Garden mums (Dendranthema morifolium) give us a burst of color in the fall when used to replace the annuals we have enjoyed since spring. Mums provide color until freezing weather arrives.

Perennial geraniums or cranebills are so named because of the beak-like fruits that appear after flowering. Hardy geraniums or perennial geraniums are bushy and shrub-like mounds or trailing, ground-hugging weavers. They are excellent perennial plants for mass plantings. Flower colors range from suble to vibrant. Do not confuse them with the popular annual geraniums which are a member of another genus- Pelargonium.

Clematis (KLEM-a-tis) is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. The word is from the Greek and means "vine." This genus includes approximately 250 species and numerous garden hybrids. It is a varied genus, made up of mostly woody, deciduous climbing plants, though a few are evergreen and a few herbaceous. There is great variety in flower form, color, bloom season, foliage effect and plant height. Leaves are opposite on the stem and mostly compound with three to five leaflets. The leaf stalk twines like a tendril and is responsible for giving the plant support....

It's deep mid-winter and many gardeners are tucked inside out of the cold. For those who venture out there are treasures waiting in the garden.

Winter flowers - they are special and very beautiful, none more so than the hellebores. These are the darlings of the winter garden, and their fans soon become addicted to their subtle charms.

Dahlias are among the easiest flowers to grow and all tubers, regardless of size, will produce equally strong plants and prolific blooms.
After purchasing your dahlias, remove them from the plastic bag you may have received them in and store the tubers in a cool (50 degrees is ideal) dark place until planting time.

Garden irises are hardy, long-lived perennials that need a minimum of care. They are an established "backbone" of home gardens because they bloom when few other plants do. Easy to grow iris varieties adapted to every region of the United States are available. They produce graceful flowers in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors.

The African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) is one of the most satisfactory flowering houseplants. It is a low, compact plant with attractive dark green, thick, hairy leaves. The violet-like flowers are borne in small panicles just above the foliage. Besides various shades of blue-violet, there are also pink, fuschia, and white cultivars (varieties). Newer violets include not only cultivars with single flowers, but also those with semi-double or double rows of petals. Bi-colored flowers and those with a contrasting border are popular. Trailing cultivars and miniatures are also available. Plants kept in good condition flower almost continuously.

Hostas are extremely popular, hardy herbaceous perennials grown primarily for their beautiful foliage. They are easy to grow, shade-tolerant plants. Leaves come in a wide range of shapes, colors, sizes, and textures and may be solid in color or variegated in different combinations of blue, green, white, and gold. The plants are low maintenance and are widely available in nurseries and garden centers. Many catalogs also offer a large selection of hosta plants, with more than 2,500 different cultivars on the market.

Daylilies, members of the Liliaceae (lily family), are some of the most tolerant and popular of the garden perennials. Their range in size, color, and use means that there is a daylily for almost everyone...

The Lilies belong to a genus consisting of less than 100 known species, occurring in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They are mostly found growing in fairly good soil in association with shrubs and other plants which shade their roots and help to keep the bulbs cool and in a uniform state as regards moisture.