A new addition to the prayer garden is this lovely Hosta 'Praying Hands.'  This Hosta has unique, narrow, tightly folded foliage that resembles hands folded in prayer.  The thick, dark green leaves are heavily rippled with very narrow, gold margins, matte finished topsides, and exposed shiny undersides.  This Hosta is slug resistant and a lovely addition to our herbaceous perennials collection.  It was also the 2011 Hosta of the Year.  

Adding perennial flowering vines to your garden is an excellent way to add dependable height and dimension to ornamental plantings. From ornate arbors to trailing vines that cover entire walls, the options, in terms of design, are truly limitless. One popular garden vine, clematis, grows in a wide range of shapes, colors, and flower patterns. However, some cultivars are more popular than others. Jackman clematis vines are especially known for th

What is a Jackman Clematis?
First introduced in 1862, the jackmanii clematis vine is named after a nurseryman named George Jackman. From early spring throughout summer, vigorous blooms consistently cover the plant, creating a spectacular garden display. This characteristic makes jackman hybrid clematis an excellent choice for perennial flower borders, even in colder USDA growing zones. At maturity, these deciduous vines can quickly grow to reach heights of up to 10 ft. (3 m). 
Note: Like many ornamental plants, clematis vines are considered to be highly toxic. If you’re growing jackman clematis vines, you should always take great care to ensure the safety of children, pets, and other visitors to the garden. 

Jackmanii Clematis Care
If you’re wishing to grow jackmanii clematis, you’ll first need to research the plant’s specific requirements. Depending upon the variety, ideal conditions for clematis can vary greatly. In selecting a location, look for well amended soil with good drainage. Jackmanii clematis vine will grow best in an area where the top portion of the plant will receive full sun, and the bottom portion and root zone will be shaded. You can keep the root zone cool by shading it with other perennial plants nearby, or by adding mulch to the flower bed. 

Jackmanii clematis care also requires that its vines are provided with a trellis or other strong garden support structure on which to climb. 

Since this type of clematis will only bloom on new growth, pruning will be required to encourage strong blooms season after season. This is most often done in late winter, while the plant is still in its period of dormancy. Hard pruning, back to about 1 ft. (30 cm.) from ground level, often yields the best results. 

Pieris japonica goes by many names, including Japanese andromeda, lily-of-the-valley shrub and Japanese pieris. Whatever you call it, you'll never be bored with this plant. The foliage changes color throughout the seasons, and in late summer or fall, long, dangling clusters of colorful flower buds appear. The buds open into dramatic, creamy-white blossoms in spring. The ever-changing face of this shrub is an asset to any garden. 

Andromeda Plant Info
Japanese andromeda is an evergreen shrub with many uses in the landscape. Use it in shrub groupings or as a foundation plant, or let it stand alone as a specimen plant that few other shrubs can rival. The plant is a bit fussy about soil and light exposure, but if azaleas and camellias do well in the area, Japanese andromeda will probably thrive too.

Pieris Care and Planting
​Japanese andromeda grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. The best Pieris japonica growing conditions include a site with full to partial shade and rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter and an acidic pH. If your soil isn't particularly rich, work in a thick layer of compost before planting. If necessary, amend the soil with an azalea or camellia fertilizer to add nutrients and adjust the pH level. Japanese andromeda bushes won't tolerate alkaline soil. Plant Japanese andromeda in spring or fall. Set the plant in a hole at the depth at which it grew in its container, and press down with your hands as you backfill the planting hole to eliminate air pockets. Water immediately after planting. If you are planting more than one shrub, allow 6 or 7 feet (1.8 to 2 m.) between them to encourage good air circulation.

Japanese andromeda is susceptible to a number of fungal diseases, good air circulation will go a long way toward preventing them. Water the shrub often enough to keep the soil lightly moist at all times. Water slowly, allowing the soil to soak up as much moisture as possible. Fertilize in winter and early summer with a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants, using the amount recommended on the package. Fertilizers designed for azaleas and camellias are ideal. Japanese andromeda bushes grow to a height of 10 feet (3 m.) unless you plant compact varieties. It has a naturally attractive shape, and it's best to let it grow without pruning as much as possible. If you need to neaten the plant, however, do so after the flowers fade.

As colorful as burning bush, but native to North America and pollinator friendly!
Little Henry is a useful native plant with lots of potential for the home landscape. It prefers moist soils and will tolerate wet conditions. It will grow in full sun to full shade and requires little pruning or other maintenance. Little Henry has lightly scented, pure white flowers that shoot like fireworks in the early summer horizon. Its mounded, compact stature makes it an improvement over older varieties such as the old favorite 'Henry's Garnet'. It is also a delightful addition to the mixed border. Then when you're not expecting anything more, green summer foliage changes to a brilliant multitude of oranges and reds in the fall, making Little Henry a rewarding experience throughout all seasons.
​

​A compact cultivar reaching 4 to 6 feet. It has red stems, brighter when young, variegated cream and green deciduous foliage that can turn red in autumn. Clusters of small white flowers in late spring and early summer are followed by blue-white fruits
​