Carol's thoughts
Carol's Thoughts
Hillside Gardens will open on May 12th. Our time schedule is as follows:
Sat/Sun: 10am - 7pm
Mon/Wed/Fri: 9:30 - 7pm
Tue/Thu 1 -7pm
I'm glad spring is coming, but to plant anything in the soil before the earth is warm is not going to be very
successful. Seeds need warm earth to germinate. May 15 seems to be a good time to start seeding. Peas,
spinach and radishes are plants that like it cool. You may know of other seedlings that do well in cool temps also.
1. Bougainvillea (paper flower) it is known for its fast spreading tropical vine. Noted for their clusters of paper 1-
inch petal-like bracts (flowers) in colors of pinks, reds, & purple. It can be grown in Montana, but we put it in
a pot with a trellis for it to climb on. If given ample sun & high temperatures it will blossom almost
continuously. They will rest during the heat of summer & cooler winter. It can become a houseplant for the
winter. You may have to trim it up before bringing it inside.
2. Passiflora-Passion Vine-Trellis is a tropical ornamental variety of passion vine. The 'blue passion vine' is
pretty cold hardy & salt tolerant, but it doesn't grow well in the summer heat and does not like wind. They
are vigorous growers & require regular fertilizing. Use a fertilizer with a ratio of 2-1-3. This vine will grow in
many soil types but make sure that the plant gets excellent drainage. If you want to keep the vines flowering
almost continuously, regular watering is necessary. The vines are shallow-rooted and will benefit from a thick
layer of organic mulch. If you want to keep this flower over the winter you're going to have to bring it in from
the cold. It's tropical but beautiful.
3. Dichonra 'Silver Falls' has velvety silver leaves that cascade down to 3-4 feet long, but will never be more than
3-inches tall. Vigoorous and easy to grow Silver Falls is good for hanging baskets or a stunning ground cover. It
thrives in well-drained soil, full sun, and is heat and drought tolerant. If you are using it as a ground cover, make
sure that the soil doesn't get soggy underneath its glorious silver carpet.
4. Dracaena - green 'spikes': Yes, we do have spikes this year. Many people have asked for them, so I ordered
this year. They are usually planted as the highpoint center of potted arrangements. Just don't over water!
5. Echinacea: 'Cone Flower' White Swan and Sunshine
This perennial is drought-resistant, long-lasting daisy-like bloom that comes in white, yellow, and purple-pink
with contrasting dark centers. It blooms in mid to late summer. It is hardy, carefree and stands 2-4 ft. tall. Plant it
12" to 15" apart. My plants have done very well in our sandy soil and it seems the deer leave it alone-- unless a
fawn samples it for the first time. You know kids!
6. Campanula: Canterbury Bells Perennial
There are many types of campanula. I grow it from seed and found it to do quite well in semi-moist, mulched
enriched sandy soil. It is a biennial so the 1st year it doesn't bloom. I think of it as the 'Ugly Duckling'
because of its unattractive leaf. But the 2nd year the sturdy 2-3 foot-tall stems are covered with large, deep-
cupped pastel flowers of pink, blue & white. The blooms remind me of church bells. From my experience, the
Canterbury Bells begin blooming in June - July. They are an exceptionally long-lasting cut flower.
7. Coleus: Annual
According to what I read, coleus is back, with more colors and textures. A coleus is a colored-foliage plant with
one color or 2 - 3 different colors. The colors can range from light & dark green, purple, maroon, white, pink, and
many more. Pinch the coleus blooms to keep its foliage looking healthy and attractive. When a plant blooms
it needs to be deadheaded or its on its way out. Coleus were considered a shade plant, but now the more
sunlight they gets the better they do. A coleus can take on a different look in the sun and the shade. I grow
coleus from seed as follows: Chocolate coleus, don't know how chocolaty it will smell yet. Rainbow, Jazz Velvet,
Ruby Jazz, HiGro Black & HiGro Yellow
Bitterroot ‘Plum