P.S. If you are interested in my gardening exploits, please check out our garden at MyFolia.

Simply Green Giving is filled with great ideas for how to wrap gifts using materials you already have, instead of wrapping paper and ribbon that’s just going to get thrown away.  Just a few ideas: using the tape from an old VHS tape as ribbon, using a scarf to wrap up a bottle of wine, using real peanuts in the shell to protect gifts instead of styrofoam packing peanuts.  I *love* this last idea, as it is better for the environment and the gift recipient gets to eat them.

Another idea that I loved was a way to create gift cards from outdated business cards.  You know  you have them…cards with a maiden name (for women) and old address or even a former employer.  But you don’t just want to throw this little gems away.  Fold two cards in half and glue the printed sides together.  Punch a hole in the corner and presto, instant gift card! To glam it up a bit, decorate the card on the front (or inside) with a rubber stamped design.

A big thing that I learned from this book is to hang on to some items that you might normally throw away (a single shoelace, burned out Christmas lights, etc.) because you never know how you might be able to use it to wrap your next special gift.  So, go forth and wrap!

He is calling for the United States to “… commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.” What a good idea.  He has a link in this article to a website where if you are interested you can join in the campaign.  Personally, I think doing whatever we can to become energy independent is a good thing.

Sun loving Perennials:

1.  Salvia – Mexican Sage
2.  Daylillies – select early mid and late season blooming so there is always something in bloom.  A favorite that was mentioned was “Happy Returns” which is                                                                      “repeat bloomer” although I don’t know what that means.
3.Hyssop – easy to grow, I’m not super fond of how it looks, but perhaps look into it more because it blooms for a long time

4.  Verbena Bonariensis – grows up to 5 feet, not a perfennial in all parts  of the United States, but it is “generous seeder” so it will send seeds to other parts of your flower bed
5.  Summer phlox – summer boarder, many colors, can grow really tall, need well-drained soil and full sun, mildew can be a problem, so make sure there is plenty of air around the plant

Shade Loving plants:
1.  Columbine-reseeds itself well.  Origami columbine blooms longer than other varities
2. Japanese Anemonies – need partial shade, filtered light or half day sun
3. Hosta- many varieties
4. Toad Lily-many types, not sure I like these
5. Lady Bells – Adenophora, tall spires of tiny blue flowers, difficult to find, but worth the search

Create a theme garden based on color, conditions of garden, native plants

Native plants advantages- flowers,grasses, etc. – help define the region, economic reason–cheaper because the plants are more tolerant of their particular area, so they can handle drought better, or they might not need fertilizer.

Now Allen Smith is talking about plants native to North American.

First up:
Joe PYe Weed – pretty color, grows easily, grows to great heights
Purple Cone Flower – Echinacea
Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Fall bloomers
golderrod, asters, Blue Mist Flowers, beeblam, butterfly weed, beebalm, jack in
the pulpit, yarrow, blanket flower, callifornia poppey, cardinal flower, maiden
hair fern

Oriental LIllies- sunny location, well drained soil, go for the largest bulb you can, becames it means the blooms will be large

It is important when putting flowers together in the same bed to determine beforehand
if they have similar needs for sun, water, etc.  Needs to be similar.  It looks really nice to have many different plants together, not necessarily all in a line.  Mix perennials with annuals.

Another plant: smoke tree, burgundy color, hydrangea, back of the flower border,
as a backdrop, can take a wide variety of light conditions, full sun, part shad
e, etc.

There you have it, a few ideas for how to add perennials to your garden to enjoy year after year!