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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Add color to your garden with perennials from Friends of Manito

There will be a large selection of peonies at Saturday’s Friends of Manito spring plant sale. (Susan Mulvihill / The Spokesman-Review)

Each time I walk along my flower beds, I’m reminded of just how many perennials have come from Friends of Manito plant sales. They add amazing colors and textures to the landscape, have the hardiness my zone 5 garden demands, and are often deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

On Saturday, the Friends of Manito will hold its spring plant sale, and you’d better believe I’ll be looking for more gems to add to my garden. The sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. east of Manito Park’s Gaiser Conservatory. TFM members will receive 10 percent off their plant purchases. Non-members can join the day of the sale to be eligible for this discount.

In addition to the thousands of sun- and shade-loving perennials, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, shrubs and edible plants, there will be new activities going on during the sale.

Spokane Urban Forestry staff will answer tree questions relating to in November’s windstorm. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., salegoers will have the opportunity to view a great horned owl up close at the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center’s exhibit.

Master Composters/Recyclers will provide information on improving soil through home composting and the use of worm bins. The Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board will identify weeds for homeowners and provide noxious weed control information. “Personal Potters” will be available to pot up containers and plants purchased at the sale.

Local grade school students will be selling lemonade, with proceeds going to the restoration of Manito Park’s Mirror Pond. Those who bring a jar of peanut butter to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank will receive a free plant.

In addition to the Master Gardeners, there will also be an “experts table” to answer questions about plants in four categories of highest importance to local gardeners: drought tolerance, deer resistance, hummingbird attracters, and plants that grow in hardiness zones 3 and 4.

What’s on my shopping list? After attending plant sale manager Janis Saiki’s recent talk on drought-tolerant plants, there are several I’m interested in. Here are some examples:

Hummingbird Mint Kudos Yellow (Agastache) – This plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, has fragrant foliage and yellow flower stalks. Hardy to zone 5, it needs full sun and grows 2 feet tall.

Ninebark Ginger Wine (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Several years ago, I purchased a Summer Wine ninebark cultivar with burgundy leaves and red flowers. Unfortunately, it is very susceptible to powdery mildew. Enter Ginger Wine with its disease-resistance. Hardy to zone 3, it has orange foliage that matures to a purple-red, grows best in full sun and reaches a height of 5 to 6 feet.

Oriental poppy Plum Pudding (Papaver orientalis) – Oriental poppies use the hairs on their leaves to reflect sunlight, collect rainwater and reduce evaporation – all good attributes. Plum Pudding has longer-lasting flowers that won’t fade and deep purple spots surrounding the black seed head, and grows to 30 inches. They are hardy to zone 3 and need full sun.

Sedum Firecracker – I love sedums for their drought tolerance and low maintenance. Firecracker is only about 6 inches tall but its magenta flowers and color-changing leaves grabbed me. They start out emerald in color, slowly turn red and eventually deep red. Plants attract butterflies, prefer full sun and grow in zones 4 to 5.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit Manito Park.

Susan Mulvihill is co-author, with Pat Munts, of “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Contact her at Susan@susansinthegarden.com.