Name:  Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ (aka Big Sky Sundown coneflower) Type of Plant: A full sun perennial that grows 3 feet high and is hardy in zones 3-8. Why I Love This: I love flowers that are coral or peach in color – they blend with purple, blue, yellow, white and...

Name:  Lavandula x intermedia 'Phenomenal’ aka lavender Phenomenal Type of Plant: A large growing, cold tolerant perennial lavender hardy in zones 3-8. Why I Love This: This past winter was hard on lots of plants including many of the heat-loving varieties. While my...

Name:  Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ aka Zagreb threadleaf coreopsis Type of Plant: A spreading perennial for full sun that grows about 18” high. Hardy in zones 3-9. Why I Love This: Zagreb chokes out weeds and is drought tolerant. It spreads but isn’t invasive, and...

Name:  Hydrangea Cityline Rio – aka Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ragra' Type of Plant: A short Hydrangea with huge, deep blue flowers with a lime-green center. A plant for zones 6-8, best in part shade and one of the best deep blue flowers. Why I Love This: Last year this...

Name:  Deutzia gracilis ‘Duncan’ aka Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls. Type of Plant: A colorful small shrub for full sun to part shade, hardy in zones 5 to 8. Why I Love This: Anytime you can get color and interesting textures from shrub foliage you’re garden will look...

Dear Essie, I saw your delightful painting at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock. Please believe me when I say that I enjoyed all of the pieces that were done by the young people such as yourself as much as I appreciated the other exhibits that we walked through...

Name: Ageratum ‘Blue Horizon’ Type of Plant: An annual that is good for mixing in any sunny flower garden. ‘Blue Horizon’ grows between 20” to 30” tall and flowers all summer. Why I Love This: I love ‘Blue Horizon’ because it combines so beautifully with other plants,...

Name: Cucumis sativus, although no one calls this plant by its botanical name. We call it a cucumber, and this hybrid variety is named County Fair. Type of Plant: A vegetable that grows on vines about 6 to 8 feet long. Like most veggies, cucumbers appreciate full sun....