and I went to England for my 40th birthday, I could see arum growing wild along the roadside — everywhere!  Full of red berries, too.

In the winter -- not too shabby!