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While tradition usually designates Memorial Day as the time when you can safely plant more tender annuals, the Vineyard climate can be tricky and can vary from area to area on the Island. Check to see if your home sits in one of the many Island frost pockets, and if so, wait until after the last full moon in May or be prepared to cover newly acquired plants in case of frost.

We are often asked why plants customers purchase from us tend to grow faster and bigger than the same variety of plant purchased from other garden centers. Many nurseries add a chemical preservative to their young plants to help them through the stress of transport and shipping. These chemicals can retard the plant’s growth until they have been watered completely through the root system. Since the majority of the plants we sell are grown locally in our own greenhouses they are not treated with these chemicals and grow faster and bigger than their off-island brethren.

One of the most common gardening problems we hear is that of the local deer population enjoying our customer’s gardens more than they can! While fencing and a number of natural repellants can help with this problem, you may also consider planting varieties that deer just don’t like to eat. These include:

Achillea millefolium, Yarrow: All colors; flat flowers atop thin green foliage and stems; 2 feet tall; blooms in early to late summer

Aquilegia, Columbine:
All colors; bell shaped flowers; average height of 2 feet tall; blooms in spring to summer

Artemesia schmidtiana, Silver mound: Low-growing silver foliage plant; can grow to1 foot tall; blooms in summer

Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed: Orange, red, yellow, or a combination of all three; average heights of 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in midsummer to fall

Aster novi-belgii, New York Aster:
Purple, pink and white daisy flowers with a yellow center; full sun to partial shade; average heights of 3 to 4 feet tall; blooms in late summer to mid-fall

Astilbe x ardensii, Hybrid Astilbe: red, white and pink feather-like flowers; 1½ to 4 feet tall; shade; blooms in summer

Centranthus ruber, Red Valerian: Fragrant red, pink and white flowers; average heights of 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in spring to late summer

Cimicifuga, Bugbane: White or cream, occasionally pink-tinged; bottlebrush-like flowers atop green or burgundy foliage; average heights from 2 to 6 feet; partial shade; blooms in late summer to fall

Coreopsis lanceolata, Lance Coreopsis: Single bright yellow daisy flower with yellow center; average height of 2 feet tall; full sun; blooms in late spring to midsummer

Delphinium elatum, Larkspur: Blue, purple, pink and white spike flowers atop long stems; dissected leaf; full sun; average heights of 2 to 5 feet tall; blooms in early to midsummer

Digitalis, Foxglove: All colors; many bell shaped flowers on a tall stem; average height of 3 feet tall; full sun to part shade; blooms in early summer

Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower: Deep pink and white daisy flowers with dark brown centers; average heights of 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in summer

Geranium, Cranesbill: Purple, blue, pink and white; usually saucer-shaped flowers; average heights of 1 to 2 feet tall; shade; blooms in late spring and early summer

Helenium autumnale, Sneezeweed: Orange and red daisy flower with a dark brown center; can grow to 5 feet tall; full sun; blooms late summer to fall

Helleborus , Hellebore/Christmas Rose: White, cream, pink, purple or green saucer, cup or bell-shaped pendulous flowers; average height of 1 foot tall; shade; blooms in late winter to spring

Lychnis coranaria, Rose Campion:
Silvergray foliage plant with a bright fuchsia flower on the tip of the stem; 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in late summer

Lysmachia clethroides, Gooseneck Loosestrife: Long white flower spikes that curve very slightly at the tip; 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in mid to late summer

Lythrum salicaria, Purple Loosestrife:
Purple-pink spike flower; 4 feet tall; full sun; blooms in midsummer to early fall

Monarda didyma, Bee balm: Each stem bears 1 to 2 whorls of bright red flowers with a dark center; can grow 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in late summer

Nepeta, Catmint: Silver-gray foliage plant with mostly blue flowers; average height of 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun to partial shade; blooms in early summer to early fall

Paeonia officinalis, Common Peony: Deep rose or rose-pink cup shaped flowers with yellow stamens in the center; 2 feet tall; full sun to partial shade; blooms in late spring to early summer

Perovskia x hybrida, Russian Sage: Silver-gray fragrant foliage plant with purple to blue spike flowers on top; average heights of 3 to 5 feet tall; full sun; blooms late summer to early fall

Polemonium caeruleum, Jacob’s Ladder:
Lavender-blue or white flowers; grows to a height of 12-36 inches tall; mound-forming perennial; prefers part shade; likes moist, well drained soil; blooms late spring and early summer.

Rudbeckia maxima, Black-Eyed Susan: Yellow daisy flower with a dark brown center; 2 to 3 feet tall; full sun; blooms in midsummer to fall

Salvia, Sage: Long purple, blue, red, pink and white flowers; average height is 2 feet tall; full sun; blooms in summer

Santolina, Santolina: Small, round yellow flowers on short green stems; fragrant foliage; average height to 2 feet tall; full sun; blooms in summer

Stachys byzantina, Lambs Ear:
Silver leafed foliage plant, can get a purple – pink flower; foliage all season; 12 to 18 inches tall; full sun; flower blooms in early summer to early fall

Thymus vulgaris, common Thyme: Bright purple to white flowers; grows 6-12 inches tall; spreading, cushion-forming perennial; prefers full sun, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil; blooms in early summer

Tiarella cordifolia, Foamflower: Vigorous and spreading with white flower spikes; grows 6-8 inches tall with flower spike that can reach 12 inches high; blooms in summer

Veronica, Speedwell: Blue, lavender or white flowers and several variations of foliage shapes and colors; likes moist, well drained soil and full sun to part shade




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Please visit us! We're located at
Heather Gardens 377 State Road West Tisbury, MA 02575
(508) 693-1467
www.heather-gardens.com
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