If you’re looking to add some heft to the spring garden, but don’t want to overwhelm genteel bulbs or ephemeral perennials then dwarf, spring-flowering shrubs are the answer. These little powerhouses are quick to put on new growth in the early part of the season and often sport blossoms in soft hues which will compliment the pastel colors that dominate May and June. Today’s requirements are simple: the shrubs mentioned must stay under 3 to 4 feet tall and wide and they must flower before the summer solstice. You might think this is a tall order for any plant to fill (Peter certainly thinks so) but there are a surprising number of candidates that are up to challenge.    Expert guest: Julie Lane Gay is a garden designer and horticultural writer in British Columbia, Canada.   Danielle’s Plants Yuki Cherry Blossom ® deutzia (Deutzia 'NCDX2', Zones 5-8) Baby Kim® lilac (Syringa 'SMNSDTP', Zones 3-8) ‘Cora Louise’ Itoh peony (Paeonia 'Cora Louise', Zones 4-9) ‘Jim’s Pride’ daphne (Daphne × transatlantica ‘Jim's Pride’, Zones 5-9)   Carol’s Plants Perpetua® blueberry (Vaccinium 'ORUS-61-1', Zones 4-8) Dwarf red-leaved sand cherry (Prunus x cistena, Zones 2-8) Sugar Baby® forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'NIMBUS', Zones 5-8) Double Play® Candy Corn® Spirea (Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1’, Zones 4-8)   Expert’s Plants Dwarf sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, Zones 6-9) Eternal Fragrance ® daphne (Daphne × transatlantica 'Blafra', Zones 5-9) ‘Wabi-Sabi' dwarf viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Wabi-Sabi', Zones 5-8)   A link to expert Julie Lane Gay’s article on dwarf shrubs: https://www.finegardening.com/project-guides/gardening-basics/surprising-shrubs-for-small-spaces

Every garden has gaps that need to be filled from time to time. Whether you are looking for a short-term stand-in while a bed is being reworked or a quick fix after another plant dies, it is nice to have a list of pinch-hitters that can step in and fill space quickly. Listen in as Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Lisa Bauer share some of their favorite choices for gracefully filling the vacancies that are a natural part of a garden’s evolution. Expert guest: Lisa Bauer is the owner of Chartreuse Garden Design in Seattle.   Danielle’s Plants Spider flower/Cleome (Cleome hassleriana and cvs., annual) Appalachian sedge (Carex appalachica, Zones 3-7) Creeping petunia (Petunia  spp. and cvs., annual) Caladium (Caladium  spp. and cvs., Zones 9-11)   Carol’s Plants Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis, Zones 3-9) Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata, annual) ‘Strawberry Fields’ gomphrena (Gomphrena ‘Strawberry Fields, annual) ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ betony (Stachys officinalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’, Zones 4-8)   Expert’s Plants Black Lace® elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’, Zones 5-7) ‘Cavatine’ pieris (Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’, Zones 5-8) ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, Zones 4-8) ‘Bressingham White’ bergenia (Bergenia ‘Bressingham White’, Zones 3-8) Liverleaf (Hepatica nobilis, Zones 5-8)

To gardeners, spring is the signal of something big to come. It kicks off our season. For the next several months we will primp and preen our beds to maximize their beauty and relish in their good looks. But as all our plants start waking up in April and early May, it can be hard to really focus on the “design” elements. Many of us are often just happy to see any signs of life, never mind if those newly emerging plants look good together. That’s why today we’re focusing on plant combinations (of two, three, or perhaps even four) that look incredible in spring when grouped together. There’s a mix of annuals, perennials, and even a few shrubs in this array. But, when massed in close proximity, the effect is just as stunning as your peak season pairings. Many of you listeners asked us to broach planting design in an episode, so here we are, answering your call! Expert guest: Matt Mattus is a regional reporter for FineGardening.com. The author of two gardening books, he gardens in Worcester, Massachusetts. Danielle’s Combos Combo 1: ‘Mango Charm’ tulip (Tulipa 'Mango Charm', Zones 3-7) 'Peach Flambe' heuchera (Heuchera 'Peach Flambe', Zones 4-9) ‘Peach Melba’ horned violet (Viola cornuta ‘Peach Melba’, Zones 6-9)   Combo 2: Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3-8) Fingerleaf rodgersia (Rodgersia aesculifolia, Zones 5-7) 'Halcyon' hosta (Hosta 'Halcyon', Zones 5-9) ‘Nelly Moser’ clematis (Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, Zones 4-9)   Carol’s Combos Combo 1: Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia, Zones 3–8) Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana, Zones 3–8) ‘Toffee Tart' heuchera (Heuchera 'Toffee Tart', Zones 4–9) ‘Palace Purple’ heuchera (Heuchera 'Palace Purple', Zones 4–9) Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum, Zones 5–8) ‘October Moon’ Japanese shrub mint (Leucosceptrum stellipilum ‘October Moon’, Zones 5–8)   Combo 2 ‘May breeze’ woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata ‘May Breeze’, Zones 4–8) ‘Wanda’ primrose (Primula ‘Wanda’, Zones 3–9) Creeping mazus (Mazus reptans, Zones 5–8) ‘Ogon’ grassy-leaved sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’, Zones 5–9) Siberian cranesbill (Geranium wlassovianum, Zones 5–8)   Expert’s Combos Melancholy toadflax or fairy lights (Linaria tristis, Zones 4-8) ‘Café au lait’painted tongue (Salpiglossis ‘Café au lait’, annual) Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii, annual) ‘Penny Black’ baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii  ‘Penny Black’, annual) ‘Jelly Bean Fiesta Marigold’ monkey flower (Mimulus ‘Jelly Bean Fiesta Marigold’, annual) Assorted pansies in browns, reds, rusts (Viola × wittrockiana and cvs., Zones 5-9) Desert bells (Phacelia campanularia, Zones 5-10) Belarina® Series primroses (Primula cv., Zones 4-8)  

