Petal Pusher

While the interior West is often considered just part of the great American fly-over zone, there's some fine gardening going on there. But, man, it's tough going; arid with blistering cold winters and scorching summers. If there were an award for Extreme Gardening I'd think this region would be a winner. With that in mind I recommend this book which lists more than 200 plants that take a beating and keep on blooming.

Next up is a little Valentine of a book for Midwestern gardeners who deal with with the three d's (dripping humidity, deer and drought). A trip thru this regions shows an alarming dependance on dayliles and barberry with maybe a few Knock-out roses thrown in for color. Yes, its tough but we're not giving into big box gardens just yet, right? Pick up this book which details a pretty spectucular range of plants that thrive in your region. It's written by a local who's been there, done that. Lots of pretty pix too.

Finally, a book that takes the idea of a backyard shed and shows the full range of what these tiny retreats can be and can do in the landscape. Every style is represented and there's sensible advice for planning one of your own. From kits to custom this book is a real find. You will tear it to shreds!

See you in May!

I know this looks like an oversized catalytic converter but its actually Design Within Reach's newly introduced rainwater collection system. Yes, we all know a barrel under the gutter does the same thing but this little cutie can be hidden under a deck or in some foliage and while it looks small collects 45 gallons of water (what I'm showing is three of them ganged together--that would be 135 gallons which would do me just fine). DWR pitching this as a solution for the urban gardener but I'd use one. If it weren't $650 dollars each I'd get all three. Hopefully this idea will catch on and we'll see a wallet friendly version elsewhere soon. Check out the newest from DWR and for that matter from Target--they've both got green merch that's sustainable and not in the least crunchy.

I get amazingly graphic flower images by bringing blooms inside and scanning them on my flatbed scanner. The first is an orchid scanned with the transparency adapter turned on. The second is a hibiscus scanned at maximum resolution on a tiny area of the bloom. Try it yourself and let us know how it works for you.

-Rex Perry

Don't you just love to listen to Brits talk about gardening? Here's a link to an exceptional new series on the art of gardening hosted by the doyenne of English gardening, Penelope Hobhouse. She has the job (hey, where do I apply) of walking through some of the best gardens in England, Ireland and here in the US talking to masters of their craft. If it sounds like PBS on a Saturday morning, it isn't--this is a fun trek with a true plant lover through some swoon-worthy places. You will be inspired and not the least intimidated! Enjoy...

'Art and Practice of Gardening', sneak peek!

These days I'm reading up on plants I think I know but really don't. Not really. I grew up in New Hampshire where lilacs are as common as dogwoods in the South but apart from the common ones (Syringa vulgaris) that thrive in the Northeast, I am clueless. To be thruthful I'm really looking for a zone-busting one that will burst into that juicy, delicious, fragrant bloom in late Spring here in the South but that's another story. If you've ever wondered about some of the more exotic varieties you run into in nurseries (or at Costco where they're selling Katherine Havemeyer and others for about 3 bucks each) this book gives the scoop. And, it's pretty.

Another plant I toss off as 'why that's a salvia, of course' deserve better from me. Truly one of the most under-used and under-appreciated plants available to American gardeners. It laughs at bad soil, generally can take or leave watering, loves hot sun, and looks pretty in a vase. And, there's pretty much one that grows in just about every region. Why don't we plant more? You'll enjoy this book...

I am mad collector of Karl Blossfeldt's black and white botanical studies and Imogen Cunningham's color images of flowers as sculpture(I guess I'll be seeing you on Ebay--don't bid me up too much, okay?) so I was forced to close my office door and have a moment of silence when Christopher Beane's new book 'Flower' crossed my desk. Rarely has the female anatomy, I mean plant petals, looked so shockingly beautiful! Poppies you want to crunch into, tulips with throbbing hearts, flowering branches like Japanese paintings, and my favorite chapter 'Why Must the Beautiful Die'. Too much.

After all the sweat, work and money I lavish on the garden, the weeping I do over other's tragic labeling of living things as 'plant material' and dealing with clients who just want 'color year round!', its inspiring to see plants for what they really are---Magic.

So I was taking a late night moonlit virtual stroll (is it just me or are we gardener’s more affected by the moon?) thru Annie’s Annuals amazing website (www.anniesannuals.com) and found oh, a few dozen things I can’t live without. Something about the way they describe plants that makes each one as seductive as a microwave-softened pint of Ben and Jerry’s ‘Chubby Hubby’ (cross reference that with the moon and you get a snapshot of me).

I have truly heinous clay soil--surprising considering the amount of rocks hidden within. You’d think after a few hundred million years these two elements would have battled it out and made nice, fertile well-draining soil but no, it’s just a sticky mess. Anyway, long story short, I succumbed, naturally, and thought you might like to see what I finally decided upon.

Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearls' I've lived in several regions and have had success with this one everywhere. I love the kinetic movement of the tall stems, it takes so well to whacking back and a mass of it in a vase is a heart-stopper. Buy five or more and plant in at the top of a hill. Love it.

While Evening Scent Stock is not rare it is rarely seen (and it always sells out--so grab it). Another easy to grow easy to love annual that really does come to life at night (that moon thing again). I don't have a moonlight garden yet here in Birmingham so in the meantime this one goes in a pot near the front door. Pop in a few nicotiana alata and if you can find it Gladiolus tristus and you get something akin to 'Joy' perfume.

Finally (for tonight) I hit 'six' of Rumex aka 'Bloody Dock' (truly horrible name for a slammin' great plant). I used to work at a nursery in Pasadena, CA where had an ornamental potager demo garden and this little leafy thing was always asked about. 'Can you eat it?' being the most often asked questions. Well, I guess you could in a pinch but its mostly for decoration. The boody comes from the liquid in the rib that runs up the center of the leaf. A wonderful choice to hide raggedy rose knees or tattered bottoms of mid-season tomato plants.

I'd love to hear what you're bringing home to the garden this year. Write and tell me!