To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

TIP: Don't cultivate or handle bean plants when they are wet since this can spread disease.

Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes are the liveliest spots in the garden from July to September. Sometimes the air above these shrubs seems to dance with wings. Butterfly bush is known botanically as buddleia and it's a perennial in Minnesota. The vigorous woody shrub may die down to the snow line each winter, but the root pushes up new growth and blooms appear in July. Buddleias grow about 3' to 6' tall and 3' to 5' wide. Flower spikes can be blue, purple or pink. Buddleias do best when planted in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Once they're established they are drought tolerant. The variety called 'Windy Hill' is the hardiest budleia of all. It can withstand temperatures of -25F.

Summersweet Clethra
If you haven't planted clethra in your yard, you're missing out on a wonderful summer-blooming shrub. Clethra is also called summersweet because of its fragrant blooms (which resemble bottlebrushes). This outstanding shrub likes moist soil and will do well in full sun or shade, but prefers part shade. There are varieties that can get up to 6' tall but most landscapes can't handle a bush that large, so Bachman's offers onlly compact varieties like 'Sixteen Candles,' which has dark green leaves and upright white flower spikes. Another great compact variety is 'Ruby Spice' which has deep pink flowers that bloom in mid summer.

Is Your Garden a Deer Buffet?
It's frustrating for gardeners to wake up to a munched garden. Deer do a lot of damage to landscapes overnight, and this isn't just a problem for those who live in the country; it's a city problem, as well. Deer eat almost anything, but there are plants they truly favor…unfortunately they are often garden plants. If deer are a problem in your garden and you are tired of spraying deer repellent, select deer resistant perennials from the list below. (Even though these plants are deer resistant, deer will nibble them if there's nothing else around.)

Acillia Aconitum Alliums Aquilegia Artemisia Asclepias Astilbe Baptisia Clematis Digitalis Echinops

Epimedium Eupatorium Fern Gillardia Lavandula Monarda Nepeta Rudbeckia Salvia Veronica

Edible Flowers
Edible flowers are the rage in fine restaurants and have found their way into drinks, salads, soups, egg dishes and more. We commonly eat flowers like broccoli, cauliflower and artichokes, so why not daylilies, nasturtiums or pansies? There are over 100 common garden flowers that can be eaten. If you look around your garden you probably find you are growing a few of them. But don't rush out to harvest just yet. You need to be absolutely positive the flowers haven't been sprayed with any chemicals before you toss them into your salad. Next year you might want to grow flowers just like you grow vegetables and know that they will be safe to eat. Edible flowers include Johnny-jump-ups; violas; roses; lavender; scented geraniums; sage; dianthus; marigolds; tulips; wild violets; bee balm; chives; garlic, and scarlet runner beans.

Squash Blossom Main Dish
Sauté some chopped garlic and scallions in unsalted butter. Add thin slices of summer squash, fresh corn kernels and just enough chicken stock to make a light sauce. Sauté until just cooked through. Throw in a large handful of julienne zucchini blossoms and a little basil. When the blossoms have wilted, season to taste, toss with fresh cooked fettuccine and serve.

Mike Hibbard, Horticultural Advisor
©Bachman's 2005