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June 19th 2023

Author Interview: Rachel Siegfried

Written by
Floret

Today I’m thrilled to share a special new interview with British flower farmer Rachel Siegfried of Green and Gorgeous. I have been following Rachel’s journey for many years now and it has been so much fun to watch her business grow and evolve over time. 

When we visited England four years ago we got to see Rachel’s beautiful farm, and Chris and I both came away so inspired by what she and her partner Ash have created.

I’m excited to welcome Rachel back to the blog (you can read our 2015 interview here), this time to discuss her newest book, all about perennials and shrubs. 

Rachel, I’m so happy to have you back on the blog for a new interview. Can you please tell readers a bit about yourself and your wonderful business? 

Thanks, Erin, I am delighted to be back. The idea of Green and Gorgeous developed in 2002 when I began work in a walled garden on a country estate growing cut flowers for the big house. 

Over 6 years I immersed myself in floriculture and how to arrange in a natural style. I was convinced that these garden-grown beauties needed to be shared with a wider public. So when the opportunity came to rent a 2-acre organic market garden I decided to take a leap of faith. 

My aim was to grow everything I needed to create border-to-vase arrangements guided by the seasons and the growth habit of plants. I wanted my flowers to “leave an indelible memory of their fleeting beauty.” 

Fifteen years on and my garden-led approach is still at the heart of how we grow and sell our flowers. We have grown to 5 acres and now have a team of ten growers and florists producing thousands of stems from March through November for our weddings, shop, and courses.

When you first started Green and Gorgeous, the slow food movement was on the rise and sustainable floristry was still a novel concept. Can you share a little more about the evolution of the local flower movement in the United Kingdom and where you think it’s headed?

The shift has been huge. Local, seasonal flowers did not really exist, and the idea of calling myself a flower farmer would not have even occurred to me. We now have hundreds, if not thousands, of growers out there, and many florists are keen to buy British. 

Hopefully, the future is bright but with climate change, there are many challenges ahead and I think a shift towards growing the more weather-tolerant plant groups—perennials and woody plants—will be necessary.

The Cut Flower Sourcebook is one of the most beautiful and practical books I’ve read in such a long time. It’s precisely what gardeners and farmer-florists have been asking for for ages. Can you share what inspired you to write it? 

I am so pleased you like the book and I think it has come along at the right time. I had been thinking about writing on this subject since around 2018 when I started to make the switch from predominantly annuals to perennials and woody plants. 

They have always been plant groups that I am very comfortable with because of my background in garden design, in fact, they were the first plants I put in when we were setting up the farm in 2007. I think they translate really well to both the hobbyist cutting from their garden, where perennials and shrubs are a natural fit, and to the flower farmer who might find the only way to scale up labour-wise is to go with low-maintenance plants.

Writing a book is no small feat. Can you share a little bit about the experience of creating it? 

As I am sure you know, writing a book is a daunting prospect and initially, I struggled with self-doubt. Thankfully my publisher Anna Mumford of Filbert Press offered a calm and steady hand, guiding me through the process with plenty of positivity and encouragement. 

The part I really enjoyed was the photography. I focused on capturing all the plants in the directory whilst Eva Nemeth worked her magic on the arrangements, garden, and working shots. 

In the introduction, you share “Working in a garden every day, particularly a productive one, makes you appreciate that there are actually more than four seasons. The ancient Japanese were onto something when they developed 72 micro seasons, each just five days long.” I love the idea of celebrating these micro seasons. Do you have a favorite? 

My favourite micro season would have to be April 5 through 9, Tsubame kitaru—Swallows return. We have a pair of swallows that return at this time every spring to nest in our floral studio/shop. It is always a very special moment when they come swooping in. 

Their arrival heralds the beginning of the season. All of our flowery hustle and bustle is accompanied by their chatter as they busy themselves with nest-making and raising their young.

One of the things that stood out to me most while reading The Cut Flower Sourcebook was the images of your arrangements. What do you love the most about arranging flowers and what advice would you give someone who wants to step outside their comfort zone and create something that pushes past what they would normally make?

I tend not to have any preconceived ideas of what my arrangements will look like. I let the garden take the lead, by choosing a peaceful moment to go for a wander and see what captures my imagination. This is usually first thing in the morning when I am accompanied by birdsong and my whippet Jesse, it feels like quite a meditative process. 

I start by searching for the flower that really inspires me at that moment, which always seems to be something different. I then use this to guide me on what else to pick. I am generally drawn to harmonious colours and contrasting forms and textures.  

To ensure my designs are well balanced and to give me some parameters, I try to include plant material from the four elements of an arrangement, which I outline in my book—framework, supporting, focal, and the final accent. 

These building blocks will not only help to create an engaging design but also make it easier to put together.

The Plant Directory section of your book includes 128 of your favorite bulbs, perennials, climbers, grasses, trees, and shrubs. I think it might just be my favorite part and is something that gardeners all over the world will find incredibly useful. How hard was it to narrow down this section and decide what made the cut? 

As a plant addict, it was hard to narrow down the plant selection for the directory. It helped to focus on the tried-and-tested varieties we grow here on the farm. It is by no means a comprehensive list on the subject—my intention is to highlight the attributes readers should look for in a plant that makes it a good candidate for cutting. 

Everyone will have different growing conditions and floristry styles so hopefully, this directory will act as a springboard to finding their own trusty performers with a relaxed attitude and natural style. 

In addition to growing cut flowers, you also have a specialty seed line, teach workshops, and open your farm to the public. Can you share a little more about these offerings?

We are open every Saturday from April through October for our farm gate sales. 

Our workshops range from growing for business and pleasure to arranging with garden flowers. 

I have a couple of new offerings this year which focus on the subject of the book. One is a growing day and the other is about using perennials and woody plants predominantly in arrangements. 

Our seed shop will be reopening in early autumn with fresh stocks and hopefully some new lines that I am trialing this season.

I am working on an online flower farming series with Garden Masterclass, which is being filmed throughout the year.

Thank you so much, Rachel, for taking the time to share about your beautiful new book with Floret readers. It is such a helpful resource for gardeners all over the world. 

To celebrate the release of Rachel’s new book, The Cut Flower Sourcebook: Exceptional Perennials and Woody Plants for Cutting, we’re giving away five copies. For a chance to win, post a comment below telling us about one of your favorite shrubs or perennials. 

This giveaway is open to everyone, regardless of where you live, and winners will be announced on June 27. 

To learn more about Rachel, be sure to visit her website. You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook. The Cut Flower Sourcebook is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.


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2,024 Comments

  1. Ashley L. on

    I’m super new to the gardening scene (although I have loads of dreams for it!), but one shrub I’ve been eying here in North Texas is Texas Sage. It’s hearty and has a wispy whimsical look to it when the small flowers start blooming, adding just a little pop of color. I’m so inspired by this interview and can’t wait to see the new book!

    Reply
  2. Anne Phernetton on

    The book looks very intriguing. I already have a fairly large perennial bed with some shrubs, and many other shrubs in our medium sized yard. I’m very interested in learning more about how to arrange these stems to enjoy their beauty even more.

    My favorite perennial is Butterfly Blue Delphinium. The strikingly true blue stems are so gorgeous and really stand out in the garden. Unfortunately, my plants did not survive our last Minnesota Winter, so I will need to try and find that variety again to replenish.

    Thanks for sharing about this new book!

    Anne

    Reply
  3. Olga Kent on

    Up here in Canada, my husband and I have been focusing on how to grow a perennial garden that the bees, butterflies, etc. will enjoy. We love exploring plants and coming up with something that suits our lifestyle. If I had to boil it down to just one perennial, I would say foxglove!

    Reply
  4. Joyce on

    I am just a hobby gardener giving my flowers to others. For perennials I love penstemon and the snow ball bush, although the blooms don’t last long. . I think it is a viburnum. I also use the blooms from heuchera.

    Reply
  5. Margie French on

    It’s not really a shrub but I love to pick the flowers off our white cedar trees. On the tree they are not overly noticeable, beautiful tiny little star shaped flowers that are the faintest mauve colour you almost think they’re white, very understated! I pick them and put them in small bottles and vases throughout the house and the perfume that fills the house is so lovely.

    Reply
  6. Antoinette Reutimann on

    One of my favorites perennials is asparagus foliage. The femaile plants have berries, which looks awesome in a bouquet. But the green and airy foliage without berries looks great too. And the vase life is incredible, they last for weeks.

    Reply
  7. Heather on

    Too many favorites to list! Lavender is really great and I just love using fragrant perennial herbs in bouquets in general.

    Reply
  8. Dory on

    I have been, for decades, an edible landscape gardener. That has meant fruit trees, berries, fruiting groundcovers, herbs, and vegetables.

    I planted 20 years ago a single Eternal Fragrance Daphne, a Morovia cultivar. It was my one “indulgence.” Its tiny white fragrant flowers bloom constantly here in the Pacific Northwest as I pass them daily on my way to my front door.

    Floret Farm’ Cut Flower Garden changed my life. I planted a bed of cut flowers, some started as seedlings inside. I am now allowing myself purely indulgent beauty!

    The Cut Flower Sourcebook may free me even further. I can create beautiful fragrant structure in my garden with woody plants and perennials. My fruit trees and bushes will be happy for the company!

    Reply
  9. Jamie on

    My husband and I purchased 5 acres of land about 5 years ago. We love hydrangeas – all kinds – and have been coloring the property with all sorts of varieties. It is the most special time of the year when I can display (and share!) the blooms. We have also been devouring all of your episodes and I just purchased a couple of your books so we can get started preparing a flower garden. We agree with the idea of giving back to the land and the flowers will be pollinators, art and gifts to the community.
    Thank you for sharing your passion and thoughts on “balance” in the second season of your show. We, too, love to sit/lay/jump around in all the natural glory of our prairie as well.
    Here’s to all of us that you have inspired to go out there and “bloom” with all the education and excitement that you have shared with us.

