by Candy Kessel, D.C. Master Gardener and Professional Gardener
Time to share some terrific plant suggestions from the lips of Karen Rexrode, aka The Plant Lady of Windy
Hill Plant Farm, in a recent talk. She started the business as a small perennial grower, selling only
wholesale to a few local nurseries. Perennials were the primary crop until
1991 when unusual annuals were added. Sadly, Windy Hill was closed about two years ago. Now Karen is sharing her knowledge as a writer
and speaker; she’s been featured regularly at Green Springs Gardens in Alexandria, VA. You can find some of her archived articles here. Karen also has responsibility
for the perennials at Oak Hill Farm in Aldie, VA, President James Monroe’s 1,200
acre ancestral estate which is now privately owned.
A number of wonderful and reliable plants are being overlooked, Karen
says, because they have been
around a while, have been forgotten or don’t seem
exciting because nobody is promoting them. The drive to have different plantings
from one’s neighbors, particularly if they look unusual, is compelling
homeowners to abandon some stalwarts of the garden that have stood the test of
time. Catchy marketing and branding of
new plants and cultivars is also having an impact. Karen encouraged the audience of landscape designers to use
this supporting cast of plants that she feels have amply demonstrated they hold
the garden together. Plants marked with
an asterisk Karen has found to be deer
resistant, a requirement more gardeners are facing more frequently.
Although I can’t share the lovely slides she offered of these winners, I have included some links to the Internet so you can see pictures of some of the plants you may not be familiar with. Click "Continue Reading."
Photos by Susan Harris. Top, Amsonia hubrichtii; bottom, Baptisia australis.
