Heritage Perennials are grown by Valleybrook Gardens, an innovative and leading producer of over 1500 varieties of perennials, hardy ferns and ornamental grasses. Our distinctive blue pots of HERITAGE PERENNIALS are available from independent retailers and dealers in many parts of Canada and the USA. We're passionate about perennials! We hope this newsletter helps you to enjoy your perennial gardening even more.

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Our best-selling book, the Perennial Gardening Guide is a handy reference used by gardeners across North America written by our own Horticulturist, John Valleau. Just released in a brand new 4th edition!

I confess to being an eavesdropper at shows, listening closely to the comments that gardeners make while they view the amazing displays. Many people experience what I call "garden show overload" after about an hour. It's almost too much to take in all at once, so I have some suggestions about making your garden show experience a more enjoyable and educational one.

• Plan your visit in the late afternoon and into the evening of the second or third day. Crowds are usually much lighter and you can stroll the show at your leisure.
• If you're passionate about plants, you'll have way more fun if you take another gardening buddy with you, instead of dragging along your bored significant other.
• Take a notepad with you. A camera is a good second choice if the show is bright enough. The idea is to take notes about interesting new plants or combinations to try out later in your own garden.
• If you feel overwhelmed, try to focus in on small vignettes rather than looking at an entire garden as one design. Many people comment that "This is all fine for a big property, but it won't work in my small garden." The trick is to find little corners or special combinations within larger gardens that could translate perfectly into a smaller space.
• Bear in mind that gardens at shows are more about theatrical spectacle than reality. You are bound to see tulips blooming right next to Chrysanthemums... something that never happens in a real garden at the same time.
• If you load up on plants at the show, be prepared to coddle them for awhile at home before it's time to plant them outdoors. The basement or dark garage are not very good places to do this. For some better ideas, take a look at our "How To" called Keeping Early-purchased Perennials Alive.

I look forward to meeting many of you in person this year at one of the many garden shows coming up. In case we don't cross paths, I hope you have a great time!

You can pull up an extensive list of deer resistant perennials using the Advanced Search engine on our site. Just click the box near the bottom of the page for Deer Resistant, listed under Plant Characteristics, then hit Search. The list of names returned will take you to thumbnails, which in turn lead to full plant profile pages that you can print or bookmark.

Here's a short list of perennials that rabbits tend to avoid:
Achillea (Yarrow), Agastache (Anise-hyssop), Aquilegia (Columbine), Artemisia, Digitalis (Foxglove), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Geranium (Cranesbill Geranium), Kniphofia (Torch-lily), Lavandula (Lavender), Narcissus (Daffodils), Nepeta (Catmint), Penstemon (Beard Tongue), Peonies, Salvia (Blue Sage), Sedum (Stonecrop), Thymus (Thyme), Yucca.

John Schroeder, founder of Heritage Perennials says, "This year's selection of plants contains some of the most exciting new perennials to have come along in years. With the many thousands of plant choices today, our objective is to recommend varieties that should provide excellent performance in gardens across the country."

You can view the entire Top 10 Perennials 2003 listing, as well as the lists from previous years. Visitors to Canada Blooms in Toronto will be able to see most of this year's selections, or if you live near Vancouver, BC be sure to drop by the VanDusen Flower & Garden Show later in June.

Some types of perennials are not quite so cooperative, their germination complicated by dormancy within the seed that requires certain external factors to overcome. Stratification is one technique sometimes used to overcome dormancy -- seeds are sown in moist soil then stored in a refrigerator or cold room for a period of several weeks to months. During this time, natural chemical changes happen within the seed that allows for germination to take place. Perennials native to northern regions or high mountain areas (like some of our native North American wildflowers) often require stratification, but fortunately there are still lots of easy-to-grow species and selections that require no particular special handling. These are readily available in the seed racks at garden centers or through mail order seed houses. In any case, seed packets should tell you exactly how to handle each particular kind, so always refer to the packet instructions or catalogue directions.