    Reply
  10. Brenda Avery on

    I love Hellebores in the spring. The are the perfect flower for cutting as they come in so many colors and styles, plus they often last for 2-3 weeks as a cut flower!!

    Reply
  11. Robin Erly on

    I have always wanted a ninebark. This year I finally purchased Amber Jubilee Ninebark. It is growing beyond my expectations. The colors glow in the sunlight. I can’t wait to use the stems in my dahlia bouquets later this month.

    Reply
  12. Sarah Ondracek on

    I love forsythia; the way the yellow flowers come before the green leaves is so unique and special.

    Reply
  13. Sarah Brunner (Brunner Family Farm) on

    I started my cut flower farm about 10 years ago and I fall in love with perennials and shrubs more and more every year. They take time and patience to get going, but once they take hold, the ease and hardy nature of these plants are so rewarding and long lasting. I have only dabbled in planting perennials, as my garden space allows, so I have so much to learn and explore in this category of plants (which is why I would love this book!), but if I had to pick a favorite right now it would probably be hypericum. I love how easy it is to maintain and that I can hack it back every fall without abandon. It’s just not finicky like so many other crops and you can use the flowers, berries, and foliage!

    Reply
  14. Susan Dempsey on

    My favorite shrubs are peonies and lavender “Grosso;” my fav bulb perennials are calla lilies. The flowers have the wow factor. They thrive on neglect, enlarge without being invasive, and except for the lavender, withstood an unusual extended spring temperature drop (5 degrees F). I too have been moving towards replacing annuals with perennials. Mostly because annual seedlings and mass plantings are too much work!

    Reply
  15. Lynn on

    I love lilacs and how they scent the air all around the garden. Since moving to VA I also enjoy the Miss Huffs lantana which gets huge and full of multicolored flowers all summer!

    Reply
  16. Rose Smith on

    Erin, your book A Year in Flowers transformed my entire household. You showed me how to (finally) stop just plunking supermarket flowers in a vase and start really arranging them for maximum beauty and enjoyment. That led me to grow my own flowers; two years ago I had zero cutting flower beds, and now I have three! Like everyone else has said, it’s hard to pick just one favorite, but right now I’m appreciating a humble shrub rose with simple five-petaled pink blooms. Its branching habit looks lovely in a rustic pitcher, and just three cuttings (once the thorns are stripped) are practically a whole arrangement.

    Reply
  17. Jenny Sterling on

    I love all hydrangeas with an antique appearance and also oak leaf hydrangeas, they’re all too gorgeous for me to narrow it down to just one favorite!

    Reply
  18. Mary Pennington on

    Oh my, how can I just pick one? Hydrangea is at the top, always beautiful and seems to grow with the punches my Iowa weather hands out.

    Reply
  19. Trish on

    One of my favorites is Hypericum which is a newer discovery for me.

    Reply
  20. Rebecca on

    At the moment, I think it’s a tossup for me between sedum and baptisia for favorite perennials (zone 5a). I’d love to learn more about perennials and shrubs, particularly this year and my annuals struggle in the drought-like conditions.

    Reply
  21. Rosanne Palombi on

    I’m in love with mountain laurel. It’s incorporated into a privacy planting we first planted two seasons ago. Sometimes I worry the shrubs are not going to survive although we just added several more to a planting bed along the front of our house and fingers at crossed. I’ve taken to having brief encouraging chats with them on occasion hoping they’ll feel the love. Arrangements of woody plants is so intriguing. I’ve always added branches here and there to any cut flowers I arrange. Now you’ve caused me to imagine the blossoms of laurel in an arrangement…if I can bring myself to cut them!!!

    Reply
  22. Maddy on

    My favourite perennials are proteas! I live in Australia and although they are not technically native to Australia they are often grouped in with our natives. I love their different varieties and the fact they are so easy to grow.

    Reply
  23. Lyndsay on

    As a designer and grower of gardens the elements of design and nurturing nature is a beautiful outcome. Blooming woody shrubs have grown to be a favorite on the farm, for both garden design and floral design. Viburnum has grown to be not only useful but purposeful and a hint of luxury in its texture.

    Reply
  24. Katie Oskin on

    One of my favorites a echinacea. They come in such a huge variety of colors and self seed and get bigger and fuller every year. They are truly a treasure.

    Reply
  25. Robin N on

    One of my favorite shrubs is hypericum (St John’s wort) they are great for flower arrangements andthe bees love them too. They come in a few different colors and have nice foliage, then flowers and berries. Always enjoy learning new things from Floret.

    Reply
  26. Rachel on

    I enjoyed this interview and blog! I cannot wait to get the book!
    I cant say for certain my favorite perennial has been found yet! I did learn the growing importance of perennials and plan to plant more!

    Reply
  27. Jacque Barker on

    One of the favorites of mine are the shasta daisies that bloom in an abundance. They are so pretty with the stark white petals and yellow centers on stocks of green leafy stems. They add a touch of happy whimsy to our garden beds!

    Reply
  28. Karyn Teed on

    Looking forward to reading this beautiful book! I have a vibrant red Geum that comes back every year along the edge of my house. I also have volunteer snapdragons that pop up all over. I love seeing where they find a home!

    Reply
  29. Christine H on

    I love the native arrowwood viburnum from Minnesota Viburnum rafinesquianum Beautiful flowers unique leaves. and I am going to submit a small tree I love…ironwood or hop hornbeam Ostrya virginiana. Delicate branching, interesting hop like flowers and they hold their brown leaves in winter. Both are not as well known as they should be.

    Thanks for sharing great books! I will add it to my winter reading!

    Reply
  30. Evelyn Rosa on

    I love dahlias; even as challenging as they can be in Zone 9b. I still get excited when I get a bouquet of them for my home. I also love lavender and gladiolus. Thank you

    Reply
  31. Lacey R. on

    I have been loving yarrow and lavender lately! Next up on my grow list is feverfew.

    Reply
  32. Kaci Dunn on

    Blanket Flowers are one of my all time favorites. Late bloomers with beautiful colors reminding me of fall sunsets.

    Reply
  33. Sonja on

    Right now gaura and a delicate apricot coloured geum!

    Reply
  34. Betty Longworth on

    I love all the varieties of paninculata hydrangea and ninebark.

    Reply
  35. loria L morton on

    This year I have taken on several trial gardens for cut flowers to determine if I could manage a little business of my own. I have invested in annuals, but have quickly realized my heart is actually with perennials and wild flowers, of which I have harvested and now growing my favorite, the majestic Bride’s Feathers. This plant grows on a river trail near my home, here in West Virginia. The plumage against the masses of Maidenhair Ferns is mesmerizing to me, I always feel as though I’m in an enchanted forest! As the flowers fade, the seeds form and dry, creating arched strings of pearls … most appropriate for the bride to leave behind: “treasures for winter”! Rachel’s book sounds like a must for me!!!

    Reply
  36. AJ Linke on

    Definitely Leucojum aestivum! I’m always so excited as the colder temps roll in to know these little bulbs are starting to send up shoots. When I spot my first ones of the season it always brings such a smile, they’re cute little white hats and dainty green dots. It’s where the fairies must play!

    Reply
  37. Erin Ardoin on

    My go-to is always ninebark. Diablo is my absolute favorite. Just can’t find that color and structure in an annual that I’ve found.

    Reply
  38. Jenny on

    My favorite in my high elevation garden is the Boulder raspberry. When we first moved up here, I noticed there weren’t many flowers. When the weather warmed up, a bush that looked had raspberry-like leaves bloomed some beautiful white flowers. They are a joy every season now

    Reply
  39. Val Boergesson on

    This looks like such a beautiful book. It’s impossible to pick a favorite, but my mom and grandmother always had peonies, they sparked my love for gardening and my oldest perennials are peonies I planted over 20 years ago. When they all bloom the end of May, they are so dreamy and beautiful, I am obsessed with taking photos and making bouquets to bring to friends.

    Reply
  40. Sarah G on

    One of my favorite perennials this year is the Siberian iris. Some of them have a scent like fresh baked lemon cookies. This year a couple of them made pods after flowering. So cool!

    Reply
  41. Katie Kelbel on

    I love purple coneflowers echinacea. We have a group of goldfinches who hang around when they go to seed. My kids love watching them from a window

    Reply
  42. Terry England on

    Hello, I have to say one of my favorite shrubs are viburnum so many different variations … I just love them and fell they are under represented.. thank you.

    Reply
  43. Laine on

    Astilbe. Textural filler, makes everything look elevated and unique.

    Reply
  44. Megan Clinch on

    Oak leaf hydrangeas are a fav neighbor of the flowering tobacco for evening smells & sights!

    Reply
  45. Linda Robertson on

    I love delphiniums. For me they represent the best of the English cottage garden, remind me of my great grandmother and make me forever grateful that I’m able to grow them in my my zone 3 garden in northern British Columbia. I’m on the lookout for more perennials that will thrive here and Rachel’s book looks like a fantastic inspiration and resource (plus she grows incredible Delphs!)

    Reply
  46. Jennifer Crist on

    My favorite is my Limelight Hydrangea. I love how the flowers change from cream to green to rose over the season and then I can cut them and keep them inside for months on end as they dry so beautifully.

    Reply
  47. Dawn Griggs Mullenax on

    I love arranging with my blue hydrangea, orange lilies and white gardenia. I create “Gussie mussie”style arrangements and take them to my “hostess” friends!

    Reply
  48. Veronica T. on

    I absolutely fell in love with hellebores (lenten rose) when I found them in the woodlands of my mother’s 4 acres several years ago! I saw several photos of these within this blog and it always make me think of all my mother taught me about gardening!! I am looking forward to dividing and planting some of them on our own property, as well as incorporating more perennials to use in arrangements. Thank you for sharing this new book.

    Reply
  49. Sharon Phelps on

    I am a beginner gardener, but I love the gladiolus I planted years ago that come up year after year even though that isn’t the norm. Not many people in my area grow them. I want to learn and grow so much more, particularly natives that are great for pollinators.

    Reply
  50. Kate on

    I picked up some honeysuckle and fern on my dog walk the other day. There is something about unruly honeysuckle and a symmetrical fern that worked so nicely together. My hallway smelled like flowers for a week! Now I have to figure out how to grow them both in my yard:)

    Reply
  51. Amanda Wikstrand on

    I love oakleaf hydrangea and peonies. Can’t go wrong with those around.

    Reply
  52. Dana Goodson on

    I love Iris and Roses, but want to learn more about woody perennials for my gardens thet I could use for cutting!

    Reply
  53. Veronica Straub on

    Peonies are my favorite, but there are so many other supporting players.

    I’m excited to read this lovely book!

    Reply
  54. Florian Reid on

    My favorite perennial is our native Cali coastal sage, Artemisia Californica. On early morning hikes in San Diego, the sea salt and sage on the wind feels like I’ve stepped into another reality. The tiny blooms are fierce and the trail feels surreal when you’re surrounded by sage you can’t see through while hearing the water birds chattering away nearby. When I get a whiff of sage in the city it takes me back in an instant!

    Reply
  55. Stephanie A. on

    I love all perinnials how can I choose! But the things that narrow it down for me the most are all perennials thatt atract pollinators of all kinds…butterflys, bees, and hummingbirds! So in that respect I think my butterfly bushes are some of the most exciting perennials that I have because when they are blooming it brings all the beautiful pollinators out and together to drink and share its nectar!

    Reply
  56. Judy Greiter on

    Favorite Perennial-
    Me- “This is hands down my favorite perennial!”
    Me a week later- “Now this is my favorite perennial!”
    Truly, it isn’t a favorite perennial – it’s a favorite FEEL that it gives me and the calm and serenity that it brings.
    Thank you for the interview- it was special.

    Reply
  57. Judith Vasquez on

    Roses, Peonies, Azaleas, and Hydrangeas are some of my favorite perennial shrubs. I am still learning about growing and maintaining a perennial garden, but every year I fall in love with a different perennial to add to my garden. Erin, you have inspired me to learn more and more about gardening. I am so glad I started following your path and have you as a mentor.

    Reply
  58. Karen Lay on

    Delphiniums for their beautiful blue. But who can resist the variety of dahlias???

    Reply
  59. Edie on

    One favorite shrub or perennials? There are so many!
    One favorite shrub on my top 5 is for the bees in the fall, but I love the pop of color when everything is dying back for fall.
    It’s the New England Aster ‘Purple Dome.’
    I love it for it easy care, natural mounding habit, the purple flower with yellow center and lastly, the food source it provides to the pollinators towards the end of the season.
    I live in Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin and this plant never disappoints year after year.

    Reply
  60. Hunter S on

    Wow ! Thank you, Rachel !! I love the variety of perennials and the thrill of seeing them come back year after year !

    Reply
  61. Kim Callaghan on

    Right now my favourites are probably delphiniums and peonies. Along with irises, lilacs, oregano for filler, ninebark…. okay, it’s very hard to pick a favourite!

    Reply
  62. Tricia Lazarus on

    So hard to narrow down…my favorites include native azaleas, heirloom and English roses (Valdosta, Georgia, USA, zone 8b)

    Reply
  63. EDWARD BROWN on

    My Favorite Tree is the Sandy Cherry Tree. It has tiny white scented flowers in the spring. Green Burgundy leaves when they first come out, then an all Burgundy leaf when they mature. The bark can change from Brown to Burgundy as it grows. I love to take 3 small trees to braid the trunk and for a smaller tree and 5 years later, it still performs beautifully.

    Reply
  64. Johanna on

    Daffodils are my fave and they take me back to lots of different moments throughout my childhood. Plus they are usually the first things to bloom every spring.

    Reply
  65. Jann on

    I love ‘Black Lace’ elderberry and Solomon’s Seal (polygonatum variegatum) in arrangements, but for long lasting foliage Aucuba japonica is hard to beat. It lasts so long in a vase it usually roots! The only downside to aucuba is that the stems aren’t very long so they’re only suitable for smaller arrangements.

    Reply
  66. Louise Thompson on

    Peonies are my favourite and I’m testing new ways to store them as buds
    I’m very interested in the perennial and woody idea as I age with my garden.
    Less planting each year!

    Reply
  67. Laura Ellison on

    Russian sage and verbena Bonariensis are so beautiful ❤️

    Reply
  68. Jeann on

    Hellebores are currently my fancy and would like to start a little collection. 😊

    Reply
  69. Shannon Chapman on

    I’ve undertaken dahlias this year. I have my sons wedding in august and I’ve always LOVED dahlias, but was intimidated. I did a workshop last fall about them and bought your dahlia book! I would love a copy of this book!

    Reply
  70. Denise on

    Currently growing Dahlias from tubers I overwintered in my zone 5b basement! Really enjoying the process of learning about these beauties.

    Reply
  71. Lori L on

    I love being introduced to new people from the blog. Thank you. My current obsession is with peonies, specifically ITOHs. Right now it’s the Garden Treasure. I love the lemon-y scent! We have a local peony grower who is retiring and selling off 3000 peonies with over 200 varieties. There will. Be more.
    Thanks for the preview of the book. It’s so helpful and the photos are gorgeous. .

    Reply
  72. Mary Silkowski on

    I love to use blackberry in arrangements, especially in the fall. The arrangement of leaves on the branches, and their length, add movement and lightness, and maybe a little bit of wildness, to an arrangement. Definitely a favorite of mine!

    Reply
  73. Jane on

    One of my favorite perennials would have to be the springtime peonies for their scent as well as their large blossoms. Festiva Maxima is a must in my garden.

    Reply
  74. Chelsea Reasor on

    Gardenias have long been a favorite perennial of mine not only because they’re beautiful, but also because their lovely fragrance evokes joyful childhood memories of learning about plants and gardening from my mother.

    Reply
  75. Corrina on

    Thank you for the giveaway. This book sounds like a wonderful book to have and read. I have to say there are so many different plants to choose from. I love the pussy willow, it has always been one of my favorites since I was a child.

    Reply
  76. Kari P on

    My fellow flower farmer friend Zhanna gifted me Silene seeds a few years ago and they quickly became a favorite perennial.

    Reply
  77. Sarah Fink on

    I’m in zone 7b, and dahlias are my favorites!

    Reply
  78. Sharon D on

    A favorite perennial of mine is lilacs. Don’t see them very often but enjoy the flower, their scent and shape of their leaves.

    Reply
  79. Kellie Lander on

    I’m in zone 8a and I’ve always been so jealous of folks that can grow Ninebark. I’m learning that I actually really like crepe myrtles, vitex and hydrangeas that bloom in the Texas heat.

    I’m excited to grab a copy of Rachel’s book and explore other perennials to add to my little cutting garden.

    Reply
  80. suzanne anderson on

    Peonies have become my most favorite perennial that I have in my yard. And I can’t wait for my Oklahoma Red Bud tree to get big enough for me to cut some of the branches off when the purple pink blooms are on.

    Reply
  81. Priscilla on

    Well … that’s a tough one … so much to choose from ☺️ I think one shrub that we’re definitely still missing in our garden is honeysuckle. I clearly remember the sweet scent next to all the roses my Dad had in our large garden in England and it’s something I’d love to have here in our garden in north Germany as well ☀️

    Reply
  82. Kim Struck on

    Rich burgundy wine to nebulously plum leaves create depth and frames blooms in the garden making ninebark my most admired foliage.

    Our family has been working hard to clear poison ivy, poison sumac, thorny autumn olive, and blackberries to reveal hidden oak and maple trees. After a few days of battling the prickly brush, my farm store had a 90% off sale and I was able to scoop up a whole truck load of neglected shrubs and two trees for $28! I am just beginning to experiment with perennials and shrubs. I would love to learn more and find inspiration from “The Cut Flower Sourcebook”! I will also be on the lookout for the Master Gardener class online. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  83. Ivana Souckova on

    Thank you for the interview! Perennials and shrubs definitely have a big place in flower arrangements. I didn’t think about it from the climate change perspective, but it’s really something to consider. My favourite shrub is Pyracantha, it has decorative flowers in spring and beautiful fruits in winter. Be aware of the thorns though! ;)

    Reply
  84. Stacy on

    Delphiniums and Hydrangeas are two of my favorites.

    Reply
  85. Lisa on

    One of my favorite fillers is babtisia. It outlasts several flower arrangements and has an amazing vase life. So interested in finding more fillers to add to my garden.

    Reply
  86. Brenda Hanrahan Waterman on

    I adore Astrantia. They are not fussy, but look so sophisticated in a garden or as a cut flower. Astrantia is easy to grow once established, features attractive foliage, is virtually disease-and-pest-free and tolerates the wet soil Washington offers in the early spring. The bees love them as much as I do, which is an added benefit. To me it is a must-grow flower. It adds a little whimsy and charm. Everyone wants to know what that unusual flower is when I tuck it into a bouquet.

    Reply
  87. Terri Basso on

    My grandmother grew Hollyhocks across the front of her garage. The varied heights and colors captured my attention even as a very small child. I grow them today and enjoy hearing my neighbors reflect on their beauty. They make me weep when I stand among them as the sun fades.

    Reply
  88. Cindy Krepky on

    Today is the summer solstice and my garden in southern Oregon is absolutely vibrant with color and full of life from bees to hummingbirds. My favorite shrub is the smoke bush. It is a great filler with a beautiful color and texture for flower arrangements for most of the season. I coppice it every year for a maximum of useful branches. So excited for this book and congrats!

