Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill: How to Grow and Overwinter 165 Tender Plants

The secret is out: cooler-zone gardeners are discovering that with a little wintertime TLC, plants that have long been considered 'annuals' can thrive for many years. These plants - including geraniums, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, rosemary, lavender, and even impatients - aren't annuals at all. Rather, they are tender perennials. Not hardy enough to survive winter on their own, they can be moved indoors during the cold months, and then returned to the garden in spring. Many are even more beautiful in their second and third years!In this zone-defying guide, readers will find simple techniques for over-wintering, followed by 160 detailed plant profiles. Profiles include individualised advice for over-wintering and indoor care. The growing advice is clear and time tested; the authors themselves spent decades introducing and nurturing tender plants at the renowned Blue Meadow Farm Nursery in Montague, Massachusetts.From familiar snapdragons to the more exotic bush morning glory (a woody vine whose fragrant white blooms will cheer any indoor setting in late winter), tender perennials are appealing to a wide and diverse audience - perennial pros looking to expand their plant palettes, container gardeners hoping to create a more colourful indoor landscape during the cold months, and thrifty gardeners of all skill levels. Both inspirational and practical, "Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill" will revolutionize perennial gardening, allowing enthusiastic growers in any location to enjoy their favourite plants year after year.