Tulips are a lavish spring gift that any gardener can give to themself and to their neighborhood with just a little advance planning. Whether your tulip bulbs are pre-ordered as early as possible in summer through your favorite supplier, or purchased last-minute from the garden center just before the ground freezes, getting them into the ground this fall will pay big dividends next spring. Listen in as Danielle, Carol, and our experts talk about some tulip varieties that would be surefire choices for a spectacular spring display .  Expert guests: Nick & Olivia Heltzel are the owners of Inch by Inch Permaculture in Wheelock, Vermont, where they grow tulips as a sustainable cut flower alternative for regional markets and events.   Danielle’s Plants ‘Claudia’ tulip (Tulipa 'Claudia', Zones 3-7) 'Alba Coerulea Oculata' species tulip (Tulipa humilus 'Alba Coerulea Oculata', Zones 4-8) ‘Spring Green’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Spring Green’, Zones 3-7) ‘Red Riding Hood’ Greig's tulip (Tulipa greigii ‘Red Riding Hood’, Zones 4-8)   Carol’s Plants ‘Princess Irene’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Princess Irene’, Zones 3–8) Link to Irvin Etienne’s article, Bright Ideas for Spring Containers ‘Pretty Princess’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pretty Princess’, Zones 3–8) ‘Lady Jane’ lady tulip (Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’, Zones 3–7) ‘Tangerine Beauty’ species tulip (Tulipa vvedenskyi ‘Tangerine Beauty’, Zones 3–7)   Expert’s Plants ‘Dreamer’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Dreamer’, Zones 3–8) ‘Pink Star’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pink Star’, Zones 3–8) ‘Apricot Parrot’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Apricot Parrot’, Zones 3–7) ‘Verona’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Verona’, Zones 3–7)

Green plants? Well of course! What else would our topic be for a St. Patrick’s Day episode? Today we’re talking about plants that are stunners despite being “just green.” Turns out that these selections of perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs are some of the most textural and eye-catching plants you can grow. And, we’ll remind listeners right at the top of the show—green comes in tons of different shades. So make way for some chartreuse, emerald, and lime colored options that are just what your garden needs. We can’t guarantee planting these gems will attract leprechauns but having them in your beds will make you feel like you’ve scored a pot of gold. Expert guest: Mark Dwyer is garden manager for the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden and operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD in Wisconsin. Danielle’s Plants Irish moss (Sagina subulata, Zones 4-8) Beesia (Beesia deltophylla,Zones 6-9) ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress', Zones 6-11) Hacquetia (Hacquetia epipactis syn. Sanicula epipactis, Zones 5-7)   Carol’s Plants Langsdorff's tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii, annual) Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3-8) Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3-8) 'Cupressina’ Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Cupressina’, Zones 3-8)   Expert’s Plants ‘Virdis’ and ‘Green Tails’ love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus 'Green Tails' and 'Viridis', annual) 'Act Green' and 'Spring Green' cockscomb (Celosia cristata 'Act Green' and 'Spring Green', annual) 'Sunday Green' and 'Sylphid' plume celosia (Celosia plumosa 'Sunday Green' and 'Sylphid', annual) 'Green Ball' dianthus (Dianthus 'Green Ball', annual)  Bells-of-Ireland (Moluccella laevis, annual) 'Queen Lime' zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime', annual) 'August Forest' gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia hirta 'August Forest', annual) ‘Green Jewel’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel', Zones 4-9) ‘Green Envy’ coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Green Envy', Zones 4-9) ‘Limelight’ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight', Zones 3-9) Little Lime ™ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Bulk', Zones 3-9) Little Lime Punch ™ panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPH', Zones 3-9)