    Reply
  89. Lisa Pilz on

    I would love to add even more woodies to my flower farm and learn even more about them. I have lilacs, dogwood, hydrangea, quince and forsythia at this time.

    Reply
  90. Linda Winslow on

    My favorite is my white coneflowers. They seem to be pointing to the sun and happy to be in the garden and cut to bring in the home.

    Reply
  91. Gwen Garcia on

    One of my favorites is my lilac bush. When those tiny buds start to appear, I know that spring is on its way. Another reason is that its fragrance reminds me of Mystery at Lilac Inn, a Nancy Drew book. It takes me back to such sweet memories !

    Reply
  92. Amy on

    I love peonies, hydrangeas and now getting into Dahlias thanks to you!!

    Reply
  93. Adrienne Wolff on

    Living in northern Michigan, nothing signals spring more than the flash of yellow forsythia flowers. Such a welcome sign after months of snow.

    Reply
  94. Susan McDaniel on

    I love the bottlebrush buckeye. Each flower has so much depth of color, even though they seem at first to just be white.

    Reply
  95. Karen Sella on

    Thank you for the ongoing inspiration. One of my favorite shrubs is Edgeworthia–the Dr. Suessian growth habit and cheery yellow blooms at a rather dreary time of year–and the fragrance! Heavenly.

    Reply
  96. Kari Ward on

    One of my favorite perennial plants is the heuchera. There are so many colors of gorgeous leaves with detailed veins and a surprise of delicate long stems of petite flowers. The plants look neat and tidy all season long. The leaves and the flower stems are pretty in any floral arrangement.

    Reply
  97. Anne on

    I have a fallen Corkscrew Willow tree that I am sourcing vase length branches from very easily, they are growing vertical from the now laying horizontal trunk.
    I love the variation and texture in woody plants, trees, and perennials for floral arranging and also so great for creating natural environment too.

    Reply
  98. Lynda on

    Camellia’s! I love that they are one of the first to blossom while we’re transitioning from winter to spring. They feel like a sign of hope of what’s to come. I live in California, about an hour from our state building where there’s a beautiful garden and the grounds have a lot of Camellias that look like they’ve been there for many years. It’s always a pick-me-up to walk amongst the Camellia’s.

    Reply
  99. april wilson on

    My favorite by far is the Hydrangea! Oodles of colors and varieties. They can grow in most zones, coast to coast. An old fashioned romantic shrub.

    Reply
  100. Deb O'Neal on

    Hellebores are one of my favorite perennials! Anticipating the hellebore buds and blooms is delightful when there’s not a lot of other growing happening here in the Northeast!

    Reply
  101. Susan Gay on

    I love astilbes. They show up neat and tidy with beautiful feathery blooms. As the flowers fade, they still have interesting structure for the garden. I love the white astilbe and the creeping Japanese one with the smaller tufts.

    I was always too impatient to try my hand at flower arranging. The airy free forms of the new floral designers and their abstract designs give me the courage to make beautiful bouquets.

    Reply
  102. Jo Lynn on

    Sitting on my front porch swing looking at the little cottage garden my husband I created in the last two years I find it hard to pick just one plant. I think it’s the overall planting I like. The whole garden gives me a sense of calm.
    But I would have to say I do like the purple wispiness of the nepeta. And it draws in bees & hummers! And the hummers are always fun to watch.

    Thank you for the opportunity to read Rachels new book.

    Reply
  103. Jodi Miri on

    I am in zone 4/5 and baptisia grows well here. I love using baptisia foliage in arrangements, especially when I’m going for a delicate and romantic feel.

    Reply
  104. Sarah Beaves Lewis on

    I am going to say peonies! This is my second year after planting my first peony tubers ever. I am proud to say as a beginner all but 1 bloomed beautifully this year. (the one that was weed-whacked down by one of my boys last year :)

    Reply
  105. Cathy Challinor on

    Eek! Forgot to tell of my favourite flower / shrub. Jude the Obscure roses and Smoke Bush.

    Reply
  106. Cathy Challinor on

    Having been born in England, I have a special love for the English country garden. I would love to read about the shrubs Rachel recommends as they add such interest to a bouquet. I have found myself of late wandering around my garden and thinking “Oh that would look beautiful in an arrangement.” Thanks to Floret and people like Rachel, I am now looking at flowers, shrubs and trees in a different way and I love it! Thank you for introducing us to this new book. I hope I am one of the lucky ones!!

    Reply
  107. Vanessa on

    PEONIES!! Of all kinds… herbaceous, itoh, tree. Love them all! 💕

    Reply
  108. Ruth Garry on

    I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you for the sharing and doing the interview, Rachel and your farm are wonderful resources and inspirations.

    Favorite perinneals, shrubs and small trees:
    Luculia pinceane
    Hydrangea paniculata
    Viburnum opulus
    Viburnum tinus
    Syringa var.
    Persimmon
    Azalea var.
    Smoke bush var. And canariansis
    Eriostemon
    Copper glow tea tree
    Camellia scensis
    Rasberry canes
    Thryptomene
    Wax flower
    Bronia
    Scented pearl michaellea (magnolia)

    Reply
  109. Jennifer Soto on

    I am new to Gardening and truly inspired. We just purchased a home w/ 2.6 acres. Mostly open field, In Ohio. Perennial’s seems to be the best way to go w/ such a short growing season. I look forward to learning more about flower farming. By accident I discovered sage, now has flowers in it’s 3rd year after starting from seed. Large shrub w/ flowers that taste lovely.

    Reply
  110. Martha on

    I was so excited about the focus of this book that I forgot to mention my favorite perennial in my first comment. I am finding that so far my favorite perennial is sedum right now. The range of colors and textures has been so useful at so many different stages. It’s so easy to propagate and grow. I must have 6 different kinds and the longevity of the plant is remarkable. I take full advantage of it as greenery and later on when it blooms. Thanks again for sharing a glimpse into this new book. I can’t wait!

    Reply
  111. Kristi Hein on

    Oh, it’s impossible to choose just one — but long before I began raising flowers for arrangements, we planted northwest native plants for a backyard wildlife habitat, and it’s a joy to forage among our mature hedgerows and such for bouquet material. Some favorites include Pacific ninebark foliage and seedheads (the flowers are lovely but short-lived), mock orange, highbush cranberry, evergreen huckleberry, salal, the drooping flower heads of slough sedge, and various ferns. Big, bright-colored flowers really shine when nestled among or above abundant greenery and intriguing pods and berries.

    Reply
  112. Kathryn O'Brien on

    True English Delphiniums, no other flower can come close to their majesty in both color and form. Growing them from seed is a lesson in both patience and gratitude. Planted in mass, their splendor never fails to delight!

    Reply
  113. Martha on

    I’m two years into flower farming and I had already decided to largely focus on perennials and woddys. This takes some patience because both need to become established to take cuttings from. I have found a couple of ladies on YouTube that talk about perennials and shrubs as a basis of their arrangements and they are from England too. This book is just what I have been waiting for. Thank you for sharing this with all of us I can’t wait to dive in. Truly excited! It’s as if someone was reading my mind.

    Reply
  114. Ashley Wood on

    I wish I could say with confidence I have a favorite shrub or perennial. Since discovering Floret I have learned so much but theirs so much more to learn. Plants and flowers bring me such joy. They have gotten me thru so many tough times in life. I’m finally at the stage in my life where I can focus on my greatest passions and Floret has opened that door for me in a way that I will be for ever grateful for!

    Reply
  115. Rye Daves on

    My favorite perennials has to be the hydrangeas. My grandma has them surrounded her pink farm house and the contrast of the blue and pink always made me smile. I had blue hydrangeas from her garden as my wedding bouquet. I have been struggling for years and years to get mine to grow with hardly any luck but every year I keep planting new ones in different areas of the garden hoping they will find a home they enjoy longer than just one season. Wish me luck!

    Reply
  116. Wendy Deitz on

    The simple coneflower. Raised in the country where the purple coneflower lined the roads in the heat of summer. Now, after many years, I’m back in the country, and I find myself drawn over and over again to the coneflower. It comes in so many colors, and shapes, but the sight of those sturdy, hardy purple coneflowers, growing wild, filling the ditches, fills me with memories and peace. Definitely the coneflower.

    Reply
  117. Liza Swenn Martin on

    Greetings from Southern Vermont. Forsythia is a favorite shrub of mine. It signals Spring’s arrival and it makes wonderful fences. I’m also wild about Peonies. And when I was young we had a mixed shrub that my landscaper Father constructed between our yard and the neighbor’s driveway. Mom transplanted in a bush from her family home. It had woody, burgandy “flowers” and Mom referred to it as a Clove Bush. I’m so thrilled to learn of this book and the fact that others are using woody/flowering stems in their arrangements. I’ve been doing for years along with using and cultivating wild flowers, plants and wild rambling roses. The dried stems from the garden and fields also make beautiful winter arrangements. Cheers.

    Reply
  118. Kristin on

    I just adore Baptista … the beautiful spring spires and the foliage looks great the rest of the summer. So excited to see this book!!

    Reply
  119. Christine Lennon on

    My Mum grew hydrangea’s and now that she is no longer in this world I keep growing them in remembrance of my Mum .

    Reply
  120. Nicole Mathys Derella on

    Carolina Allspice is my all time favorite. The burgundy blossoms last a long time and are so beautiful.

    Reply
  121. Ida Hale on

    I love Forsythia. My mother gave me starts when we married and had our first home—left them behind when we moved. I am looking for a miniature variety for our new place.

    Reply
  122. Joan Fossum on

    I’ve always loved dahlias. Such color, such variety!

    Reply
  123. Jacki Baschmann on

    Lilacs will always be my favorite but roses given them a run for their money.

