It is tempting to remove leftover spring bulb leaves once the cheery flowers have faded, but resist the urge to cut, tie, or braid remaining leaves! Bulbs need their foliage to soak up sunshine and produce food for next years display. Braiding and tying reduces the maximum amount of leaf exposure, as does entire removal of foliage by cutting too soon. Wait until the leaves really begin to yellow, before removing. You’ll be doing the bulb and your garden display a favor for the following spring!
If the foliage is just too irritating to look at, try planting bulbs in amongst perennials/groundcovers. Their emerging foliage quickly camouflages the remnant bulb foliage.
Ashley
Since the deer are prevalent around Honey Run, what do you plant that they won’t eat (destroy)? Thanks!
I’ll have to keep you updated on this topic! Just this week, I’ve started to plant a large shrub/perennial border along our new Honeycomb walkway and at the front entrance; I’m certain deer browse those areas. That being said, I chose plants that claim “deer resistance” although, I’m sure it really depends just how hungry they get! Below are lists broken down by plant type. I plan to blog about this subject in the future, as I monitor my new plantings — keep an eye out! If you have further questions or questions about specific plants, feel free to contact me.
Shrubs:
Aeculus parviflora-bottlebrush buckeye
Berberis-barberry Not a favorite of mine, because of the nasty thorns, but it is effective and there are red/maroon/gold varieties available.
Buxus-boxwood Nice, compact forms available, I enjoy their evergreen persistence
Caryopteris- bluebeard Outstanding! Purple-blue flowers from late summer-fall. Attracts butterflies. Different varieties offers size differences or gold foliage color.
Cephalotaxus harringtonia-plum yew ‘Prostrata’ is a low growing shrub
Clethra- summersweet. LOVE the fragrance from these flowers! I’ve used both ‘Ruby Spice’ and ‘Hummingbird’ with great success.
Cotoneaster
Cotinus-smokebush
Forsythia- there is a large forsythia at our entrance, deer never bother. Dwarf varieties are available, so they say!
Hammamelis- There are a few behind the honeycombs, large in size, left alone by deer. They flower very early! Late February and are very fragrant!
Microbiota decussate-Siberian cypress, SHADE
Spirea-many varieties available offering size, flower color, or foliage color differences. Some of my favorites include: ‘Tor’ ‘Little Princess’ and ‘Goldmound’
Weigela- Tubular pink flowers for the hummingbirds! Different varieties off burgundy foliage or green and white variegation.
Vitex-chastetree
Perennials:
Achillea- yarrow (sun)
Agastache- anise hyssop (sun), many varieties with different flower colors
Allium
Amsonia hubrichtii- blue star (sun), 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year! Soft foliage, brilliant yellow fall color, but give it room!
Aquilegia- columbine(sun pt shade)
Anemone (part shade)
Aremeria maritima-sea pinks (sun) evergreen, clump forming groundcover, early to mid season bloom
Aruncus dioicus- goatsbeard(partial shade)
Astilbe-false spirea (part shade/shade)
Baptisia-false blue indigo (sun) Beautiful flowers! Charcoal colored seed pods that rattle with a breeze in winter! Larger perennial.
Bergenia (part shade) thick leathery leaves, pink spring flowers, interesting groundcover
Brunnera macrophylla-Siberian bugloss sun/part shade)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides- plumbago (sun/part shade) excellent groundcover! Red fall color and blue FALL flowers
Chelone- turtlehead (sun/part shade) tolerant of wet sites as well. Mid-late season bloom.
Coreopsis-tickseed (sun)
Dianthus- garden pinks (sun)
Echinacea-coneflower (sun)
Echinops ritro- globe thistle (sun)
Epimedium-barrenwort (part shade/shade)
Eupatorium- Joe-Pye weed (sun)
Euphorbia-spurge (sun/part shade)
Ferns
Geranium-Cranesbill (sun/part shade)
Geum- (sun/part shade)
Helenium-sun rose (sun)
Helleborus- Lenten rose (part shade/shade) EARLY FLOWERS! February/march, many colors available
Heuchera-coral bells (sun/part shade)
Iberis sempervirens-candytuft (sun/part shade)
Iris
Lamium- spotted deadnettle (part shade) groundcover
Lavandula¬-sweet lavender
Liatris-blazing star (sun)
Nepeta-catmint (sun)
Perovskia-Russian sage (sun)
Phlox divaricata
Phlox paniculata
Pulmonaria-lungwort (shade)
Rudbeckia
Salvia-perennial salvia (sun)
Sedum
Tiarella-foam flower (shade)
Tradescantia-spiderwort (sun/part shade)
Veronica-speedwell (sun/part shade)
Vinca-groundcover
Yucca
Don’t forget ornamental grasses! They add movement, sound, and winter interest to the garden!
Annuals:
Ageratum
Foxglove
Helioptrope
Lobelia
Marigold
Nasturtium
Petunia
Salvia
Snap dragon
Sunflower
I had success with zinnia at the honeycombs last summer as well.