Is it possible? Could spring actually be here, and not just on the calendar? The buds are on the trees, the days and nights are warmer, and the frog babies in the "protected wetland" behind our house, which we call "the bog," are singing loudly all night long.
So, yes, I think it's safe to declare true spring has sprung in northern Indiana. That means gardening time, of course, and this year, I have a lot of decisions to make. Sick of years of people subtly telling me my herb-filled garden looked sloppy and weird (even as they bent down to smell the divine lavender, sage, thyme mixed in with rampant sweet peas and odd hops vine tendril), I gave in last year and had a lot of plants pulled.
I'd like to plant flowering foundation shrubs. But what to choose? I've never had hydrangea work anywhere I've lived here in Indiana. I'm thinking of spirea, which comes in a variety of flower colors and forms, but I don't know that a lot of people grow it successfully here. Anybody out there having any luck?
Rhododendrons and azaleas, are in my opinion, as ill suited as hydrangea around here, but I'd love to find out I'm wrong.
Boxwood grows great around here, but it doesn't get tall enough. That's part of my problem. I want foundation plants that get at least four feet tall, so they can serve as a good background for the smaller plants in front.
I'm considering dwarf burning bush, which has year-round interest. It has interesting bark for winter, pretty green leaves in spring and summer, then bright red ones in fall. It seems a solid choice. So I'm leaning in that direction.
Of course, there's the nearly unkillable butterfly bush, which does well in our garden, but it can't be said to have winter interest.
Finally, there's evergreens, but they grow so slowly. So they aren't so great for right by the foundation. Any readers with foundation shrub ideas? I'm very open to suggestions.
If you'd like to share your own home memories or tips (or recipes), send ideas to tkwolford@aol.com. Or you can write me via traditional mail at The Farmer's Exchange, P.O. Box 45, New Paris, IN 46553.