Rare and Unusual Plants
Gardeners: Do you weary of having the same plants everyone on your street uses in your garden? If you spend a quiet afternoon browsing this book, you'll surely be challenged to find some good mail order sources for plants! The photographs will send you searching for catalogs containing the species discussed. You may also find yourself digging out more garden beds or buying more containers.
Each chapter in this well written and illustrated book covers a different plant category or garden topic. Each chapter includes an introduction that makes you eager to read the plant information which follows. Rare varieties of sometimes common plants are presented. Mulligan gives any special cultural notes that may be necessary. McDonald's photography is excellent because it normally presents the plant in its garden setting rather than just a picture of the plant itself. I find this helps me to better picture how the plant would look in my garden. Following is a list of the chapter titles with a sampling of the plant species covered. You'll have to read the book to learn more!
Chapter 1: Prized Perennials
Lysimachia clethroides, and Mimulus cardinalis will all surprise your gardening friends. Better known as gooseneck loosestrife, and red monkey flower, they spread freely making them easy to share plants.
Chapter 2: Intriguing Annuals
Cuphea ignea and Salpiglossis sinuata, more commonly called firecracker plant (an apt description of its flowers) and painted tongue are starting to appear in local nurseries. Check out those near you and ask for these plants.Chapter 3: Herbs and Vegetables
Purple leaved miner's lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata, makes a nice purple, low border for a flower bed or vegetable garden. Polygonium odoratum is also called Vietnamese-mint or false coriander is another herb that could be found in the veggie garden or flower bed.
Chapter 4: Rare Bulbs
If you can find it, Fritillaria imperialis 'variegata' makes a garden statement that won't be forgotten. You may also want to try tiger flower or shell flower, Tigridia pavonia but would have to harvest the bulbs in the fall in cooler areas.
Chapter 5: Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
Exochorda X macrantha, more commonly called "pearl bush" is very hardy and has large white flowers in late spring or early summer. Having seen this plant in bloom, I can assure you it deserves a place in this book. Passiflora caerulea is a sight that leaves many people asking "what is that exotic flower?" In my neighborhood, it's called the hardy passion vine.
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