One of the most enjoyable parts of gardening for me is watching the transformation of the garden as the seasons progress from spring to summer. With the summer comes the changing of the seasons – hot, dry days; gradually getting warmer; the steady dawn of new plant foliage; and the reflective glint off the silver needles of my hardy plants. It all seems so predictable but it is so much more than just a matter of turning the crank. Every day there is a new surprise.

For example, I was thrilled when I discovered the spectacular four foot Chinese lanterns around my garden. They are genuine antique lanterns, considered by the Chinese for their beautiful long stems, long like the familiar Japanese kukai frog, but far more useful for your garden. They are useful as emergency light in case the sun drops below 5. They light well by using solar energy to charge during the day, and at night they light to provide bright light around the plants, greatly extending the range of what your garden can offer at night.

Another useful plant to add is Echinacea ‘Sulphurea’, a graceful half palm that blows in the wind like a budgeh. It raises its 3 to 5 feet in the spring and beautiful white blossoms with the flower bordering on the original color of the stem, making it a sort of white fairy in the garden. While the flowers are not all that showy, the fruit is a beauty Regardless of whether you just have one or several around, they are a nice edible, and very interesting to look at.

Petunias are not only interesting for their form and color, but also their fragrance. They are used for potpourris, being very fragrant, and are a popular ingredient in homemade teas. They can be grown as border plants or cut and dried, and can be used in a variety of ways around the home, from floral bouquets to dried flower arrangements.

Vaishas are native to India, and grow in many conditions there. They are an important home garden plant in the south for Tipaniaceae and other sunflower species, and are a lovely ornamental in the north. They are best known for their vibrancy, of course, and the brilliant colors that they display.

Vaishas are also called potas, and are similar to the pavlova at Christmas, only they grow in the garden! They are summer flowers that grow in thick clumps. They flower and look like daisies, and are wonderful in floral arrangements. One of my favorites is floatious Senecio, with its large heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers. Another is Sunny Fahrenheit, with its small heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers, Sunny Fahrenheit flowers in white and pink pastel blooms, and it’s really easy to grow. Make sure it gets enough water, and float it a couple of inches above the bottom of your container.

Musk mallow is a fascinating succulent. It’s native to the woods and heaths, where it seems to thrive in damp, dry, sunny spots. The leafstalks have a fine myrrh-like scent, and the grassy growths are topped with small rosebuds in the summer. musk mallow fascinates me, and it’s fun to cut off a piece and try to make a pomander out of it. The rooting is easy – I just push it into the ground and wait for it to grow! It makes a impressively rich perfume when it’s finished drying up. I’ve had a piece of bark hanging over the stove for 2 hours, and it smells wonderful. As does most of what grows in my garden.

These are just a few of my woody plants. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can find many other woodland plants growing in ponds, or just about any type of soil. As you can see, I’m not picky – I go for beauty and performance. As you can probably tell, I’m a little bit of a handful.

“Happy Gardening!”