Cardinal Red Columbine

A perennial for a host of settings.  Aquilegia are an old fashioned perennial who’s hardiness and vigor have withstood the tests of time.  Often found in cottage gardens or eclectic perennial borders, this easy to grow spring bloomer lends itself to woodland and shade gardens as well.  A good choice as a specimen or en mass planted amongst spring bulbs like tulips or daffodils.  The spurred flowers are both unusual and showy, with colors ranging from vibrant jewel tones to soft pastels in late spring to early summer.  As cut flowers they can have quite a long vase life of up to 2 weeks or a bit more.  Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, but fortunately not rabbits.  Some varieties like ‘Leprechaun Gold’, have a brighter golden leaf, adding more interest to this classic perennial.  Aquilegia prefers loose, average to rich, well drained soil.  Full sun to part shade is acceptable, but light shade sites will give you the longest bloom.  Don’t plant this one in heavy or water logged soils, it won’t grow.    

Aquilegia – Columbine

Full Sun to Part Shade

About 18″-24″ and 18″ wide

Rabbit resistant

Zones 3-9

What should you plant with this delightful perennial as companion plants?   Try Brunnera, Dicentra, Paeonia, Dwarf Delphiniums, Geranium (Cranesbill), Iris, Forget-me-Nots

Heidi Brosseau, our retail manager, submitted this article.   You’ll find this Columbine and more available now.

Virginia Bluebells - Spring 2010

Just waking up

The flowers of the Virginia Bluebell – (Mertensia virginica) has to be the most beautiful shade of blue.  Each spring, I marvel at this incredible color.  This springtime Minnesota wildflower grows in southern  Minnesota, and will reach a height of 10″-24″.   You’ll find these growing in shady areas, in clearings and along the edges of deciduous woods.  They will also do well in wetter soils.    The flower buds start out pink and turn to this blue as the flowers bloom.  

Here at the nursery, we started to wake our perennials up from their winter slumber this past week, and the picture at the left shows how much they have grown in just a weeks time.  The photo above, is the Virginia Bluebell that I have in one of our gardens at home.    As with most wildflowers – they go dormant early on after blooming, so by mid-summer – it’s all just a memory until springtime comes again.  In looking closely at the picture to the right, you will notice that some of my hosta are just getting going which is an indication of the early blooming of this wildflower.

We have a limited supply of Virgina Bluebell available at $10.99.

There are many spring perennials that add so much to our gardens but perhaps the best loved spring perennial is the bleeding heart or officially – “Dicentra”.  It is a part sun/part shade plant – and jumps out of the ground in the spring.  Even in this cold spring – my bleeding heart is almost a foot high already at home!

It produces these wonderful little pink and white flowers for several weeks, after which it will provide a nice green foliage plant until mid-summer.  After that time, it will begin it’s journey into dormancy and will most likely to brown by mid-August at which time I simply cut mine off and wait again till spring.

The picture here is of our grandson, Tyger, who when this picture was then was 2 years old.  A bleeding heart, given good well drained soil and the right light conditions will explode with vigor in the spring.

We have the old fashioned bleeding heart plants which are pictured here, as well as the White Bleeding Heart, the King of Hearts and Luxuriant varieties in this year!  Given the head start in the greenhouse – many are already blossoming and are ready to be planted in your garden!