Friday, February 20, 2009

Dreaming of spring flowers


In the mail yesterday, I got a circular from Breck's, wanting to sell me something. I almost tossed the envelope in the trash without opening it, but for some reason I laid it on the table, next to the trash.

This morning I decided to see what sort of tulips anyone would be selling in the spring (I ordered tulip bulbs from them last fall).

This time they are selling astilbes, something I have not previously heard or read about.

Virtually pest-free. Loves shade.

I've been wondering what I'd plant on the north side of the house.


Yep, I ordered some.

Anybody had experience with this plant?

9 comments:

  1. I've never heard of it. But, if it's pest free and loves shade I'll be looking into it.
    They are beautiful!

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  2. Never heard of it but it is a beautiful plant. Bet butterflies love it, Helen

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  3. UP HERE ... IN THE U.P. ... two concerns ... ZONE & DO THE DEER LIKE IT!

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  4. They do bloom beautifully. By the way - how is the herb garden coming along. 'On Ya'-ma

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  5. I used to grow them years ago. Virtually no maintenance as I recall, and they don't grow lightning fast here as so many other things do, so they don't get out of hand.

    Really pretty, and do they have the red varieties? They are stunning, and I like to see all colors grouped together rather than one color. The foliage is really nice even when it's not flowering time too.

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  6. Anonymous4:04 AM

    I have a star-shaped bed of nothing BUT Astilbe in various colors. I'm partial to the purple ones myself.

    I feed 'em once a year in the spring, and cut 'em back after the frost gets 'em in the fall, and that's it.

    Other than the Campanula, it's the flower I get the most comments on.

    Try 'em, you'll like 'em. North side of the house will be okay, but don't give 'em too much shade.

    I'll have to see if I have a picture of them in bloom.

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  7. Anonymous4:05 AM

    PS: I see it says they "love shade". Mine are in full sun, but then I live up here above the Arctic Circle. Full sun in Missery might be a bit much...

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  8. I love that plant...we have quite a bit of shade in our front and back landscaping...and it's hard to find colorful vibrant plants to grow in the shade..I will have to check these out...so pretty!

    Thanks for sharing

    Hugs
    Terri

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  9. Nope. But I'd order it if I had a garden myself. This flowering plant is beautiful!

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