Although it takes most clematis plants a few years to become established, they are fairly easy to care for once they mature, providing masses of blooms throughout much of the growing season. They have one shared requirement--that is their need for support. They can be attached to fences, trellises, arbors, gazebos, garden objects or other plants such as climbing roses or tall shrubs with similar needs.

Clematis prefer rich, fast-draining soil and their roots protected by a layer of mulch. It's important to water clematis regularly, especially in hot weather. Most varieties will continue to produce blooms repeatedly provided they are fed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season and decorative seed heads are removed after each bloom cycle.

We have a great selection of clematis just waiting to find a new home in your garden. We invite you to visit us and see how spectacular and versatile this wonderful plant really is. It truly is the Queen of Vines.

Summer's flowers are the brightest and the boldest in the garden, as radiant as the sun itself. Most need heat (the two most popular, marigolds and zinnias, come from sunny Mexico), and they shouldn't be planted until the weather promises to stay warm.

Two of the brightest summer annuals--marigold and gloriosa daisies--come in many forms. There are small-flowered French marigolds, big American hybrids, and just about every size between them. Summer's flowers aren't quite as easy to grow as those of spring. Warm weather brings out bugs and disease that may bother them, and regular watering becomes more critical, but they are a tough lot--born to grow in the sun. The following is a list of some of the best annuals for summer.

Ageratum: Flat, fuzzy clusters of violet-blue flowers cover this foot-tall plant throughout the summer. Good as a filler, or in the front row. Best planted from packs or pots.

Sweet Alyssum: As good in the summer as it is in the winter and spring, it grows in low mounds of white or purplish flowers. 'Midnight,' a dark purple variety and 'Wonderland,' a pinkish purple one, are less likely to fade in summer's heat. Dwarf kinds are dense, stay under four inches. Best grown from seed.

Cosmos: Bushy plants with vivid, daisy-like flowers on long, thin stems. There are two distinct kinds, one with brilliant yellow or orange flowers and one with flowers in shades of pink, mulberry, and white. Both have the same airy effect in the garden, growing to three feet tall or more. Easy to grow from seed, packs or pots.

Gloriosa Daisy: Huge daisy flowers on tall but graceful plants growing to four feet. Flowers usually golden, often with dark mahogany markings, though some are completely mahogany in color. 'Irish Eyes' has a bright green center. Easily grown from seed, packs or pots.

Lobelia: Six-inch-tall plants, often with dark reddish foliage and bright blue to violet flowers. A good filler that contrasts nicely with summer's many golden flowers. Best grown from packs or pots.

Marigold: Summer's favorite flower hardly needs describing. They come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Marigolds are easily grown from seed, packs or pots.

Portulaca: Low-spreading succulent plants with shimmering flowers almost too brilliant for the garden, in shades of yellow, orange, red, cerise, coral, and white. Loves hot weather. Easy to grow from seed or packs.

Verbena: Usually planted as annuals, except in warm climates. The kinds sold as bedding plants have rounded clusters of white, pink, red, or violet flowers, grow under a foot tall, and should be planted two feet apart. They are seldom out of bloom. Very useful in the foreground of the garden. Best grown from packs or pots.

Vinca: The best annual for really hot weather, it is also long lasting, well into cool weather. A foot tall with neatly growing white flowers with red eyes or rosy pink flowers. Best grown from packs or pots.

Zinnia: The brightest of summer flowers, zinnias come in many sizes, forms and colors. All come in brilliant shades of yellow, orange, pink, rose, scarlet, cream, and violet. Prettiest when planted as a mix of colors. Easy to grow from seed or packs. Will become root-bound in pots.

Coneflowers (Echinacea species) are a native American wildflower that have found their way into our gardens because of their stunning beauty and hardiness. Originally only available in shades of purple and lavender, coneflowers now come in a wide range of colors. Thanks to the efforts of breeders across the country, they can now be found in shades of pink, white, purple, yellow, orange and salmon. They come in a range of sizes as well, from dwarf coneflowers that grow only 18" high and wide to varieties that grow 4-5' high and half as wide.

The 3-5" diameter flowers on these robust deciduous perennials are arranged above sturdy, elongated, upright stems that are perfect for cutting and last in a vase from 5-7 days. The flowers have somewhat weeping petals that surround a coned center (thus, the name) and are produced from summer into fall.

Coneflowers prefer full sun locations and regular watering in well-drained soil that keeps them moist, but not wet. They require a couple of feedings per year of a good flower food to keep them healthy and strong.

Coneflowers make an excellent addition to any perennial garden and also look great in border or container plantings. They are a perfect selection for butterfly gardens. We have a great selection of coneflowers in stock and invite you to stop by and bring some home today!

Carol Mackie is a wonderful Daphne with rich green leaves that are variegated with golden yellow bands. From May through June it produces dense clusters of delightfully fragrant, pale pink flower clusters from spring into early summer that occasionally reappear in the fall. It grows 3-4 ft. high and equally wide, making a nice rounded shrub in the landscape. It prefers to be shaded from the hot afternoon sun and makes an excellent hedge or foundation plant. Best of all, it requires no pruning to maintain its shape.

Product Spotlight: Dr. Earth Flower Garden Food

Dr. Earth Rose Organic Flower Garden Food will help you have the best looking flower garden in the neighborhood. It contains a superior blend of organic ingredients in addition to beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizae. You’ll get more consistent blooms with no excessive growth spikes. Your flowers will look great immediately because the nutrients are released quickly into the soil for a stronger root system, lustrous foliage and what everyone wants, a greater abundance of flowers. So don’t delay. Give your flowers what they crave. Feed them Dr. Earth Organic Rose & Flower Food.

One other quick note: Butterflies also like puddles. Provide a small water source in your garden with a shallow birdbath or buried bucket filled with stones and then filled with water.

Did you know that the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles has a Butterfly Pavilion?

For more information, go to: http://www.nhm.org/exhibitions/butterflies/

By Tamara Galbraith

It's the middle of summer. The heat is on, and while you're sporting a nice tan, your plants have suddenly taken on a pale, pasty look. What gives? Say hello to the fungus disease known as powdery mildew.

A common condition found on plant life throughout North America, powdery mildew is characterized by spots or patches of white to grayish, talcum-powder-like growth. Fortunately, it is usually more of an effect than a problem itself. In other words, in addition to treating the plant, you'll probably want to take a look at the surrounding conditions and make some adjustments.

First and foremost is to make sure you give plants plenty of room. Good air circulation goes a long way. Trim plants that have gotten crowded or bushy. Avoid overhead watering, and don't make late summer applications of nitrogen fertilizer, as powdery mildew loves to attack the newest plant growth which, of course, nitrogen encourages.

To halt the fungus in its tracks, spray with a good fungicide, like garden sulphur or ferti-lome fungicide. And next time around, try to choose the more mildew-resistant cultivars of plants that are least susceptible to powdery mildew, like zinnias, bee balm, crape myrtles, cucumbers and squash.