    Reply
  124. Wari on

    I really love everything but one of my many favorites is delphinium! They are so pretty in all colors and forms. I will always have them in my garden.

    Reply
  125. Joanne Starr on

    Some of my personal favorites are Flowering Quince, Wild Red Flowering Currant (ribes sanguineum), Indian Plum and Common Chicory. All are so beautiful!

    Reply
  126. Elizabeth on

    This sounds wonderful. Thanks. I arrange flowers/foliage from my tiny garden here that is just 2 years old. Would love some additional ideas for planting shrubs. Sounds like this book is just the ticket.

    Reply
  127. Deirdre on

    Peonies without a doubt are tops on my list.

    Reply
  128. M on

    Great interview! I love this subject, great write up!

    My favorites are ome oldies but goodies:

    Forsythia, Lynwood Gold, for flowers and foliage

    Spirea, bridal veil, blossoms and form

    Hydrangea, annabelle (love dried also!) For soft volume

    Egyptian mint, fuzzier, less rugose and more pointed leaves than apple mint. Haven’t found the proper Latin name. Wonderful strong stems and soft texture!

    Heuchera, so many! Leaves mostly, but airy blossoms are so delicate.

    And Forsythia, Kumson, beautiful foliage (F. viridissima var. koreana)

    Reply
  129. Sally on

    What an inspiring interview, I’m off to seek out Rachel on Instagram. I’m about to expand my garden to include a picking patch, and the first plant I’ll plant in the spring are hydrangeas as I know they’ll grown in the shady situation !

    Reply
  130. Steff Branscombe on

    Its got to be Eremurus Robustus when the sun shines on them they are absolutely magical

    Reply
  131. Irina Rogozanska on

    Thank you, Erin, for introducing Rachel’s book. Feels like what I am currently looking out for. Peonies have just faded away in my garden and I am seriously thinking of planting a new variety this fall.

    Reply
  132. Dottie D on

    Resisting the urge to highlight all the amazing hellebores, hydrangeas and peonies that light up my life all season. My two favorites are my single DAPHNE ODORA and my mass planting of PHENOMENAL LAVENDAR — all requiring intention to protect them in our Northeast winters to ensure they shine in the summer:)

    Reply
  133. Kara Tharpe on

    I’m a peony lover. When I was little I convinced my mom to plant them in our garden. She planted an entire patch just for me and now that I have my own gardens, I add a peony every year to my collection. I’ve recently become a member of the American Peony Society and am going to try my hand at growing them from seed!

    Reply
  134. Lisa on

    I love Johnny Wheeler honeysuckle, it attracts so many hummingbirds and it blooms all summer!

    Reply
  135. Holly Stetson on

    Erin, thank you for offering a book giveaway. You are full of kindness and so much knowledge. Just love to read and view the gorgeous flowers. What fun it would be to visit Rachel’s garden and your garden too. My blessing of flowers are surrounding me, so many favorites. Today the favorites are the big, bold clematis and the intricate foxglove. So appreciate your sharing!

    Reply
  136. Taylor Christman on

    I think Iris’s are the most underrated flower. They are gorgeous and such a beautiful sign of spring!!

    Reply
  137. Mary Mills on

    Hi Erin My favourite perennial in flower now is amazing and admired by all our visitors, Giant scabious such a lovely subtle shade of lemon , good in a vase with gardener’s garters and ammi major and superb in the garden when it goes to seed against the sunset!

    Reply
  138. Carol Taylor on

    Too many favorites – lilies, peonies, lilacs, mock orange, amsonia – but 2 workhorses for dry shade (once established) & deer resistant, love Geranium maculatum & Japanese painted fern. They are hard to beat!

    Reply
  139. Lia Turk on

    I’m currently enjoying the beautiful poppy Papaver hybridum ‘Cupcake,’ which started blooming almost six weeks later than last year due to our cooler temps in northern California. One plant has reseeded each year and produced even more gorgeous blooms that the bees gorge on!

    Reply
  140. Melissa Brent on

    I have so many favorites but my favorite this year is variegated Solomon’s Seal. So versatile, long lasting in vases and available throughout the growing season. I’ve had just the fresh cut foliage in a large vase since the beginning of May, refreshing every 10-14 days! So intricate. 🍃💕

    Reply
  141. Tiffany Devens on

    I’m a hydrangea girl. I’ve just fallen love with Hydrangea paniculata the last few years. I love how they look throughout the year through all their phases.

    Reply
  142. Danielle on

    In previous years I would’ve said hydrangeas. But now after a few years of waiting I enjoyed my first peony blooms this year! I’m torn between the two.

    Reply
  143. Alexandra on

    I adore my coneflowers! They’re super tough and I’ve got them in a bunch of colors.

    Reply
  144. Lorri on

    My favorite perennial is iris & favorite shrub is lilac. Both of these were in my grandmother’s tiny backyard garden. She used to bury her vegetable peelings & coffee grounds. I use to wonder “why in the world is she doing this?” I know now, what a smart grandma she was-💕

    Reply
  145. Kéri-Kovács Adrienn on

    I really like lilac and hydrangea. I like to use Euonymus Japonicus in flower bouquets. This is a great filler plant and evergreen!

    Reply
  146. ann on

    thank you so much for introducing us to rachel siegfried and her green and gorgeous garden! the pictures are amazing! i love her philosphy of letting a bouquet build itself as you wander the garden. i like using leucahendron stalks for structure as well as using the bracts for focus. i can’t wait to read about other interesting green and woody options for bouquets!

    Reply
  147. Kéri-Kovács Adrienn on

    I really like lilac and hydrangea. I like to use Japanese goat’s milk in flower bouquets. This is a great filler plant and evergreen!

    Reply
  148. Laura on

    I adore Philadelphus (mock orange)

    Reply
  149. Sarah Z on

    One of my favorite shrubs in the garden is my Flowering Red Currant bushes, which is a native plant here in the PNW. Actually, to clarify, I ended up with a white flowering currant bush in my clutch of bare root stems that I purchased 5 years ago and that one is my absolute favorite. It signals the beginning of Spring, is impressive in size, and I’ve never seen a white flowering currant anywhere else! Also, all the early pollinators and hummingbirds are in absolute heaven when she starts to bloom.

    Reply
  150. Glenna on

    I really love crocosmia. The bright red flowers are beautiful, and it seems to bloom quite a while. Although it is not quite hardy in eastern Washington, the plants will reappear if planted in a pot and overwintered in the garage. They also produce a lot of seed that can be started in spring.

    Reply
  151. Abbe on

    I am very fond of our native bee balm (monarda). They are such vigorous and joyful plants and as the name implies the bees do love them so. Delicious tea from the blossoms as well.

    Reply
  152. Joanna Glud on

    So many beautiful things, hard to pick a favorite!! I would love to do what both you and Rachel do, if I was 30 years younger. I so enjoy all the great information that is passed along!

    Reply
  153. Cheryl S. on

    I can’t wait to read Rachel’s new book, sounds like it is exactly what I have been looking for. As I was reading through the interview I kept thinking about all of the native California buckwheat on my property that are all lit up with creamy white clouds of flowers, the perfect additions to a summer floral arrangement. I hope someday I can call myself a flower farmer and natives will play a huge role in that progression.

    Reply
  154. Jaine Westing on

    The Peonies are my favorite of all . Can’t wait to see the book 😊

    Reply
  155. PAMELA RICHARDSON on

    How to have a favorite when there are so many to choose from, I plant perennials because they do come back each year so my favorite, I think it is the one blooming at the moment.

    Reply
  156. Susan Corrieri on

    Can’t wait to get my hands on this lovely book! SO excited! Thank you.

    Reply
  157. Sarah on

    I love Peonies, of course, and delphinium and lilacs!

    Reply
  158. Sara on

    I’m a sucker for lilacs!!

    Reply
  159. Nicole on

    My favorite perennial, that I’ve yet to successfully grow are Delphiniums.

    Reply
  160. Morgan N on

    Yarrow has to be my favorite perennial!

    Reply
  161. Lisa Moss on

    It’s hard to choose but some favorites would be tree peonies, lilacs and roses.

    Reply
  162. Michelle on

    Perennials have a special place in my heart because of there amazing resilience even in our sometimes harsh northern climate and because of the ones I have been able to save from the gardens of dear friends and relatives who have since passed on. Their memories continue to live on in the beautiful blooms that faithfully return every year. Though it is so hard to choose just one favorite, I would have to say peonies because I really look forward to those few weeks when they are flowering. Bringing in armloads of their gorgeous and bountiful blooms, filling every vase I have and placing them all over the house or giving them away.
    I am truly grateful to Floret for all the information they share so freely! I have learned so much since I discovered their books and online library. I have also really enjoyed their book recommendations. Everyone I have read so far has provided to be a valuable resource.

    Reply
  163. Anne on

    I would have to say Baptisia. So care free, yet so rewarding! What an inspiring book. Always love to read these interviews.

    Reply
  164. Laura on

    My favorite have to be Hydrangeas. They evoke such strong memories for me of taking neighborhood strolls while on vacation on Cape Cod.

    Reply
  165. Juliet Taylor on

    I remember as a child, the first time I saw a thriving delphinium. It took my breath away then and still does today! … especially when it is sky blue!

    Reply
  166. Karen Bare on

    Oh how do I pick just one? Because it’s currently the star of my walled garden, I would have to say my pink Weigelia (with the red a close second.) The different shades of pink and white are spectacular even alone in a vase, or with some bare branches of birch or curly willow. But the clematis, and David Austin roses twined together…they take my breath away! Just don’t tell them I picked Weigelia over them! Thank you for introducing Rachel’s book, I try to acquire books on flower arranging and share them with our small town garden club. The photos really help the ladies with their beginning attempts.