For those of you just beginning to play around with growing perennials from seed, the types on the list below are easy ones to get started with. Note that seed is very often sold by common name, so we include both names here:
EASY GERMINATORS: Achillea (Yarrow), Agastache (Anise-hyssop), Alcea (Hollyhock), Anthemis (Perennial Marguerite), Aquilegia (Columbine), Bellis (English Daisy), Campanula (Bellflower), Centaurea (Cornflower), Cerastium (Snow-in-Summer), Coreopsis (Tickseed), Dianthus (Pinks, Carnations), Digitalis (Foxglove), Echinacea (Purple Coneflower), Erigeron (Fleabane Daisy), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), Geum (Avens), Gypsophila (Baby's Breath), Heuchera (Coral Bells), Kniphofia (Torch-lily), Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy), Liatris (Blazing Star), Lupinus (Lupin), Lychnis (Campion), Malva (Mallow), Monarda (Beebalm), Nepeta (Catmint), Oenothera (Evening Primrose), Physostegia (Obedient Plant), Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder), Potentilla (Cinquefoil), Rudbeckia (Black -eyed Susan), Salvia (Perennial Sage), Stachys (Lamb's Ears), Tanacetum (Painted Daisy), Verbascum (Mullein), Veronica (Speedwell), Viola (Pansy, Violet)

For very tiny seed or less speedy germinators, it's best to leave them alone until you've had a little bit of experience with the easier types. If you're a beginner, pass over those colorful packets of Aconitum (Monkshood), Anemone (Windflower), Asclepias (Butterfly Weed), Astilbe, Delphinium, Helleborus (Christmas Rose), and Primula (Primrose). Beginners should particularly avoid being tempted by packets of Meconopsis (Himalayan Blue Poppy), which even professional growers struggle to germinate.

The equipment you will need is minimal: seeds, sterile bagged potting soil (or special seed-starting soil), clean pots, flats or other containers (I like those clear plastic salad bar take-out containers... poke a few holes in the bottom first), a source of light (grow lights or a south window), water and warmth. A bottle of No-Damp is handy to have on hand. This is a fungicide that helps to prevent damping off, a disease that attacks little seedlings just above soil level and causes them to topple over and die.

Here are a couple of links with more detailed information to get you started:

QUESTION: Starbucks is offering their coffee grounds for your garden. Are these safe for plants? How do I know which plants should have the coffee grounds and which should not? Annie, Vancouver, BC

ANSWER: I've heard that Starbucks and some other coffee firms offer grounds for free. I've never used them myself, but for years I've tossed my grounds -- filters and all, into the compost pile and I've never noticed any particular problems.

Reflecting the many new and improved varieties of recent years, this book is the most current and up-to-date reference for the varieties of perennials available in Canada and the USA. This authoritative guide remains an indispensable book for everyone from new gardeners to garden professionals. Newly expanded chapters offer loads of important information on soil and site requirements, hardiness and planting suggestions.

This book, although aimed at the absolute beginner, also has words of wisdom that any gardener will appreciate. I love what Yvonne has to say about suspect shrubs, for instance. "If you have to prune a shrub three or four times a season, it is in the wrong place -- stop pruning this instant and remove it or transplant to a spot where it can get as high and wide as it's supposed to. In its place, plant a shrub that's a better fit. Your garden is not an old-age home for has-been woodies. Just because you (or the previous owner of your house) planted a shrub or a tree in the wrong place doesn't mean it has to stay there forever." Bravo, Yvonne!! I'm going to get out the spade as soon as the ground thaws.

Chapters are arranged in a simple style for easy reference, so you can quickly find information about soils, light conditions, how to buy plants, lawn care, shade gardening, growing vegetables and much, much more. I especially like the chapter called "To Everything There is a Season: What to Do When". This simple garden calendar will help you to focus your energy where it's most effective at various points in the season.

All in all, this book is an excellent starting point for brand new gardeners, especially those who live in zones 4 to 6 of Central Canada or the Midwestern USA.