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Funky Garden Plants 2 Article

What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter?

A hellebore!  It is an outdoor plant that is shocking to see

blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many varieties.  They are

perennial which means they come back year after year.

These are best planted in shady areas, but where they

will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed trees or

something of that nature.

What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom

somewhere between Dec. and March.  There are very few

plants that do that!  One variety is called a Christmas

Rose. 

These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery.

Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family

of plants.

Another plant you'll surely want to try is called Sweet

Annie. This is actually an annual herb, in the worm wood

family. 

The seed is very fine and you sow it in direct

sunlight in the spring after all danger of frost is

gone.  Sweet Annie can get up to 6 feet tall.  It's

fragrance is wonderful!!!

My favorite use for Sweet Annie is in the fall to cut

it to the ground and dry it.  It can be used as

wonderful, fragrant filler for dried flower

arrangements, and it can also be bound with fine wire

to form a wreath base of its own.  Simply tuck in

other dried flowers here and there around it and

you've got a beautiful dried floral wreath with a

fragrance to die for!

Another unusual one is called Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate.

Yes, this really is the name of a plant!  It's official name is Polygonum

orientale.  It's an old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect. 

It has large heart shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of small pink

flowers. 

In rich, moist soil and full sun it can go to six feet tall.  Best to sow

the seed in fall or early spring where it is to grow.

Lastly another unusual plant to try is the Balloon Flower.

These are perennial, meaning they will return

year after year.  The latin name for these are:

platycodon grandiflorus.  They are very hardy,

durable plants and very beautiful.

Balloon flowers are about the size of a

ping pong ball and look like little "balloons". 

Once they fully open up they split and you can

see the center portion and the bloom then

resembles a star. 

They usually come in shades of purple, pink and

white.

Very cute, the plants only get about 2 feet tall. 

Try one!

By Valerie Garner-Visit Home Tips & More at https://www.angelfire.com/wa/hometips

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