Since global warming seems to be pretty much a reality I thought I should write about drought tolerant plants. Before I go on, please remember these plants need to be “established” before they are drought tolerant. In other words you have to water them at first until their roots have had a chance to grow a bit – maybe a couple of weeks. Then you can turn them over to mother nature’s watering schedule.
Some of my favorites are:
Annuals – ageratum, cosmos, salvia, verbena, snapdragons, zinnia, sunflowers, dusty miller, alyssum, marigolds, and coleus.
Perennials – daylily , gallardia, black-eyed susan, sedum, shasta daisy, Russian sage, iris,yarrow, aster, purple coneflower, ornamental grasses.
Ground cover – English ivy, myrtle, euonymus, junipers.
The Ruth Mott Foundation has developed a plant “palette” that works well in our area. The site at Nolen & University is the best example in our neighborhood. Buffalo junipers are the outer edge of the plant bed. They are great. They don’t get too high (about a foot) and if they grow horizontally over where you want them, you just nip the offending branch. Next on the inside there are Patriot hostas (they’re green and white), then Happy Returns daylilies. Pop in some Dutch Master daffodils for heralding the spring and it’s cool! Since the Nolen/University site is a circle, we added ornamental grasses (actually Mr. Wiggens planted them first) and some black-eyed susans and a bloodgood japanese maple (it will get to about 20 feet tall). There are other japanese maples that only get about 10 ft tall. Other plants that would be good behind the junipers might be Salvia May Night, Purple Dome asters, Russian sage or Little Bluestem ornamental grass. I will have the Ruth Mott Foundation plant wheel at the next neighborhood meeting for anyone who wants one.
If you would like to adopt a garden site, please let me know. The small ones especially don’t require much work – a Spring and Fall cleanup and water the geraniums once they are planted. I have lots of Tidy Cat plastic containers for watering. There are 31 sites (small & big) in Mott Park and could use a few extra hands. RED is the color again this year. We have already ordered our geraniums from Ken’s greenhouse on Lavelle Rd. I’ve optimistically scheduled a June 1 pick up date.
If your inner gardener is just screaming “Get thy fingers in the soil”, here is your golden opportunity! Our friends at Hurley Hospital have a small community garden spot directly across from the hospital on 5th Ave. It is equipped with a garden hose, lots of rich soil and is open to tend to those of us who have a love of gardening. If you are interested in planting, tending and then taking home your gigantic cucumber or pumpkin or glorious string beans, contact me.
Finally please don’t forget the garden contest. The MPNA will be giving $100 gift certificates to the winners, The categories are “Prettiest Garden” and “Most Improved” (exterior/landscape). To enter your vote contact me at 444-7566 or email ginnybraun@bhhsmi.com or vote on Facebook or the Mott Park Blogspot.
As always, if you have any questions, give me a call and I’ll try to answer your gardening questions. Happy gardening! – Ginny Braun, Gardening Coordinator