    Reply
  167. Sheree on

    I love tree peonies. Where I used to live in Central Iowa I had a red and pink in my backyard. The blooms were phenomenal! I will enjoy reading about her knowledge on this subject.

    Reply
  168. christina moore on

    What an exciting introduction to a book about more than just flowers! How I love the woody perennials and the habitat and safe haven they provide at my little plot! I am on a short term lease but still couldnt resist some mock orange, spirea. and vitex and always still want to put in more 🧡

    Reply
  169. Suzzelle on

    First I will answer the requirement for the giveaway: My favorite shrub ( if it’s even possible to have ONE that’s better than the others) I’m going to say is a Ninebark
    ‘little joker’. Besides the abundance of blooms, low maintanance, and unique foliage color that lasts all season in my zone 3 garden, the critters I share my flowers with don’t seem to mind when I remove some branches from their “buffet”.
    Secondly, I think it’s so cool that the people at Floret welcome and encourage the sharing of information and resourses from all over the world. Rather than seeing others’ successes and accomplishments as competition, Erin is incredibly generous with her information, experiences, and discoveries. I love everything written by the folks at Floret, and so very much appreciate the concept of sharing ideas. I am inspired every time I read a recommended book, article, interview, or blog.
    …And for anyone reading this far, other shrubs that do really well in a deer infested zone 3 wooded garden: Weigelia, Baptisia, and ‘walkers low’ Nepeta…all of which have different interesting qualities at different stages of their growing season. My Pagoda Dogwood is my prized possession, but I literally would have to sleep next to it to keep the deer from eating it.

    Reply
  170. Rebecca on

    My favourite is Anemone hupehensis, I just love the airy blooms which turn up so late in summer and last until the first frost when so many other blooms have gone.

    Reply
  171. Danielle Schami on

    Thank you for this lovely introduction to Rachel’s new book. Dictamnus albus is among my many loved perennials, and my appreciation for her is growing. Her pretty florets and citrus scent are lovely!

    Reply
  172. Raquel on

    I love perennials!! Roses are my favorite!

    Reply
  173. Tricia Erly on

    My favorite perennial at the moment is Alchemilla Mollis. The way it has seeded itself into cracks in my walkways and around the garden gives me enough to blend into bouquets with Calla Lillies, Roses and Peonies.

    Reply
  174. Allison Reiter on

    One of my favorite shrubs is mock orange. I love the scent, it brings me back to my childhood when we had a huge, wild growing one in our backyard. I also have a huge love of roses, David Austin Roses in particular. Gardening is my peace and happy place.

    Reply
  175. Lela on

    Interesting interview, and the book looks beautiful! I almost didn’t comment, because I couldn’t pick a favorite. However, after some contemplation, I realized that either the foliage or flowers of my purple smoke bush (Cotinus Coggygria) end up in almost every arrangement. Even though I’m a bit of a plant collector, I tend to be drawn to blues, pinks, purples, chartreuse. Burgundy and red-tinged foliage is also sprinkled around my garden. So, the smoke bush in a bouquet just always seems to give it some depth, and pull it together.

    Reply
  176. Elle on

    One of my favorite perennial/shrub has to be Choisya ternata, it gets cute little white flowers on it.

    Reply
  177. Jessica A on

    This seems like such an amazing book full of information!! I love growing forsythia, lilacs, and hydrangeas, but I’m curious to find out what other woody perennials I am able to grow in my zone to make beautiful home arrangements.

    Reply
  178. Marie C on

    Dogwood branches are some of my favorite cuttings.

    Reply
  179. RandyRose Gagliardo on

    I have to say my all time favorite is the cherry tree! Even when the petals are blowing off the branches it makes my lawn beautiful. A doctor in our village planted 5 cherry trees alone a pond here one for him and his wife and 3 daughters. It’s so beautiful every spring!

    Reply
  180. Alwina on

    Forsythia is a favorite of ours for early season cuts, and it is a bonus that it’s such a prolific grower.

    Reply
  181. Krista McCumber on

    There are so many varieties I am excited about trying more of! I love the hellborne (sp?) in the photo above….so gorgeous.

    Reply
  182. James Fain on

    It’s hard to narrow down but I love any kind Yarrow. Here in zone 7b in NW Georgia it handles our humidity phenomenally. Calling are weather unpredictable is an understatement but through and through the Yarrow always shines.

    Reply
  183. Edyth Willard on

    A favorite garden shrub for many years is my winter (not witch) hazel spring blooming shrub. I have just planted a shrub I am excited about: ‘Simply Scentsational’ shrub arbusto (Sweet shrub) which has pineapple scented rose shaped blossoms.

    Reply
  184. Julie on

    It’s hard to pick a favorite, seriously. Hydrangeas come to mind first. Roses and peonies too. ;)

    Reply
  185. Susan Wright-Miller on

    I love all kinds of varieties of Lavender with their beautiful colors, fragrance, shape of the plants, and the deer don’t like to eat them.

    Reply
  186. Bryar Wolf on

    Blown away by the pictures of the arrangements in this!! Incredibly beautiful! Some of my favorites are echinacea and living in Colorado the state flower columbine!! So hard to choose! Does a yucca plant count? They’re in full bloom and are gorgeous I love seeing them every year!!

    Reply
  187. Julie Mitton on

    Such a beautiful book and piece of Art! Thank you for the introduction Erin.

    Reply
  188. Amber on

    What a fabulous topic for a book! I cannot wait to read it. My favorite flowering perennial shrub is our Sweet Almond. It has a honey fragrance with greyish green leaves and a white flower spike that reminds me of a tail.

    Reply
  189. Julia Ball on

    My very favorite perennial is the peonie. I have a large Takara Itoh peonies that I adore it has gorgeous huge pink blooms. I also have a smaller one with deeper red leaves I think it is a Keiko.

    Reply
  190. Licia Conforti on

    I love Heptacodium miconioidies – Seven Sons flower. It’s a tall shrub that dazzles for 4-season interest: fragrant creamy white flower clusters, followed by purple/dark red berries in late summer, colorful fall foliage, and then it sheds its tan bark to reveal lighter branches all winter. Never disappoints!

    Reply
  191. Laurie Annan on

    My favorite flowers …. Do I have to say just one.Peonies 🌸💗

    Reply
  192. Hillary on

    Two of my favorite herbaceous perennials are Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ (for its tall, nonstop powder blue spikes) and Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ (for its airy long stems and extended bloom period.) Both are tough plants requiring little supplemental water and each overwintering easily in the Pacific Northwest. They both attract bees and the Gaura, hummingbirds. I love them for the loose and romantic element they add to bouquets.

    Thank you for this inspiring post, Erin. As a landscaper/grower and part time flower farm employee, sustainable floristry and climate-ready gardening is at the crux of what we can all be doing to keep growing with the ecosystems in mind.

    Reply
  193. Suzanne🌻 on

    I LOVE buddleia !! The flowers actually smell like honey! Thank you for sharing this very interesting interview, and for bringing Ms. Siegfried to our attention. Her book looks incredible and what a wealth of beauty and information.

    Reply
  194. TJ on

    I have to say that *at the moment* my favorite perennials are hellebores. They are the first to burst through the snow here in Michigan spring, and it’s such a relieving and hopeful sign of the season.

    Reply
  195. Amie on

    I adore, like many that preceded me, coral charm peonies, Catherine Havemeyer lilacs, aveyron tulips, limelight hydrangea, and mock orange.

    A few years back though, I added some flowering red currant to my Seattle garden to attract birds and give height to our terraced bed. This late spring bloomer adds vibrant pink when my lilacs have withered, that evolve into little, clustered, red berries in summer and transitional color in fall. It’s been a lovely filler addition to my cut arrangements.

    We are starting over now, in zone 6 on a piece of property in Ellensburg and this is exactly what I have been trying to sort out – a perennial hedgerow style cut garden! What a resource! Thanks for sharing, Erin.

    Reply
  196. Jill on

    I love the combo of yarrow next to Russian sage. They’re a nice contrast to each other, both color and texture.

    Reply
  197. Mignon on

    A newer perennial for me is amaranth. The joy and the comedy of this flower is that it is heat-tolerant, a prolific bloomer, comes in different colors/orientations (gold/pink/red/white and draping/upright), and also self-seeds (to my delight). The seedlings I planted in early spring didn’t take, but the seeds that fell in the ground from last fall sure did- in spades.

    Reply
  198. Karen Chau on

    These comments have been delightful and insightful to read. Thank you Erin for what you do to bring people together and spread the joy and beauty of flowers.

    I love my chives that come up faithfully every year and bring the first blossoms in my little South Dakota backyard garden zone 5a.

    I am also super happy about milkweed that I started from seed and has become established now as a reliable perennial.

    Lastly my hardy, easy coneflower is also a favorite that I’d like to expand.

    I’d love to add lilacs and peonies to my future garden, but also research native perennials as well.

    Reply
  199. Ruth on

    I live in the mountain desert and so my favorites tend to be those that tolerate the harsh extremes. I love Shasta daisies for their bright, cheerful faces and old fashioned snowball bushes for their endurance and cheerful appearance each spring. They haven’t always been my favorites, but the more I have used them, the more I appreciate their positive traits.

    Reply
  200. Jan on

    Alstromeria is a hearty perennial that comes back stronger every year. I especially love being able to cut and share the flowers with family & friends.

    Reply
  201. Chi-Chi Nnakwe Whitley on

    I’m a closeted flower farmer and am in my information gathering stage. I would love to add this book for building my knowledge. I really enjoyed this interview, it was really informative. The gateway flower to my flower addiction is the peony. I am just bowled over by their beauty. I’ve also fallen in love with a green hydrangea that I received from a bouquet in February. It’s now late June and I still have a few blooms that I’ve been able to keep in water all this time! I would appreciate it if I could be considered for this drawing. Thanks!

