The big greenhouse is now empty , all plants left are placed in my smaller greenhouse. What is left is succulents, green plants such as ferns, caladiums, mandevillas , etc.

Succulents will be wintered indoors when our weather gets colder, the rest well I hope I can find homes for them. Succulents such as agave,echeveria,kalanchoe, are a joy to keep indoors all winter . This helps winter pass by .

The perennial yard now has a shade structure that will aid in shading the plants from heat and sun during the summer months. I love it and it appears to work quite well. It is a 40 % shade made very well with 2″ metal poles.

The flowers are blooming extremely well . Flowers such as marigolds, vinca, rudbeckia goldstrum black eyed susan,garden phlox, hibiscus, and I am really enjoying the ornamental grasses.

Love being outdoors in the months where I can really enjoy the beauty around me. Never take it for granted !

Happy Gardening,
Diane

Greenhouse update during the months April-May 2011..Getting ready for mothers day which is my best week and weekend . Lots of flowers and veggies coming on nicely..

Love the time right before things get busy a time to really take in all the beauty With all those months of planning, seeding, transplanting , you really start to see that all the hard work has hopefully paid off.. in one way or another..

When it comes to keeping plants growing well I like to trim and cut a lot during the first month of growing to promote better bushier plants, plus more blooms.

Heuchera Mint Julep

Another new Heuchera on the market in 2010 and it is another eyecatcher.

Heuchera Mint Julep displays it’s beauty with mint green and silvery leaves.  Lemon lime minty green  with veins throughout the leaves.

As you may see this Heuchera is a good blender just because of the leaf coloring . How would a burgundy Heuchera go up against this one, it would be outstanding and hard to not notice in your landscape.

Here is what you many want to know about this particular Heuchera. It has a nice mounded habit, grows to a nice size of 15  “w/9″h/15″ flower height.

Vigorous grower, blooms in the spring with white  flowers.

Loves to be planted in a part shade area, morning sun is ideal with afternoon shade area.

If you live in Zones 4-9 , you are in luck as it is a perennial in your area.

Heuchera looks good almost anywhere you put it.. with special interest as  Shade accent, good blender, winter color plant.

Suggested landscape uses are Mass planting, container, under shrubs, mixed beds.

Diane Notes: Again I would recommend this Heuchera to anyone. Love it  , very stand outish in your landscape , add it near dark colored foliage to make it pop.  New for my 2010 season, they seemed to grow quite fast and filled a pot nicely. Planted many in the fall and they look beautiful..

Have you grown this Heuchera, post a comment below .

Heuchera Electra

Here is a beauty!  Electra shows off it’s blood red veins with golden leaves, that change throughout the season.

The red venation stays while the leaf changes from shades of yellow in spring, to chartreuse in summer and fall, and tan in the winter. Short, dense cones of white flowers.

Vigorous grower with a mounded habit.

Grows 14 w x 8 h x 12 flower height.

Blooms in summer months, likes a part shade to shade area.

Hardy in zones 4-9 , making a ideal perennial in those areas.

Great in containers, beds, mass plantings, or borders.

Heuchera’s coloring can vary depending on lighting, so that  means give them some good lighting to really bring out the beauty.

How to Grow and Care for Heuchera Plants  Also Called Coral Bells

Heuchera Electra

Today’s topic  is exploring the world of Heuchera’s also known as Coral Bells.

If you are  needing color and contrast in your landscape all season long,  Have you thought of adding Heuchera perennial plants?

Why are Heuchera’s  becoming so popular?   Well, the foliage outshines the bloom with most Heuchera’s , there is nothing like seeing all the different  color combinations and contrasts.

Heuchera’s are easy to grow, carefree plants that bring so much value and beauty to your landscaped areas.

Every year new varieties are coming out, with different leaf shapes, sizes, textures, and color.

The foliage color ranges from purple, peach, green , burgundy , chartreuse, browns, and rusts. With many more to come.

