Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia

The Black Eyed Susan is a staple in the perennial garden, and shows off loads of blooms and color every summer. An extremely hardy perennial, the Black Eyed Susan is not fussy about soil conditions, and is very drought resistant once established. Planted in full sun, these plants will bloom well into fall with little or no care.
A dose of slow release fertilizer in spring will be greatly appreciated, and occasional watering in drought conditions will keep these cheery yellow flowers coming back stronger every year. When the planting gets too large for it's space, divide the plant in spring when it begins to reappear, then trade with a neighbor for some plant they may be dividing, or just share yours. What a wonderful way to be neighborly, and perhaps add a new perennial to your own collection! Best of all, these plants are deer resistant, but keep in mind deer may try anything if they are desperate. Paired with purple coneflower, these two make wonderful taller backdrops in your perennial garden.

By: Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Butterfly Bush

Butterfly Bush
Buddleia

The Butterfly Bush is one of the hardiest and most prolific of all summer blooming shrubs. It would be an easy care addition to any garden, especially if you want to attract a wide variety of butterflies throughout the summer. Flowers come in many colors, primarily various shades of reds and blue- violets, but also include a variety called Bicolor, that is light violet and orange on the same bloom. The long flower panicles, some as long as 12 inches, are also very fragrant. Heights range from the dwarf 'Lo and Behold' at a mature height of 2-3 feet, to the very tall 'Royal Red' at 8-10 feet. Most varieties average about 6 feet, and all are very amenable to heavy pruning, so you can keep them in bounds in your own garden if you so desire.
These shrubs grow best in full sun, are not picky about soil, but like all perennials thrive in better soil. Once established, these woody shrubs are also very drought tolerant, though they will need watering more often the first year if rain is lacking in your area. A slow release fertilizer applied in spring will be most appreciated by your specimen, giving it a head start on vigor for the summer ahead.
While these bushes attract many species of butterflies, they also bring hummingbirds to your garden as well, while deer are not attracted at all. For an easy care, fragrant, beautiful addition to your perennial garden, these shrubs are a great choice.

By: Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Perennial Hibiscus

Perennial Hibiscus

Just coming into bloom now is the huge, gorgeous perennial hibiscus in colors ranging from Fireball red , to Sultry Kiss hot pink, to Pink Elephant Ear (almost as huge as an elephant's ear!), to the one pictured, Blue River II. These flowers can be as wide in diameter as a dinner plate, 10 to 12" across. Even though each flower only lasts one day, there are a plethora of buds that continue to form and open well into August. For curbside attraction, these beauties can't be beat.
Hibiscus are not too picky about care once they are established. Plant them in full sun, in well drained soil, then watch them take off. A side dressing of slow release fertilizer in spring will be welcomed, but they will thrive without fertilizer as well. In cases of severe lack of rainfall you may need to supplement water, but for the most part these plants are carefree and don't seem to be affected by insects. Each winter they die back to the ground, and each late spring they reappear with multiple stems, adding more stems with each passing year.
Varieties range in height from 3' to 6 or 7', and will get a diameter of 3 to 4 feet around with age. Hummingbirds love this flower, and will return year after year to dine on it's nectar. For eye-popping appeal and hummingbird attraction this easy care perennial can't be beat!

Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses

Roses Mid Summer Care

Rose Care

Now that we are in the midst of summer heat and humidity, there are a few helpful tips that will pull your roses through to fall with flying colors. As you probably know, roses really prefer cool, low humidity areas to show off their best form. You've noticed, I'm sure, how beautiful, vibrant and prolific the blooms are in the spring, but as soon as the temperatures rise to high 80's and 90's, fewer and smaller, and sometimes faded or different color blooms appear. Blackspot and mildew begin to creep onto the lower leaves, turning them yellow and causing the plant to begin to defoliate.
There are several proactive steps you can take to prevent, or if it's already started, to arrest the process. First and foremost is to make sure your bushes are not crowded and are getting plenty of circulation around their bases. Second and just as important is to make sure your roses are well watered and fed regularly, being careful not to get the foliage wet. A robust healthy rose bush is less apt to succumb to disease and insects if taken care of. Third, a regular regimen of spraying with a fungicide once the weather gets hot and humid will go a long way toward keeping fungi under control. If the blackspot doesn't have a chance to get started, you won't have to spend as much time fighting it off.
If you do have the start of blackspot, be sure to clean all the dead and dying leaves from on and around your bushes and place them in the trash not in your compost. Fungal spores can live for years before they reinfect plants, so remove them permanently. After you have cleaned on and around your plants, wait until late in the evening just before sunset to spray your fungicide so you don't burn the foliage. As long as it doesn't rain, you won't have to spray again for two or three weeks. A continuous program of spray throughout the summer, however, will assure your plants of being healthy going into the fall and winter. (Knock Out Roses seem to withstand most fungal problems, but have been known to get mildew, another fungal disease.)
Don't forget, roses need at least 2" of rain a week, so about twice a week water them well if it hasn't rained much, and they will reward you with a summer and fall of continuous gorgeous blooms!

By: Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses