The Epic of Epimediums

 

As we near the end of April on this beautiful Monday, it’s time to catch our breath from spring clean-up and ask that typical garden question, “What plants can I add to my perennial gardens?” Startling enough, there are still too many garden folks who don’t use or even know about Epimediums.

So would you like to venture into trying beyond the typical perennials? Do you wonder the best way to find out about a plant? My recommendation is to always test it, get to know it and like all good things, fall in love with it. For me, Epimediums don’t fall under the ‘infatuation’ category. It’s not that perennial where I plant one and lose interest the following year. Just look at its fine attributes –easy to grow, long-lived, can handle some rather cold temperatures, act as a weed smothering groundcover and drought-tolerant once established, deer-resistant and did I say these unusual perennials like the shade? I can’t forget the delicate flowers and the lovely intricate leaves.

But what’s the most exciting is that if you are a local, you can visit the Queen of the Epimediums – Karen Perkins at Garden Vision’s Open Nursery weekends coming up this Friday-Sunday and the following weekend as well. Here’s the link for those who are interested http://www.epimediums.com/garden-vision-holds-open-nursery-weekends/ in seeing these plants up close and in display. But if you can’t make it due to location, she also visits some other Northeast regional locations http://www.epimediums.com/visit-garden-vision-at-these-plant-sales/ where you can purchase her wide and unusual collection of Epimediums. You won’t find them anywhere else. As I said, she is the Queen of Epimediums. For everyone else, you can purchase your collection via mail order. She is not taking online orders so it’s mail or fax (the old fashion way) but what’s not to love about old-fashion these days?

So if you’re past the spring clean-up mode asking what you can add or change in your perennial gardens, my recommendation is to find those plants that are long-lived and can handle some adverse conditions. As Joseph Addison pointed out, “Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.” So don’t just admire a plant. Look for its long-term possibilities if you want success in your perennial garden. 

Image of an Epimedium in bloom by Ann Bilowz©  

You can also check out our Facebook albums that show some additional images of Epimediums in our gardens. If you don’t follow us on FB, hope you’ll join us there for these extra tidbits that often get shared. https://www.facebook.com/abilowz/photos_albums  


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