Which plant do you love in your garden and why???

[Sharon Bryson]

Hellebore (aka Lenton Rose)...I have read a little about this plant...tell me a little more about it.

Daisy:
Here is info re Hellebores....
http://www.hellebores.org/

[Sharon Bryson]

While I am with this thread, I might as well post my 5 favourites....not exactly an easy task....don't tell any of the other Plant Children, which were picked!
NARCISSUS...the best harbingers of spring, in a myriad of shapes, colours & sizes.

LILIES....just because!

PEONIES....downright beautiful, and simple to grow

ROSES....another "just because"

LAVENDER....for its great "patability"

Rhododendrons & Azaleas would have to be on the list by default!!

[Katherine]

This is a very nice thread... Five is hard, but I my thoughts are similar to Sharons (dont tell the others, lol!)

1. Peonies, esp my tree peony ( gorgeous blooms)
2. My old shasta daisy ( from my childhood, still have the plant)
3. Columbines, so many combinations and permutations, all beautiful
4. Chionodoxa... that blue at this time of the year is a life saver
5. The lilies, day, oriental, etc so beautiful and graceful

kat

[Scrapinthehat]

Someone recently asked me which plants are my fav and I stated that asking a gardener that is like asking a mother which child is her fav...the answer is simple...depends on the season.

There are a few, though that I absolutely love:

1) Morden roses... they stay relatively small, are disease resistant, and don't require winter protection. (I'm a lazy gardener)

2) Clematis...generally the pruning type 3 ones because they produce masses of flowers (sometimes you can hardly see the foliage)continuously from June till frost and because I like vertical elements.

3) Lilies...all of them...they are easy to grow and absolutely stunning. The asiatics and orientals are good if you need flowers with some height.

4) Peonies...again easy to grow and are very striking.

5) Ferns...love the texture and the colors...something calming about them.

[Venice]

ahhh yes it is tricky. I'm planting a lot of new stuff for this year, some of which have been mentioned. Ask me again next year hahaha.

So far.

1. Hibiscus-favorite flower, the shrub gets so nice and big and lush, it has a ton of huge dinner plate flowers, and it totally full of buds in Aug-Nov.

2. Canna lillies-Their foliage is so tropical and large, very lush and the flowers are so pretty on top. I love how they look along the fence.

3. Morning Glories- I love how prolifically they flower, and fill in the fence and seem to just bloom so long, till frost. This year I got the Blue for the first time.

4. Petunia's-they're sooo bright, and hardy they bloom till frost, cover the ground well. and I love seeing their happy lil faces filling the yard.

5. Hydrangea- I love the blooms blue or pink, they're so delicate and full.

Ok it was hard to break it down. ohhh and my Allium.

[murphy]

OK you caught me.....I LOVE THEM ALL...EVERYONE....I feel this thread is a gardeners version of "Sophie's Choice"

[Olivia zone 6]

I've got to add my two cents worth in here too!
1. Trilliums, both red and white
2. Bleeding hearts cause I'm an old softie
3. Jack in the Pulpits (the ones I have came from Brownie camp over 40 years ago and have travelled with me whereever I lived)
4. Snowdrops
5. Lillies any kind any colour

and, and and I have more! O

[murphy]

I've got to add my two cents worth in here too!
1. Trilliums, both red and white
2. Bleeding hearts cause I'm an old softie
3. Jack in the Pulpits (the ones I have came from Brownie camp over 40 years ago and have travelled with me whereever I lived)
4. Snowdrops
5. Lillies any kind any colour

and, and and I have more! O

I really like all your choices...snowdrops are so great ..they are the first little guys up and blooming in the spring...also like bleeding hearts.

[A Closet Canuck]

Baptisia australis (for a native plant the bloom of a mature specimen is a joy to behold)

Perennial hibiscus "Sweet Caroline"

Thalictrum - delicate lovely blooms that last a long time

[Island Dar]

Rhodos cause they are easy care, you can pick different varieties to extend the season and they provide such a nice backdrop for other plants.

Peonies as once again they are very easy care and put on a spectacular show, plus I just like them as background for other plants.

Tulips and daffodils cause they are among the first to arrive in the Spring and I find that after the winter I just sooo look forward to spring plantings.

Hydrangeas cause they take me from the middle of the season right through the gardening season. In fact I leave the spent blooms on and even in the winter they add interest to the garden.

As I look back on my 'short' list I too see a pattern of 'easy-care' plants for the more 'laid-back' or lazy gardener

Happy Gardening 2008!!!!. . . Dar