    Reply
  202. Jess Zarling on

    Oh my goodness! What a resource! I cannot wait to order it and pour over each page! Roughly 9 years ago we bought a beautiful, country-side home just north of Milwaukee WI to fit our family of nine. I inherited a Master Gardner’s paradise and wow has it been a journey. Last year my husband cleared an acre (due to hundreds of tree’s dying from the emerald ash borer – we are talking 200+ tree’s – what an undertaking) and planted a wildflower meadow. We are becoming pretty good gardeners and we love it! My absolute favorite filler perennial is Lady’s Mantle. The yellow-green flowers accent all the pinks and purples, the dark greens, the peonies, dahlia’s, dappled willows, evergreens, boxwoods, bleeding-hearts, english lavender, big leaf lupine, goat’s beard and so much more…because we have so many gardens that surround the house, I like to use Lady’s Mantle to tamper down the weeds. It’s easy to remove, transplant and keep at bay. I absolutely love cutting it and bringing it inside the house. We have many children and a busy home so I love a cut flower/perennial that can stay pretty for days!

    Thanks for sharing (you truly are the best giver) and I’ll be watching the interview today!

    By the way, I’ve been sharing your “Growing Floret” documentary (Seas 1&2) with anyone and everyone. It is filmed so beautifully and is incredibly inspiring! Way to put something positive, uplifting and edifying into the world. Grit, hard work, commitment, experiencing blood, sweat and tears over your life’s work are many character attributes missing from this next generation. I loved that you did not shy away from what this journey has meant to you. Not many people have the unique privilege to marry their passions and purposes. You are blessed! Flowers are so, so pretty and so, so needed in this world. Beauty matters and I can’t thank you enough!

    xo

    Reply
  203. Annie on

    For the last three years, I’ve been in the process of developing a small flower farm, mainly perennials, and I have to say, hydrangeas, hydrangeas, grab my attention, like no other perennial💞

    Reply
  204. Stephanie on

    I love my Bull Shoal’s Chastebush (Vitex). I found it pushed away, all alone at a local retail garden. I had no idea what is was. It was a sad little thing. They just gave it to me. Now she is big, beautiful, and provides delicate purple flowers with a proud, straightbacked hardy stem. They have a calming, yet strong scent. And the bumblebees love them.

    Reply
  205. Jo on

    I was so excited about the book that I went to go buy it online and it’s backordered everywhere I look, so it must be fantastic. :) Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

    Reply
  206. Mishel Stonely on

    We just moved to our farm last year and plan to add a rose garden to our property, primarily with our favorite David Austen roses. I will line the space with a lavender hedge to help with the deer. Two of my favorite things.

    Reply
  207. Krystie DeMello on

    For me, in high desert in southern utah, one of my absolute favorites is yarrow! I love the ferny texture and the fact that it blooms allllllll season long. It looks so gorgeous for months! No deadheading or fertilizing either- it prefers poor soil and hot sun. I *have* found that while it is extremely drought tolerant, including it on our drip system leads to much larger and more lush plants. I have bright gold, soft yellow, pink, white, red, peach, orange and a pastel mix- so far ;) This year we got to begin my enormous flower bed in the backyard, and I grew an additional four varieties from seed! So far they’re all looking happy and strong- despite bizarre and harsh weather this year!

    Reply
  208. Colleen Wood on

    Living in central Idaho, zone 5, I love the deep purple and white lilacs that return each year in late spring. For summer and early fall, the colors of the echinacea flowers are beautiful followed by the cone that’s left when the pedals fade away!

    Reply
  209. Wendy on

    Carolina Allspice and Ninebark are some of my favorite native woody perennials for landscape and cutting!

    Reply
  210. Jean Bonnyman on

    Growing up in Maine, lilacs were always such a celebration of beauty, color and the best floral perfume. Sadly, the old fashioned northern lilac does not grow well in North Carolina where I live now. So I make it a goal to return to New England every spring.

    Reply
  211. Karel Klinger on

    Zinnias are my favorite flower and remind me of long summer days at my Grandparent’s farm as a child. Grandma had a long row of them at the front of her garden.

    Reply
  212. Rebekah on

    I love using baptisia. Both the flowers and foliage are beautiful.

    Reply
  213. Janet on

    I have not met a flower I didn’t like but one that I find beautiful and intriguing is hellebores. The color and delicate structure is so beautiful. I’m a little late to learning all the many amazing perennials but love the discovery all the same. Gorgeous pictures!!!!! Beautiful arrangements!!!!

    Reply
  214. Ashley on

    I love lilacs, they grow so well were I live, but I’d love to learn about other Woody’s .

    Reply
  215. Kathy Houda on

    Persicaria polymorpha, or Giant Fleeceflower is a standout in my yard! Measuring about 8’ across and 5’ tall, it presents stunning bouquets of creamy white flowers resembling Astilbe. It is virtually immune to ravaging Deer, rabbits, muskrats, chipmunks and squirrels while also completely disease and insect free! Wonderful!! Good as a cut flower for a few days.

    Reply
  216. Sharon on

    Sweet peas are the root of my garden memories with my grandmother who showed me patience and beauty through her gardening without uttering a single word!

    Reply
  217. Stacey Anderson on

    So many amazing shrubs and perennials! Living in a Zone 4 in Montana, I could not live without lilacs and peonies in the garden. Then comes the magic of bearded iris and daylilies…

    Reply
  218. Barbara Kelly on

    I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1992, from the High Desert of Utah. During the time I was there I discovered and fell in love with the Helebore family of flowers, they quickly became my favorite. Fast forward to 2005, I came back to Utah, and can no longer grow hellebores reliably. I tried year after year.
    It’s so nice to see them surrounding Rachel’s lovely book.

    Reply
  219. Sarah Mc on

    I love adding Bupleurum to a bouquet!

    Reply
  220. Liana on

    I feel a bit silly saying this as I distinctly remember being down on them when I was growing up but I love Hostas. I love the variegated leaves and how the make a beautiful cut leaf display even when there isn’t much flowering in the garden. I love seeing everyone else’s suggestions to research and see what else I can make room for in my garden.

    Reply
  221. Jill on

    I’m obsessed with any type of nepeta the pollinators love them too.

    Reply
  222. Sheila Hlubucek on

    I grow bapisia in a variety of colors for spikes in June bouquets and for faux eucalyptus greenery later in summer. The bonus is that it’s a nitrogen fixer.

    Reply
  223. Jen Slagle on

    Happy Summer Solstice! My favorite of the moment is a Hypericum: I love the red woody stems and dark reddy purple leaves and then the bright sunny yellow flowers and of course the berries to drop in a stem or two into arrangements in mid summer.

    Reply
  224. Caroline Weldy on

    I live on a farm so planting and harvesting is therapy for me. We don’t farm the land any more, but leave that someone else. So that gives me more time to work in the small gardens. My favorite perennials are Aliums.

    Reply
  225. Aurore BEUGNET on

    So nice and interesting,
    I would recommend echinacea or penstemon :)

    Reply
  226. Ali News on

    What an amazing and inspiring lady !! I would browse this book the entire winter season, just waiting for “flower” season again.

    Reply
  227. Debby Ennis on

    Thank you Erin for this wonderful interview with Rachel. It was so interesting. I have a very small backyard in the small city of Ashtabula, Ohio ( up on Lake Erie), and I love to do what I can for the wildlife, and for my own enjoyment. I Love it…”Dirt Therapy”I call it! My favorite perennials are Lilacs and Lavender!
    Thank you for this opportunity.

    Reply
  228. Caroline on

    I am a small flower, fruit and CSA grower in zone 3b to 4a. Flowers are new to us for production, but not in practice, as we have several pollinator habitats and wild spaces on the farm. My favorite is Hellebores. The colors are amazing, they are hardy as all get-out and have an open form that invites you in. Thank you for all the work you for Erin to inspire new growers and in supporting farmers to go in new directions with confidence. So rare to have this kind of in-depth support. Abundant blessings!

    Reply
  229. Julia on

    Crocosmia has always attracted my attention. Love the variety of colors.

    Reply
  230. Donna Quam on

    Gorgeous and delightful pictures and content. I would LOVE to have her book for my coffee table!

    Reply
  231. Karen on

    Roses are my favorite. I feel like perennial focal flowers aren’t super plentiful and who doesn’t love roses? Would love to get my hands on this book, I’ve been eyeing it for a little while.

    Reply
  232. Jetta N on

    When I lived in Wisconsin, my favorite was gladiolus.
    When I lived in Germany and visited Holland, my favorite was tulips.
    When I lived in Illinois, my favorite was peonies.
    When I lived in North Dakota, my favorite was spirea.
    Now that I live in Texas, crepe myrtles are my favorite!
    Thank you for this opportunity to win a gorgeous book!

    Reply
  233. Catherine Remkes on

    There are so many to choose from. I absolutely adore my hellebores but being in the southeast bright blue hydrangeas are such an incredible staple. I keep adding more native perennials to the farm as they support all our local wildlife. I am excited to see how the beauty berry’s do this fall with their vibrant colors in arrangements.

    Reply
  234. Briahna Michalsky on

    Right now, it’s my perennial herbs I love (various mints, rosemary, sage, and thyme) because of the low maintenance and wonderful various uses in bouquets, foods and landscape.

    Reply
  235. Kate Formichella on

    We are crazy over Baptisia, especially purple smoke. I’ve been planting it for years as a landscaper before we morphed to flower farming/ wedding floristry. Then there is nepeta souvenir d’andre, swoooon!
    Ninebarks, service berry, viburnums, wild blueberry, and so much more, are all on our stewarded property. They are well loved and wildly used. I am excited to read about Rachel’s wisdom. We are all about our ‘wild garden style’ too!!! Learning daily/ hourly!

    Reply
  236. Donna Foster on

    My purple clematis is my favorite perennial shrub♡♡ I can tuck one or two into an arrangement and they steal the show!

