Lamium maculatum ‘Pink Chablis’ and Sedum sarmentosum

Pink Lamium and Stringy Stonecrop

Lamium is a pretty, easy to grow, quick growing herbaceous perennial that needs part to full shade. It likes moisture but not soggy heavy soil. If you don’t have the soil right it will melt out in Stillwater’s summer heat and humidity. I typically cut it back to stimulate new foliage growth.  Here it is planted with a sedum commonly called Stringy Stonecrop or Graveyard Moss. While most sources say it takes full sun I think it really prefers a bit of shade in Stillwater. In my garden in full sun, it lives reliably through the summer but the color bleaches out. Reliable in USDA Zones 3 to 8.

Baptisia sphaerocarpa ‘Screamining Yellow’ and Achillea millifolium ‘Moonshine’

Yellow Wild Indigo and Moonshine Yarrow

I can’t say enough about Baptisia sphaerocarpa. It is a perennial plant not all that available in your average nursery or box store, I mail ordered mine a few years ago but also bought one this year at Bustani Plant Farm. It does fine with average, dry to medium, decently well-drained soil and full sun. The clump will slowly expand, and said to have a deep root system and should not be disturbed once established–we will see—once it is a bit bigger I will take a shovel to it and move some. Of course in Stillwater I would only chance that in May. It forms a 2-3’ tall mound, blooms early with small, yellow, pea-like flowers then lovely pods like all baptisias. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8.

Hosta aureomargina and Lysimachia nummularia

Plantain Lily and Creeping Jenny

This is my only Hosta and I need more. Hosta aureomarginata is a very happy and hardy perennial in Stillwater if you plant it in the right spot. It needs shade.  It will take a bit of morning sun but really needs protection from the sun in the afternoon.  It also needs a rich moister-holding soil. Later in the summer, it will produce lavender blooms.

Mentha spicata and Euphorbia x martinii ‘Tiny Tim’

Spearmint and Cushion Spurge

I don’t care what anybody says I knew what I was in for when I planted spearmint. It’s hard to get started gardening in Stillwater so two years ago I planted mint. Sure I am editing it a bit as other things are doing well, but I love to have it around for cooking and the dog smells wonderful after an afternoon nap. The Euphorbia is another story, while I love this evergreen perennial  I am down to three after planting about seven two years ago. They are said to work in Zones 6b-8b, but I am not sure. To do well in Stillwater I think they need protection from cold winter wind.

The Euphorbia is another story, I love this evergreen perennial and I planted about 7 two years ago– I am down to three. They are said to work in Zones 6b-8b. To do well in Stillwater I think they need protection from cold winter wind. It’s the chartreuse cup-shaped flowers that provide the visual interest. I will post pictures later this summer.