Garden Tips Summer 2006
		Perennial Plants
		"June is Perennial Gardening Month"(sm) is a slogan you may see at nurseries that are members of the Perennial Plant Association. The Perennial Plant Association established "June is Perennial Gardening Month"(sm) as an educational program to make wholesale growers, retail garden centers and home gardeners aware of the feasibility of planting perennials throughout the summer and fall months. For those of you new to gardening, perennial plants are those that continue to grow for two or more years from the same root system. Within the perennial plant group there are tender perennials, short-lived perennials, and perennials that continue to thrive for generations. (How many of you have some of grandma's plants in your garden?) Unlike annuals, most perennials bloom for just a few weeks each year. The time perennials bloom varies with each species. Some, like bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp), bloom in spring/early summer while others, like coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), offer late season blooms. Selecting a variety of plants with different bloom times assures that something will be in bloom throughout the growing season. Many gardeners will fill in areas of their perennial garden with annuals to provide constant summertime blooms. Annuals also help fill in the gaps of newly established perennial gardens. The following links should provide some information for both the new and experienced perennial gardener. Happy Gardening and don't forget the hat and sunscreen!
		Gardening with Perennials University of Illinois Exension
		What are Perennials Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University (pdf file)
		Why Use Perennials Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University (pdf file)
		Perennial Plant of the Year Index Perennial Plant Association
		Garden Plans, Beds and Borders iVillage/Country Living
		USDA Plants Database Searchable Plants Database