Common name:Munstead Dwarf Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead'
While this hybrid is half the size of the standard angustifolia, it flowers early and has a more intense flower color than most of the species. Its foliage and flowers are good for sachets. This is a perfect choice for smaller scale situations. It is drought tolerant and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Common name:Yellow Moraea, Fortnight Lily
Botanical name:Dietes bicolor
This clumping perennial Iris relative stands 3'-4' high. It has light yellow, iris-like flowers with maroon blotches that are about 2" wide. It performs best in full sun and in soil with good drainage.
Common name:Carnival Lantana
Botanical name:Lantana hybrids
Delightful accents of color in natural gardens are found with this informal shrub. It can be controlled with pruning and is a reliable bloomer intermittently throughout the year, benefitting from infrequent, deep waterings and a little pruning.
Common name:Blue Star Creeper, Isotoma
Botanical name:Pratia pedunculata
Pratia pedunculata has bright green, nearly stemless, 1/4" leaves. In late spring and summer, these form a backdrop for equally tiny, star-shaped pale blue flowers.
| Designer: Marilee Kuhlmann | Variety Garden on the Parking Strip |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Soils and Compost:
Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.
Water Saving Tip:
Mulching around plants helps retain water and improves the soil.
Integrated Pest Management:
Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.