EBOOK
About
With literally hundreds of choices, it can be overwhelming to decide which perennials to plant in your garden. Nancy J. Ondra takes the stressful guesswork out of perennial garden planning by offering 52 vibrant designs, each made up of only five plants. Ondra tailors each simple design to a specific set of growing conditions, with plenty of tips to help your planting mature. Enjoy gardens full of sun-drenched blooming flowers and shade-loving greenery for years to come. Showcase colorful blooms and striking foliage in conditions from full sun to full shade, with easy, budget-friendly garden plans and season-by-season care tips. Nancy J. Ondra, author of Container Theme Gardens, is a garden writer and editor as well as the former owner and operator of a small rare-plant nursery. She is the author or co-author of a dozen gardening books, including Foliage (winner of the 2008 Book Award from the American Horticultural Society), The Perennial Gardener's Design Primer (winner of a 2006 Silver Award from the Garden Writers Association), Five-Plant Gardens, The Perennial Care Manual, Fallscaping, and Grasses. She currently gardens in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and blogs at www.hayefield.com.
Rob Cardillo has been photographing gardens, plants, and the people who tend them for more than 20 years. Formerly the director of photography at Organic Gardening, he now works for major publishers, horticultural suppliers, and landscape designers throughout the United States. Visit him at robcardillo.com.
Why Five Plants?
Starting a Perennial Garden from the Ground Up
Five-Plant Gardens for Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bright White Garden - Stunning in Silver - Think Pink - Red All Over - Vision in Blue - Touch of Gold - Bold and Beautiful - Perennials in Pastel - Welcome Spring - Summer Spectacular - Autumn Abundance - Winter Wonderful - A Nonstop Garden - Beat the Heat - Wet and Wild - Amazing Rain Garden - Coping with Slopes - A Great Foundation - On the Edge - A Salt Solution - For the Birds - Hummingbird Heaven - Butterly Banquet - Don't Stop Here, Deer! - Fabulous Fragrance - Cut Flowers for Free - Miniature Meadow - Cottage Charm
Five-Plant Gardens for Partial to Full Shade
Just White for Shade - Silver Celebration - Thinking Pink - A Study in Blue - Say Hello to Yellow - Blooms for Shade - Pretty Pastels - Spring into Action - Summer Sanctuary - Fall Flowers & Foliage - Winter Delights - A Year-Round Garden - Color for Dry Shade - Wet-Site Wonders - A Rain Garden for Shade - Shady Slope Planting - Around the House - Elegant Edging - Salt in the Earth - Hummingbird Magnet - Deter the Deer - Perfumed Perennials - Backyard Flower Shop - Country Cottage Style
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Index
Beautiful Perennial Gardens Have Never Been Easier
Take the guesswork out of designing and planting perennial beds with Nancy Ondra's plans for 52 gardens, each one featuring just five perennials that grow well together and combine for stunning visual effect.
Whether you choose the cool elegance of Stunning in Silver, the cheery colors of Summer Spectacular, or the classic appeal of Cottage Charm, each design includes everything you need to succeed.
Illustrated garden plans, complete with your plant shopping list
Season-by-season growing highlights and care tips
Notes on siting or expanding each garden and choosing alternative plants.
"Ondra cuts through the confusion that would otherwise attend the process of creating a border or bed, including tips for creating a garden for a particular season or color scheme. She helps the gardener with a simple key: planting a magic five plants for a variety of beds. … Her guidelines … reflect her skill as an accomplished horticulturist … Other highlights include the color photography of Rob Cardillo and a generous supply of design plans. The reader will benefit from this gardener's eye and her sharing of knowledge. More to
Rob Cardillo has been photographing gardens, plants, and the people who tend them for more than 20 years. Formerly the director of photography at Organic Gardening, he now works for major publishers, horticultural suppliers, and landscape designers throughout the United States. Visit him at robcardillo.com.
Why Five Plants?
Starting a Perennial Garden from the Ground Up
Five-Plant Gardens for Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bright White Garden - Stunning in Silver - Think Pink - Red All Over - Vision in Blue - Touch of Gold - Bold and Beautiful - Perennials in Pastel - Welcome Spring - Summer Spectacular - Autumn Abundance - Winter Wonderful - A Nonstop Garden - Beat the Heat - Wet and Wild - Amazing Rain Garden - Coping with Slopes - A Great Foundation - On the Edge - A Salt Solution - For the Birds - Hummingbird Heaven - Butterly Banquet - Don't Stop Here, Deer! - Fabulous Fragrance - Cut Flowers for Free - Miniature Meadow - Cottage Charm
Five-Plant Gardens for Partial to Full Shade
Just White for Shade - Silver Celebration - Thinking Pink - A Study in Blue - Say Hello to Yellow - Blooms for Shade - Pretty Pastels - Spring into Action - Summer Sanctuary - Fall Flowers & Foliage - Winter Delights - A Year-Round Garden - Color for Dry Shade - Wet-Site Wonders - A Rain Garden for Shade - Shady Slope Planting - Around the House - Elegant Edging - Salt in the Earth - Hummingbird Magnet - Deter the Deer - Perfumed Perennials - Backyard Flower Shop - Country Cottage Style
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Index
Beautiful Perennial Gardens Have Never Been Easier
Take the guesswork out of designing and planting perennial beds with Nancy Ondra's plans for 52 gardens, each one featuring just five perennials that grow well together and combine for stunning visual effect.
Whether you choose the cool elegance of Stunning in Silver, the cheery colors of Summer Spectacular, or the classic appeal of Cottage Charm, each design includes everything you need to succeed.
Illustrated garden plans, complete with your plant shopping list
Season-by-season growing highlights and care tips
Notes on siting or expanding each garden and choosing alternative plants.
"Ondra cuts through the confusion that would otherwise attend the process of creating a border or bed, including tips for creating a garden for a particular season or color scheme. She helps the gardener with a simple key: planting a magic five plants for a variety of beds. … Her guidelines … reflect her skill as an accomplished horticulturist … Other highlights include the color photography of Rob Cardillo and a generous supply of design plans. The reader will benefit from this gardener's eye and her sharing of knowledge. More to