Re: Picking Your Collective Brain

**jo ellen meyers sharp h*@sbcglobal.net**

I, too, live in Zone 5 and have never seen peonies self sow...spread 
by enlarging their clumps, yes. Self sow? No. Even if they did, they 
wouldn't likely come true.

Other plants that bloom in May/June that are pretty low maintenance:

* Coral bells (Heuchera) -- species and hybrids...drainage is 
important. Very long bloom cycles. Spent blooms look good in the 
landscape, too. These should be planted in clusters for the best 
flower show.
* Columbine (Aquilegia) canadensis and hybrids. Leaf miners can be a 
problem, so can bad drainage, but these guys are easy and beautiful. 
I never worry about the miners.
* Leopard's bane (Doronicum) -- not a long lived perennials (about 
three years in my garden) but a very long bloomer.
* Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Bath's Pink' (This is a plant I never 
"plant"... just lay on the soil and it spreads).
* Clematis integrifolia -- I call this a pop-up plant 'cause you 
never know where its bell like purple/blue flower will pop up. A 
trailing clematis rather than a climber.
* Johnny jumpups (Viola cornuta). Yep, they fade when it gets hot, 
but they are just too cute for words early in the season. These do 
self sow.

jems

>The surprise in an inherited perennial border totally disguised by 
>weeds was Oriental poppies ....brilliant color all over the place
>-- no effort involved...
>In my region (zone 5) peonies actually spread if not deadheaded....
>Nepeta....spreads like a weed....blooms twice...
>ornamental grasses....
>Jacqui Heriteau  
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Doreen Howard
>Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 1:22 PM
>To: gardenwriters-on-gardening; gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
>Subject: [GWL] Picking Your Collective Brain
>
>What spring perennials give the biggest bang for the buck in your opinion? 
>I'm looking for ones that bloom in full sun from early May into June (Zone 
>5), are fairly low in stature and easy to maintain--no fussing needed.
>Doreen Howard
>
>_______________________________________________
>gardenwriters mailing list
>gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
>
>GWL has searchable archives at:
>http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
>
>Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
>at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
>
>Post gardening questions/threads to
>&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;
>
>For GWL website and Wiki, go to
>http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
>_______________________________________________
>gardenwriters mailing list
>gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
>
>GWL has searchable archives at:
>http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
>
>Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
>at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos
>
>Post gardening questions/threads to
>&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;
>
>For GWL website and Wiki, go to
>http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters

-- 
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Garden writer, author, photographer
Region III Director Garden Writers Association
Phone: (317) 251.3261
Fax: (317) 251.8545
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters