Five 5-plant Gardens

by Debbie Van Bourgondien

The Butterfly Garden

1. Buddleia 'Dark Knight'
2. Echinacea 'White Swan'
3. Echinacea 'Kim's Knee High'
4. Asclepias incarnata 'Cinderella'
5. English Lavender Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

Black Night Buddleia attract butterflies. These plants will not only attract hordes of butterflies, but will create an attractive bed of purples, mauves and lavender for the summer. Buddleias of all sorts attract butterflies like a magnet, as does Asclepias - which is nicknamed "Butterfly Weed'. I've seen Echinaceas that look like a landing strip, so covered were they with Monarchs. The lavender, with its silvery foliage is attractive to butterflies, but also adds a fragrant scent and misty look to the planting area. The Hummingbird Garden Cardinal Flower Lobelia fulgens 'Russian Princess' Crocosmia 'Lucifer' Fuchsia magellanica Trumpet Vine Campsis radicans or Honeysuckle 'Mandarin' Corydalis 'China Blue'

Lucifer Crocosmia is a great plant for attracting hummingbirds. Most gardeners know that hummingbirds are attracted to bright red flowers that hide their nectar in a tubular flower deep enough that the hummers' beaks can get at it more easily than bees can. Fuchsias of all kinds are great for this - and this shrub fuchsia is hardier than most. The lobelia with its distinctive purple foliage is as red as a beacon - no self-respecting hummingbirds can possibly miss seeing it. If you have a large garden and a sturdy arbor, a trumpet vine is almost magical in its attraction for hummers - but 'Mandarin' honeysuckle also fits the role well in smaller gardens. You may be surprised at the addition of the 'China Blue' corydalis- but that's because few people realize that early in the season hummingbirds find most of their nectar in blue rather than red flowers. So 'China Blue' should help you to attract these flying jewels earlier than ever. Light Up the Shade Garden Hosta 'Revolution' Lilium martagon album Sedum 'Frosty Morn' Calla alba maculatum Caladium 'White Christmas'

Frosty Morn Sedum lights up a shade garden There is nothing so cooling as a green and white garden in part shade. With these five plants you get the white coloring even when nothing is in bloom. Hosta 'Revolution' is one of the whitest of the green and white hostas. Sedum 'Frosty Morn; is a cool silvery green with white margins, while Caladium White Christmas is predominantly white with green veins. When the calla lily and the martagon lilies burst forth with their cool white blossoms it adds another layer of loveliness to this tranquil grouping of plants. The Hot Tropics Canna 'Tropicanna' Non-Stop Begonia 'Copper' Callafornia Calla 'Flame' Dahlia 'Babylon Bronze' Elephant Ears 'Black Magic'

Black Magic Colocasia makes a statement in a tropical garden. Colocasia 'Black Magic' is the most dramatic plant imaginable. While it looks stunning mixed with lavenders and pinks, it will stop traffic when paired with tropical looking plants in flame colors. The copper Non-Stop Begonia will carry it through the season with aplomb - but when the 'Flame" Calla blooms early in summer and the 'Babylon Bronze' dahlia later in the season you've got a planting area that is a real show-stopper. Add a bit of tropical music and you can imagine you've made a tropical getaway. Rhapsody in Blue Malva 'Primley Blue' Hydrangea 'Nikko Blue' Campanula 'Kent Belle' Perovskia 'Little Spire' Clematis 'Blue Light'

Nikko Blue Hydrangea is a "must have" for a blue garden. Blue is one of the rarest flower colors in nature - but there are still several great plants that offer us abundant blue for a long season. Plant the 'Nikko Blue' hydrangea for its lacy blue flowers from June through August, then double your pleasure by allowing the double blue blooms of Clematis 'Multi Blue' to wend their way through its branches. Malva 'Primley Blue' is a medium height bloom that goes from July through Frost, while the silvery foliage of Perovskia 'Little Spire' knits the composition together even before it opens its delicate blue blossoms. For drama, finish the composition with the beautiful cobalt flowers of Campanula 'Kent Belle' which blooms from June through September. A beautiful, long blooming bed of blue blossoms.