Heuchera’s  all bloom but in reality this is not the most significant attribute of them. The foliage color last’s all season making this the most  valued feature.

Heuchera’s can be planted  in the ground, but they really look great in pots during the season.

When most plants are done blooming, heuchera’s keep going and going and what is extra beautiful about them
is they can change coloring as the season’s change.

Heuchera Mint Julep

Let’s begin by talking about Heuchera’s culture. They grow in a sun to partial shade , to shade areas, this will depend on the variety of heuchera you have and where you live.

Heuchera can look different in appearance depending on the lighting you are allowing  it to have during the day. Hotter climates may choose to plant them in morning sun and afternoon shade, cooler climates may get by with more sun . Keep in mind where you live will and can make that difference in planting area.

Heuchera’s bloom in later spring and the color of the blooms varies with each variety, after their done blooming you can remove the stems to clean and tidy up the plant.

Heuchera grow in zones 4-9 and require well drained soil.  Their size and mounded shape makes for a ideal plant in the garden.

When planting them make sure you do not bury the crown to deep, keep the crown slightly above  the
soil, this is where the new growth  takes  place. Pay close attention to this otherwise you could have  some loss.

Dividing Heucheras should be done preferably in the spring. You will know if this is needed when the plant starts to separate in the center.

Placing mulch around the plants can never hurt , this keeps the weeds down and also protects your investment. Just don’t cover to much around the crown area.

So next time you are at the local nursery or gardening center ,  ask them about the new Heuchera  varieties. There is some pretty great things happening in the Heuchera world.

Foliage color is becoming more and more an interest to gardeners around the world. Make sure you include Heuchera  today.

Happy Gardening, and Make it Count!
Diane Mumm

Heuchera Palace Purple  Coral Bells

This heuchera has  unique deep purple foliage, fading to bronzy green in hot summers and its dark red stems, makes it a little different than the rest.

In the springtime, small pinkish and white flowers appear that last into the summer.

Palace Purple  was  named Perennial of the Year in 1991.

Palace Purple has a plant spread of 10-15” and a height of 12-18”.

Hardy in Zones 4-9 , Plant in a part sun area , morning sun , afternoon shade works well.

This is my first heuchera  I planted and it is pretty special as I believe it is one I started from seed.

Happy Gardening

Diane Mumm

Heuchera ‘Silver Scrolls’

This is one of the most popular of the hybrid Heuchera by breeder Charles Oliver who holds its plant patent #12066.

Diane Mumm

Heuchera ‘Eco-magnififolia’

This wonderful American woodland plant was selected for its uniqueness within the native species (H. Americana) and it is a must have for mass plantings in a woodland setting. It is simple and blends naturally with its surroundings.

Its velvet green leaves have a cream mask and chocolate veins to look perfect with ferns and Oakleaf Tiarella in any shady area.

Heuchera are grown for the foliage mainly , as you have color all season. they do however send up spikes of flowers in summer.

Heuchera like a part sun to shade area, I usually give mine morning sun to afternoon shade, but they have been known to survive in more sun. If you notice your huechera getting burnt leaves then it is getting too much sun.

Grows in Zone 4-9 and grows to the height of 12 inches.

Happy Gardening

Diane Mumm

Heuchera Lemon Chiffon Coral Bells

Standout chartreuse lemon- green  foliage that not only looks good at bloom time , but throughout the season.

Foliage plants can reward you over and over again, by their beauty, Looks great with darker color heuchera.

Lemon Chiffon has a mounded habit , very neat in appearance. Bloom is a lighter pink to white flower..

Plant height is 12-16 inches and does well in part sun to shaded area.

There is  other similar lemon colored heuchera on the market ,  that are a must have too!

One thing that you get with  the perennial Heuchera is color all season, when other perennials are  done blooming , this plant gives great color all season.. I actually love the foliage any day over the bloom.

Zone 4-8

Happy Gardening

Diane Mumm