Page 28 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2024_WEB

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION A Wendy Brister

Herbaceous Plants That Have My Attention

(at least for this week!)

ahlias – While I love ‘Kelvin Floodlight’ (a great,
big yellow flowered variety) I am truly enamored
Dby some copper-colored Dahlias this year. ‘David
Howard’ has purple foliage with flowers in yellow-orange
tones and ‘Sylvia’ has green foliage with copper orange
flowers. Dahlias are a must for the summer garden. They
give great flowers for cutting, too.

Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’ – I haven’t
met an Amsonia I didn’t like, and what’s not to love? Deer
tend to ignore them and they have light blue flowers in
spring and typically brilliant yellow-orange foliage in fall.
But let’s add a new feature. Dark, almost black, stems –
that would be Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’.

Phlox x ‘Wanda’ – this little Phlox is bold and “in your
face” when it comes to color. They have intense fuchsia
pink flowers in the summer and through the fall atop lime
green foliage.
(continued on next page))

28 SUMMER 2024 • Free State News