Perennial Treasures for Your Garden

Each year, it's fun to take watch the revival that takes place in your garden... the returning blooms of the perennials you've planted over the years. A well-chosen mix of these "old friends" can provide constant color in your garden from spring through fall. (For more guidance on choosing this mix, click into our Perennial Guide for Northwest Gardens.)

One of the more showy and popular perennials is shown here, Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). With its dainty heart-shaped flowers and fern-like leaves, this old-fashioned garden favorite makes an attractive accent planting in any shady, moist (but not soggy) garden bed. Bleeding Heart is also a great choice for planters and window boxes. And as a cut flower, it adds drama to your arrangements. Bleeding Heart is available in pink, rose, white, or red and white... ready to mix and match as you please. Blooms appear in late spring or early summer.

Spring is the best time to plant perennials because it allows them to become well established before the heat of summer arrives. Planting in early summer is also fine - just make sure you keep those new plants well-watered.

Bleeding Heart, Coreopsis, Hosta, Lupines ... these are just a few perennials you'll enjoy seeing year after year in your garden. So get out and visit your Fred Meyer Garden Center soon to see all the great perennials for spring planting!

While much of the information in these tips is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.