Name:   Echinacea ‘Milkshake’ Type of Plant:  Perennial for full sun in zones 5-9 Why I love this:  This cone flower has proved to be very strong, reliable and long flowering in my garden. I love the round dome of fluffy small petals with a yellow center, surrounded...

Name:   Kniphofia 'Mango Popsicle' 'Papaya Popsicle' and 'Pineapple Popsicle' Type of Plant:  Perennial for full sun in zones 6 -8 Why I love this:   In the past I didn't pay any attention to the Kniphofias commonly known as red hot pokers. They were glorious for the...

Name: Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’  aka: golden Japanese Spikenard (frankly, I think that Aralia ‘Sun King’ is easier to remember than the common name…)    Type of Plant: Perennial for shade – hardy zones 3-9 Why I love this:  Anyone with a shade garden is always looking...

Name:  Papaver rhoeas  aka corn poppy or Flanders poppy Type of Plant: Self-seeding annual for full sun. Why I love this:  These poppies create a showy celebration in the early-summer garden. When they are happy you’ll have them coming back every spring. Corn poppies...

I have an umbrella magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) which is an interesting tree with far too large leaves and white flowers that don't smell very good. Nevertheless, it's one of those plants that people never fail to ask about when they visit my gardens. Today I took a...

Name:  Baptisia australis (all the lists say that the common name for this plant is false indigo, but most people I know just call it baptisia.) Type of Plant: Perennial plant for full sun/part sun, hardy from zones 3 to 9 Why I love this:  Drought tolerant, blue...

Name:  Viburnum Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ Type of Plant: Shrub for full sun or part shade. Hardy from zones 5 to 8 Why I love this:  This variety of doublefile viburnum is especially flower-filled in late May and early June. But unlike most...

Name:  Franklinia alatamaha Type of Plant: A small tree for full sun or part shade that is appealing for several reasons...read on as I explain. Why I love this:  Every plant has a story, but the tale behind this one is part mystery and part American history.  This...

Name:  Profusion Zinnas Type of Plant:   These mounding zinnias are summer flowering annuals. You can grow them from seed or buy pots or packs at your local independent garden center. Why I love this: Unlike the taller growing zinnias (that I also love) these plants...