Azalea

Characteristics:
Azalea 'Alaska' is an evergreen shrub prized for its pure white, ruffled blooms and glossy green foliage. This hardy variety blooms in mid to late spring, creating a stunning contrast in shaded or woodland gardens. It prefers acidic, well-drained soil and thrives in partial shade, making it a great choice for borders or foundation plantings.

Fun Facts:
Despite its delicate appearance, Azalea 'Alaska' is quite tough—it can tolerate colder climates better than many other azalea varieties, making it a favorite among gardeners in cooler regions.

Cyclamen

Characteristics:
Perennial Plant, used typically as an annual, grown from tubers. They’re valued for their flowers with upswept petals as well as their heart shaped leaves that can be streaked or seen with silver marbling throughout. While Cyclamens typically begin blooming in the Wintertime, their bloom can last through spring.

Fun Facts:
In the past, Cyclamens used to be used as ‘love charms’.

Foxglove

Characteristics:
Foxglove originated in Europe and have naturalized in many parts of North America. This eye-catching, dramatic plant bears cluster of tall, pendulous tubular or bell-shaped flowers. Attractive and distinct, Foxgloves are easily recognizable wildflowers. Foxglove adds elegance and charm to the spring garden with large colored flowers and occasionally maroon-speckled interiors. A butterfly and hummingbird magnet.

Fun Facts:
A major butterfly and hummingbird magnet.

Ivy Geranium

Characteristics:
Ivy Geranium, scientifically known as Pelargonium peltatum, is a trailing perennial prized for its lush, ivy-like foliage and profusion of vibrant, showy flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and purple. With its cascading habit, Ivy Geraniums are perfect for hanging baskets, containers, and window boxes, adding a splash of color and texture to any garden space.

Fun Facts:
Ivy Geraniums are not true geraniums but are instead members of the Pelargonium genus. They are native to South Africa and are named after the Greek word "pelargos," meaning stork, due to the shape of their seedpods resembling a stork's bill.

Japanese Anemone

Characteristics:
Japanese Anemone, scientifically known as Anemone hupehensis, is an elegant perennial prized for its graceful, nodding flowers that bloom in late summer to fall. These charming flowers come in shades of pink, white, or mauve, and are held above attractive, deeply lobed foliage, adding beauty and interest to shady borders and woodland gardens.

Fun Facts:
Despite their delicate appearance, Japanese Anemones are quite resilient and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including clay and sandy soils. Additionally, Japanese Anemones are known to spread through underground rhizomes, so be mindful of their spreading habit when planting them in the garden.

Nemesia

Characteristics:
Nemesia is a genus of about 70 species. It has lance-shaped, sometimes toothed leaves and pretty, little flowers that bloom in a wide range of colors. Nemesia charms everyone with its colorful and long-lasting flowers! Some varieties are sweetly scented and quite beautiful. These plants can be used as edging plants, ground covers or hanging basket plants.

Fun Facts:
Nemesia’s fragrant blooms not only attract pollinators like bees and butterflies but also make it a popular choice for sensory gardens. Some varieties even release a sweet, vanilla-like scent in the early morning sun!

Oriental Poppy

Characteristics:
Oriental Poppies grow a mound of leaves that are hairy and finely dissected in Spring. They gather energy and bloom in early to mid-summer. They are available in a variety of colors including pink, white, and red. After flowering, the foliage will die away entirely, a property that allows their survival in the summer drought of central Asia.

Fun Facts:
The red poppy became synonymous with the fallen troops during the First World War — and has remained a symbol of their sacrifice ever since.

Primrose

Characteristics:
A low growing plant with dark green leaves and umbrels of flowers that typically blossom on top of sturdy stalks. Primrose is a Spring blooming flower that can be found in a variety of different colors and hybrids.

Fun Facts:
These are typically one of the first flowers to bloom in the Spring and are favored by butterflies for their nectar.

Snapdragon

Characteristics:
Sonnet Snapdragons are attractive ornamental plants. Its flowers resemble to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed, hence the name. An appreciated garden plant, widely cultivated from tropical to temperate zones as a bedding, herbaceous border, or potted plant.

Fun Facts:
Hummingbirds love Snapdragons.