8 Perennials You Should Have in Your Prairie Garden
Front Yard Summer 2005
It’s almost Mother’s Day, which often leaves me pouring over some of my Mom’s things and feeling pretty emotional. I honestly still miss her every day. I vividly remember her last Mother’s Day. That year, we drove down from Saskatoon for the day to have brunch with her. She made a delicious brunch and we all sat down and enjoyed the beautiful spring day.
This year was different, not just because we are here but because the past few months, I have been given the grace to dig deeper into a grief that I had avoided for a long time. I now have the space to breathe again without the weight of anger and bitterness. I still miss my mom but it feels different. I can smile through the tears and feel comfort knowing just how much she loved me and is still loving me and our family.
Side of the house, April 2020
I have also found a deeper connection to her again through her garden. Clearing away the old and finding some of the hearty perennials growing beneath the grass and weeds has gives me so much satisfaction.
If this garden could talk, it would have one good story to tell. My parents bought this property in 1995. It was a second marriage and a new chance for both of them to build a home and a space of their dreams. The yard hosted parties, garden tours, was published in a magazine and even filmed for an episode of a local television show, the Prairie Gardener. To say my Mom loved to garden is an understatement, the yard was her canvas, and she was dedicated to long days in the yard making it beautiful.
Like my Mom’s love of quilting, I didn’t appreciate gardening as much in my younger years as I do now. Paul and I both enjoy the gardening both flowers and vegetables. Moving from a small city yard to acres of landscaped property is no doubt overwhelming but we are taking it one project at a time. This spring we cleared all the beds surrounding the house. There are lots of hearty perennials in this yard that are well established. Thankfully, Paul has a great memory of the many times he wandered the garden with my Mom. She was always pointing out her favourites and some of the extra special ones. He even found a special fern leaf peony hiding in the overgrown grass right where he remembered it was.
My Mom in her garden with giant Delphiniums
If you are wondering what to plant in your yard or what survives the elements of a prairie summer—limited water, crazy wind and high heat—here is our list of some favorites.
Bergenia
I love this plant. It seems to grow just about anywhere and has a beautiful long stalk with bright pink flowers. You will know if it likes where it’s planted if the big green leaves stay green. We have had it planted in areas where the leaves brown, so its not as pretty. I have called this plant Elephant Ear; I'm not sure if that is right, but it has big elephant ear-shaped leaves.
Bleeding Heart
Growing up, we had a massive bleeding heart in our front yard, and now our girls have one just out their window:) The beautiful pink heart-shaped blooms are unmistakable. There are a few varieties of bleeding hearts. We have the classic variety that can grow up to a meter tall. They are spring bloomers and like partial shade.
Columbine
We have lots of varieties of columbines throughout the yard. They come in lots of beautiful colour combinations and seem to spread like weeds that bear starry flowers with long spurs. They are magnets for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They are fast-growing and easily self-seed, so we have them all over the yard.
Daylily
Lyndon Penner describes daylilies as “old-fashioned and fabulous.” They come in lots of colors and combinations, and the large clumps of grassy foliage add dimension and texture to any garden bed. They love full sun and, once established, are fairly drought resistant.
Delphinium
If you are looking to add blue to a garden, this is one of the best options. The long stalks are hollow, so they may need to be staked. Delphiniums are also self-sowers, so there are lots of delphinium babies popping up along pathways and in gardens. I love the look of the tall blue stalks to add contrast and dimension to your yard. They also come in white, purple, and pink varieties.
Hosta
Hostas are great in shady areas and come in so many varieties and shades of green. The one thing I have noticed about hostas is that they are slow to come in the spring. We have some popping out of the ground just now at the end of May. So the best advice is to remember where they are planted or mark them in the fall so you don’t disturb them when cleaning out beds in the spring.
Iris
Irises have spectacular blooms in so many colors. Irises are divided into two main groups-bearded and Siberian. I love the Siberian irises because not only do they have gorgeous blooms, but the thin, almost reed-like foliage creates contrast and is nice when there are no blooms.
Peony
People love these or hate them. My brother-in-law hates them because of the mess they make when they finish blooming, but you can’t beat the gorgeous blooms. They are large plants and almost resemble a bush. Our yard has a “hedge of peonies” I am excited to see in full bloom this year. They are another drought-resistant perennial once established. You can find a lot of different peonies online and at greenhouses. They can go from inexpensive to extremely expensive varieties.
Clockwise from top left 1. Bergenia 2. Bleeding Heart 3. Columbine 4. Daylilly 5. Delphinium 6. Hosta 7. Iris 8. Peony
These perennials would all be great additions to your garden if you don’t already have them. And the best thing about hearty perennials is that they can handle being split and moved once they get too big. I am sure if you are looking for any of these varieties keep your eyes out in your friends’ and families’ yards and have a shovel and a pail ready to take them off there hands when they are ready to share! Or check out your local greenhouse. If you are looking for more specific varieties check out Breck’s Canada Bulbs online. Its amazing what can get packed and shipped right to your door.
The new chapter of this garden’s story is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. This year, we hope to work with the perennials we have and move and split as needed. We are also learning more about no-till gardening and focusing on growing more fruit and vegetables. In the years to come, we plan to expand our yard's varieties and types of perennials. I can already picture Paul walking people through the yard to point out his most prizes plants, just like my Mom used to show him.
Whether you are a new or seasoned gardener, I would highly recommend checking out Lyndon Penner’s book, The Prairie Short Season Yard. There is lots of really good information and he lays it out in a really easy format. It has become our little gardening guidebook right now. And remember it’s never too early to get your kids involved. Trust me—despite my dislike for weeding as a kid, I managed to retain quite a bit, and it’s serving me well!
Happy gardening!
Morgan