Perennials Add Texture To Your Yard

I am at it again redesigning the perennial garden. I have to, you know. The Friends of Manito’s annual perennial plant sale is coming up Sept. 7 and 8 at Manito Park. There will be 15,000 plants and more than 180 varieties to choose from. I’ve got to make room for all those treasures that I know I’ll be carting home.

If you’re not familiar with perennials, they are typically flowering plants that once planted, come back year after year, bigger and better than ever. They spread by underground roots, rhizomes or bulbs or by dropping their mature seeds onto the ground.

Perennials add a great deal of character, charm and color to the garden. Though we normally choose these plants for their flowers, the texture, color and exquisite shapes of the foliage should always be a primary point of consideration. It is a combination of these elements along with the plant’s height and form that gives a well-thought-out perennial garden its beauty.

When purchasing perennials take note of the leaf texture. Look for leaves that are shiny, smooth, veined, rough, papery or feathery. These textures play a key role in the feel of the garden. Examples may be yarrow, monkshood, lady’s mantle, columbine, wormwood, ferns, coreopsis or lamb’s ear.

Leaf color is important since it will be the eye-catcher long after the plant has stopped blooming. For extra interest, choose perennials that have gray, blue, bronze, burgundy or variegated leaves. At the same time, consider fall color and stem color. Examples: ajuga, columbine “lime frost,” wormwood, bronze fennel, blue oat grass, hosta or pulmonaria.

The shape of the foliage also plays an important role. There are bold leaves and ferny leaves. There are spiky leaves and round leaves. By combining different shapes and textures, we create drama in the garden. An example would be placing bold textures in front of fine textures to create a strong feeling of depth.

Don’t forget to consider winter beauty. Ornamental grasses - many varieties will be available at the sale - not only add gentleness and grace to the summer garden, but their seed heads, stems and winter foliage add an exquisite display for the somber winter months. The spent flowers of yarrow, coneflower and Rudbeckia also add appeal. A few small evergreens or deciduous shrubs in the perennial garden round out the winter display.

Must we have three or more of every plant? If the plants are small or thin, often three or more of the same plant does create a more showy display, but it’s not necessary. Many plants can be considered as specimen plants, in which case, only one is needed. However, to create a flowing, attractive garden, consider repeating plants that have a distinctive form - hosta, Siberian iris, bearded iris, daylilies, grasses and so on.

Aside from not having to replant them every year, there are many reasons for investing in perennials. The plants are long-lived, they are constantly changing with the seasons, which means the garden is constantly changing and they multiply.

Maintaining a perennial garden means dividing them when they become mature or overgrown. This task is accomplished by lifting the plants and cutting them apart with a shovel, knife or pulling them apart with your hands. We usually undertake this chore in late summer or early fall. This enables their roots to establish themselves before spring so that all their energy can go into flowering. If you have a manageable amount of perennials - not an easy accomplishment with literally thousands to choose from - dividing perennials can be an enjoyable task.

And what do we do with all these divided plants? Share them. Give them to neighbors and friends. Give them as gifts. Swap them. My garden is home to many plants that were either given to me by friends or that I pilfered out of my folks’ garden. They all have meaning. When I pass by them in my garden I recall friendships and stories behind the plants or childhood memories.

With a little planning, you too can create a glorious display of forms, textures and ever-changing colors for every area of your garden.

Next week we’ll look at a few specific plants and ways of using them. Meanwhile, mark your calendar for Sept. 7-8. Doors open for members of The Friends of Manito from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 7; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for the public. Sale hours on Sept. 8 are noon-5 p.m. See you there.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review