The Power of Perennials

When it comes to gardening in Georgia...I have to tell you, we've got it pretty good when it comes to working with perennials. Perennials come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors and can be used stand alone in the garden or combined with other plants, perennial and annual. They are hardy plants, designed to bloom for more than one season, so you get hardier plants, longer bloom cycles and plants that are less prone to disease and pests.

One more benefit to perennials is the ability to keep your garden interesting throughout the year. You can select perennials that bloom in the winter, spring, summer and fall to ensure you have blossoms and flowers in each season. You also get the added benefit of the different styles of foliage, with varying greens, oranges, purples and more, shiny vs. matte, airy fern-like fronds to dinner plate sized leaves. Leaf surfaces range from fuzzy to smooth, silky to rough.

There are several things to think about when choosing your plants, both their foliage and flowers. Cool colors like blue, purple and green tend to be soothing or calming, and can help make a small space feel airier. Warm tones in red, orange and yellow help to stimulate the senses and will help fill larger spaces.