Preparing for Perennials

The perennial sale at Swansons officially began yesterday. Today several of the kid's parents and I  cleared out a bed of arugula, strawberry and other weeds that are severely dehydrated by Seattle's summer. Also this space has been untouched for over a year and the soil really needs work. There are an infinite number of suckers from the alder tree planted there. I'm working on a small budget for the Advisory Council about replacing that space with native flowering perennials. Then again perhaps all that can go there right now is a cover crop mix.

In my inbox today Swansons sent a notice about their perennial sale and specifically listed good plants to attract hummingbirds, butterflies and for creating bouquets. This past May Day we did an activity of creating bouquets but the flower variety available around the community center was pretty pathetic. This upcoming Spring is gonna be way better.

Here's the list! (I've narrowed down to the plants native, medicinal or presently established to North America) *I'm going to see about planting some of these in our house here in the U District.

ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS

             Beebalm  Monarda spp. and cultivars
             Bleeding Heart  Dicentra spp. and cultivars
             Butterfly Weed  Asclepias tuberosa
             Coral Bells  Heuchera spp. and cultivars
             Sage Salvia spp.

ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES

             Bee Balm  Monarda spp. and cultivars
             Black Eyed Susan  Rudbeckia spp. and cultivars
            Border Sages  Salvia spp. and cultivars
             Coneflower  Echinacea spp. and cultivars
             Garden Sage  Salvia x superba cultivars
            Lavender  Lavandula angustifolia, L. x intermedia, L. stoechas
             Ornamental Onion  Allium spp. and cultivars
             Tree Mallow  Lavatera spp. and cultivars
             Verbena  Verbena spp. and cultivars
             Yarrow  Achillea spp. and cultivars

CUTTING GARDEN
       
             Black Eyed Susan  Rudbeckia spp. and cultivars
             Blanket Flower Gaillardia grandiflora
             Bleeding HeartDicentra spp. and cultivars
             Coneflower  Echinacea spp. and cultivars
             Goldenrod   Solidago spp.
             Lavender  Lavandula angustifolia, L. x intermedia, L. stoechas
             Monkshood  Aconitumspp.
             Oregano  Origanum spp.
             Sage  Salvia spp.
            Yarrow  Achillea spp. and cultivars

So many choices, I will have to find a way to narrow down even further. Budgeting won't be easy.