Eagle Lake Nurseries Gardening Tips May 2008 New Perennials Gardeners in southern Alberta choose plants not only that are rugged enough to survive our tough winters but also those that are interesting enough to enhance the landscape. Perennials fit the bill, with splendid displays of color to take us through all gardening seasons. Perennials look best when planted en mass in groups of three or seven. They can soften the look of structures and add interest lining pathways or surrounding birdbaths or fountains. Use them to set off a favorite shrub or create a mixed perennial flower bed. Every year beautiful flower and leaf colors are created in new perennial cultivars. Here is just a small sample of the wide selection of perennials at Eagle Lake Nurseries. Visit the garden center and see all the new and the classic perennial varieties. Asiatic Lilies - Everyone loves these upright and easy to grow, stars of the garden. Lilium ‘America’-30cm high with dark burgundy flowers blooming early summer Lilium ‘Brunello’ -90cm high with bright orange flowers in June Lilium ‘Cappuccino’- 48cm high with maroon flowers and cream edge Lilium ‘Navona’ -100cm high and loaded with pure white flowers Bee Balm - Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to Bee Balms large flowers that bloom in summer. Each plant quickly forms a colorful mounding clump in the landscape. Its fragrant lemon mint foliage can be used to make a refreshing tea. Monarda ‘Coral Reef’ -90 cm high. Large hot pink flowers Monarda ‘Beauty of Cobham’ -90cm high. Flowers are pale pink Monarda ‘Fireball’- 40cm high. Flowers are wine red Monarda ‘Petite Wonder’ -30cm high. Flowers are pink Monarda ‘Petite Delight’ -30cm high. Flowers are lavender-purple Coral Bells - This popular edger for the shade garden uses the foliage color and texture as interest. Heuchera ’Frosted Violet’-75cm high with rich purple leaves that grow brighter in cooler weather. Pink blooms appear early to mid-summer. Delphinium - These large magnificent flower spikes bloom in summer creating a dramatic display. They thrive in our cool summer nights. Delphinium ‘Cherry Blossom’-90 cm high. Soft pink flowers, pale yellow center Delphinium ‘New Millennium’ hybrids: Delphinium ‘Dusky Maiden’- 1 to 2 m high. Pink flowers with tan center Delphinium ‘Royal Aspirations’ -1 to 2 m high. Pink shades Delphinium ‘Pagan Purple’ – 1 to 2m high. Shades of deep blue and purple Daylily - Lily shaped flowers above clumps of grass-like foliage. Use to prevent soil erosion. Tolerates poor soil but will perform better in moist, organic soil. Hemerocallis ‘Barbara Mitchell’ 60cm this designer daylily blooms more than once with many ruffled blossoms of pale pink. Hosta - It is too easy to collect every variation of this wonderful plant. Sturdy mounds of foliage color brighten the shade. Hosta ‘Fragrant Bouquet’ -55cm with green leaves with a white margin.The large white flowers are fragrant. Hosta ‘Great Arrival’-60cm high with blue/green leaves and golden margin that turns white later in summer. Hosta ‘June Fever’ -40cm high with bright chartreuse leaves and green edge Hosta ‘Orange Marmalade’-50cm green foliage with changing center starting yellow then orange to white. Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ -40cm high. Unique gold veined leaves with dark green edge. Hosta ‘Sugar and Spice’-60cm high medium green leaves with a cream margin. Peony - These showy plants are the back bone of the perennial garden. Paeonia ‘Dancing Butterflies’- 90 cm Single flowers are fuchsia pink surrounding a yellow center. Yarrow - A drought tolerant plant that thrives in the dry summers of southern Alberta. Achillea ‘Gloria Jean’- 60cm high. Blooms in summer in with unusually large Rose pink flowers Jennifer Seafoot Eagle Lake Nurseries Ltd.