This week we really get back into our routine! The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their first meeting of the fall on Wednesday, September 20 at 7 p.m. in the SIGN building on North Street in Yorkton. Special guest will be John Tropin, talking to us about “Water Plants and Fish Ponds”. I know that John will have great information for us about how to start or maintain this project. With fall on the horizon, this will help us learn how to prepare our ponds and plants for winter, so don’t miss it! And remember, you don’t have to be a member to attend the meetings, everyone is welcome.
And remember, the hort society will be holding our Fall Plant and Bulb Sale on Friday, September 22 from 9:30 a.m. till 5 p.m. at the Parkland Mall, Yorkton. This sale is a great chance to get some very nice perennials to add to your collection. There will be gardeners on hand at the sale to answer your questions, so hope to see you there!
If you are looking to add a striking foliage plant to your garden, you might want to consider bergenia. Bergenia is one of those lovely plants that shows its glossy green leaves first thing in the spring. It is a perennial, and very easy-going. It will grow in sun or shade, likes soil with good drainage but is not really fussy if the soil is dry or moist. Bergenia is free from pests, and while it does spread over time, it is not invasive. The plant will send rhizomes which you can divide as needed. (As we talked about before, doing this every once in a while will keep the plants fresh and vibrant).
Bergenia does have blooms, bright fuchsia clusters on strong stems early in the spring, but even without this, it is a stunning plant, very nice as a low backdrop (it grows about twelve inches tall).
I love the plant because of its hardiness and cheery appearance first thing in the spring. I also like the shape of the leaves, broad and flat with a glossy finish, on very strong stems. Do you recall how we were talking about bringing in foliage indoors, to put in a vase and just enjoy even without flowers? I used some bergenia leaves in flower arrangements for our horticultural show on August 15, and they are still going strong and looking lovely in a vase on our kitchen table. There are a couple leaves that have dried up and turned brown, and these are still very beautiful if you enjoy making dried arrangements. But when they are dry they are more fragile, so handle with care.
The texture of bergenia is a great addition to the garden, because they are very strong and substantial looking. If you are planning out a new perennial bed, be sure to look for variance in leaf texture. I think that the broad leaves of bergenia would look great in a combination with the elegant, swishing grass “Karl Forster” and the sharp, arrow leaves of iris or daylilies.
We often tend to seek out plants that bloom, but don’t be afraid to add some plants that give us the quiet beauty of foliage only. They actually make wise additions to any perennial border or perennial patch because they give the eye something solid to rest on, rather than being bombarded by pops of color. This in turn helps the blooming plants look even lovelier.
It’s like wearing a pretty scarf in a solid color on a patterned sweater: the two complement each other, rather than both being too busy.
So bergenia — a great addition to any perennial bed! Visit us at www.yorktonhort.ca and have a great week!
