I've gardened all my life. Planted and grown numerous vegetable gardens, tended fruit trees, manicured lush green lawns, and filled countless beds with annual flowers. And, in my opinion, most gardening books and television shows make the subject seem needlessly difficult to accomplish. This is especially true when it comes to perennial gardening.

Maybe it's because of the seemingly endless choices of plants provided by local suppliers. But I think choosing plants is easy. Look around at what other people have done, and select those plants that you like. Then experiment a little as to what goes well together, and your combination should have interest in all 4 seasons. Yes, even winter should not be ignored as a season of form and color in your perennial garden.

Maybe it's because of the endless instructions you get on upkeep and maintenance. Cultural practices should be kept simple, and short routines should accomplish all maintenance around your perennial borders. Most seasonal chores can be accomplished in an hour or so, even for a very large perennial border, say 6-8' X 75'! You should not need any more than 3 or 4 visits to your perennials in each year; spring cleanup and weeding, summer trimming and feeding, fall weeding and flower trimming. With a little planning, all should be accomplished in a total time of less than 8 hours!

Phillippo's Perennial Rainbow is designed around the concept of making gardening easier for you. All of the plants we offer are exceptionally easy to grow. We open in mid summer in order to grow a full sized perennial that is easier for you to work with. Design a garden with our perennials and next month it will be an established planting! Our perennials aren't just larger, they contain 3 times the root and are grown for twice as long as other perennials so they come back stronger and larger next year!

Phillippo's Perennial Rainbow offers unusual plants that you would pay much more for in Garden Centers. You will find many varieties of large, healthy Roses, Hydrangeas, Spireas, Japanese Anemones, hardy Hibiscus, Buddleia, along with Leucanthemums, Monardas, Gaillardia, Heucheras, Echinacea, Rudbeckia and hundreds of others, including over 66 varieties of Ornamental Grasses, a must for form and color in the modern perennial border. This year, Phillippo's Perennial Rainbow continues to delve into the exciting world of Hosta cultivars. We have grown over 2,000 plants in 85 varieties. All of our 1 Qt. Hostas are just $12.95. These are all the latest cultivars and will be nice, full plants in 1 year. Larger Hostas in 1 Gallon pots are very full this year and a bargain at only $16.95. All of our other perennials and grasses and small shrubs are only $12.95 for a very full 2 gallon plant. All small shrubs and roses are $14.95 ea. This simple pricing makes your design problems go away! Many of our plants will cover 4 or more square feet, in the 1st year. So just divide your area and start multiplying your pleasure!

Phillippo's Perennials come with planting instructions. Please plant them right away, as vigorous, large plants have trouble getting enough water in the flower pot once they leave the nursery.

Take the "Tour" to get just a glimpse of the plantings and display gardens. While you are here you'll draw inspiration for your own plantings and be thrilled with the size and obvious healthy quality of the plants that are grown from start to finish here at Rainbow Mums.