    Reply
  237. Claire Burwash on

    Like many here, I also love my peonies!!! Bringing them into my house brings me so much joy.

    Reply
  238. Janet Clifford on

    Poppies are my favorite! Their bright orange color loudly announces the start of the garden season for me and I love that they self seed so their presence continues to expand every year. After they bloom their irregular shaped stems add an interesting visual to the garden. The poppies, along with my peonies, remind me of my mother and grandmother – both had stunning flower gardens during my childhood.

    Reply
  239. Kim Hensley on

    What a gorgeous garden! I love so many shrubs and perennials but my Peonies have my heart! I love cutting a big luscious bouquet.

    Reply
  240. Kim Rempel on

    Right now I’m going back to irises! I found some people down the way who have over 100 varieties planted and it is a SIGHT!

    Reply
  241. Leigh Ann Theunick on

    Excited to read Rachel’s new book. I love how she calls it garden bouquets! My favorite periennials are my 100+ year old peony plants from my Grandmother. They have survives four moves with me and I hope are finally in the place they will be for the remainder of my life.

    Reply
  242. Hannah McAlpin on

    I’m in love with my bridal bliss hydrangeas! I feel like with a hydrangea bush you really get the bang for your buck. They produce tons of blooms that want to be cut and spread joy. I’m currently trying to start new hydrangea plants from cuttings and so far it’s going well! In hope to expand my garden/farm I’m researching all I can about woody plant perennials that would offer a unique variety for my area here in KY.

    Reply
  243. Abbey Grady on

    Give me all the hydrangeas, they are my very favorite.

    Reply
  244. Alicia on

    My favorite shrub is the lilac, because there is no other scent like it, and because my mom had huge old lilac shrubs when I was a kid. Great memories!

    Reply
  245. Denise on

    I love peonies and also roses. I can hardly stop with just these two!!

    Reply
  246. Kelli Janice on

    Hands down, my favorite perennial will always be the peony. They make me slow down and enjoy everything in nature and they remind me that I am another year older since they bloom around my birthday. They can be tough as nails and fragile all at the same time. Every stage of their growth is worth watching. Even when their petals are gone in the wind, they leave behind unique pods as a reminder of their return one day.

    Reply
  247. Nadie VanZandt on

    One of my favorite perennials is Japanese anemone ’Honorine Jobert’. I love its pure white petals surrounding a rich egg-yolk yellow center. It’s stunning in the fall when everything else is waning.

    Reply
  248. Nanci on

    My favourite is my Fern Leaf Peony. Given to me by a dear friend

    Reply
  249. Mandy Sipko on

    Bridals wreath and lilacs together in a bouquet make my heart smile!

    Reply
  250. Pamela on

    A flowering dogwood has always been a favourite of mine, and peonies.

    Reply
  251. Christine on

    At the moment, Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’, and older mock orange. It cuts beautifully and is long lasting, and is a joy in the garden for its beauty -it has a violet throat- and its fragrance.

    Reply
  252. Danijela N on

    Peonies and Hydrangeas are my favourite of all!

    Reply
  253. Maria Sanchez on

    I think my new favorite perennial is the delphinium. My brother, Daniel, loved these flowers and now I understand why. I planted 3 delphiniums with the most incredible blue flowers right next to some shasta daisies in my new pollinator garden. I did this in his memory. He passed away 30 years ago today at the young age of 30.

    Reply
  254. Amy Jo Francis on

    I always enjoyed my grandma’s back porch because of a lilac bush to the side. As a kid I would play around it and enjoyed some shade during the afternoon. I would watch bees busily moving from flower to flower and take in the beautiful fragrance .

    Reply
  255. Liz Campbell on

    Despite the unflattering name, I am a huge fan of swamp milkweed. From the moment the bright green stalks begin to appear, I am excited for its growth, for the beautiful sets of pink and white blooms that will come, and for the rush of insects that soon visit and inhabit it. I believe it is vital to provide native plants and support for the critical insect population.
    We are embarking on a rehab of a small former farm we just moved onto. It is a nearly blank slate, so I am very excited to read Rachel’s book and discover additional elements that I can add to continue to support native pollinators, insects, and birds while enhancing the beauty of our land and environment.

    Reply
  256. Kristin K. on

    Lilacs are my favorite!! The smell just can’t be beat and I love a big bunch of them together!! Thanks for letting us know about this book, looks like a great one!

    Reply
  257. Nancy on

    My favorite perennial is the columbine. Each flower is so delicate but when the whole plant is in bloom it’s beautiful.

    Reply
  258. Cynthia on

    I love love love peonies and have about 20 varieties. But also I have found that both lemon balm and lovage make excellent greenery for arrangements (my primary product is culinary herbs – the flowers are just a sideline to up the sales at the farmers market, and I do arrangements for a friend’s cafe with all my market leftovers every Saturday).

    Reply
  259. Jess Taylor on

    As with all growing things, it’s hard to choose a favorite! But one hardy woody plant that holds a special place for me is forsythia. We had a plant outside our kitchen window growing up and I thought it unique to my childhood home. Then my daughter and I planted one we found on clearance and got to watch it thrive over the course of 3 years in the home we last lived in together. This spring I found myself living in a new area, and realized it was the first time in my life that I watched spring begin in a new climate. So many new plants and blooms!!!! And flourishing everywhere was forsythia!!!! A little touch of home

    Reply
  260. Margaret Donovan on

    I am so impressed by the weigelia I planted a few years ago – it blooms mightily – covering itself with a coat of pink blossoms in early June for about an month – and grows like a teenager each year.

    Reply
  261. Lisa Halas on

    Deep dark purple Hollyhocks are my fave here. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this intriguing book!

    Reply
  262. Martha Bryan on

    Mock orange! Long lasting in a vase and it smells lovely.🙂

    Reply
  263. Kim Bowling on

    One of my favorite perennials is Hellebore. They give you the first glimmer of hope during the coldest days of winter.

    Reply
  264. Rhonna on

    I am obsessed with any fluffy grasses that will survive Uostate NY snow! Thank you for the giveaway! 🖤

    Reply
  265. Ruth on

    Hi, My current obsession is my great grandma’s 7 sisters rambling rose that is about to bloom. Enjoyed your book preview. Thank you so very much.

    Reply
  266. Jenn Amon on

    I live in New England where rows of large full hydrangeas (blue) are abundant. However, my all time favorite hydrangea is the Limelight. I’m enamored with the creamy white cone shaped blooms and enjoy the long , sturdy stems in flower arrangements. This flowering shrub offers both whimsy and structure.

    Reply
  267. Liz on

    This looks like such a lovely book! It is so difficult to name just one favorite perennial or shrub, but this year I’ve found myself using bleeding heart much more than I ever have before. I love the fragile and airy quality they add to arrangements, and they last quite a while in the vase! The white variety, Alba, is my favorite, and it has a fairly long bloom time in my shade garden here in Washingon.

    Reply
  268. Hailee Witt on

    My current obsession is the rose. I can’t get enough!

    Reply
  269. Greta Lowther on

    How wonderful!….I’ve been thinking so much about more perennial flower sources, and can’t wait to read this book!
    A plant that I discovered accidentally to be an AMAZING addition to arrangements is Highbush Cranberry, (Viburnum trilobum), which is native to northern North America. It has beautiful white lace cap flowers in the spring, and great clean maple leaf shaped foliage, and it lasted forever in a vase. It eventually rooted in fact, the only thing left of the arrangement, and still looking great. Anyway, I just love this plant!

    Reply
  270. Jean on

    I loved the arrangements from the book. My favorite is a lilac. The color, the scent and the shrub after the flowers are spent. And memories of my grandfather growing and pruning them.

    Reply
  271. Annie on

    Oh my yes… so difficult to choose .. but here we are trying hard to establish pollinator pathways so I have been revamping my garden as necessary .. this year I have developed a particular fondness for agastache blue fortune and agastache giant black adder hyssop .. they are new for me … of course I still love my peonies and coneflowers and cosmos too ! ❤️

    Reply
  272. Laura Tanglertpaibul on

    Asclepias is my favorite perennial – gorgeous color and form in arrangements. Mine get bigger every year and are a real standout in the garden as well.

    Reply
  273. Sam on

    It’s so hard to choose! 😊 Currently I’m really enjoying delphiniums and salvias. I love deep blues and purples and there are great options for these colours with both these plants.

    Reply
  274. Erin Riley on

    I love using skimmia in arrangements. The waxy leaves last a long time, and the bright, red berries are perfect for Christmas arrangements.

    Reply
  275. Julie on

    My favorite has to be peonies. Nothing compares to the fullness and size of the blooms.

    Reply
  276. Brenda Cats on

    Hard to choose one but old fashioned lilac is my favorite. My husband bought me a dwarf variety lilac with small dark violet blooms about 12-13 years ago for our anniversary . It smells great. We have a french hybrid in our backyard along the border between our house and the neighbors’s yard. Its been here over 25 years. In the spring it is full of fragrant blooms but they aren’t great for cutting so we just enjoy the 2-3 weeks of fabulous fragrance as the canyon winds blow the scent in to the house if its warm enough to open the windows! (Northern Utah)

    Reply
  277. pam barnes on

    So hard to choose one perennial but lilacs and their perfume are pretty beautiful.

    Reply
  278. Tracey Sherman on

    I live in south Texas, but was recently visiting Charlottesville, NC. There, I discovered the Sweetbay Magnolia. Though classified as a tree, at the hotel where I was staying, this magnolia looked more like a bush, and the blooms were, surprisingly, small and delicate compared to the large blooms of the magnolia trees I am familiar with. I hope someday to add a Sweetbay Magnolia to my garden, but it will have to be in a location other than hot, dry south Texas, because this variety prefers moist soil.

    Reply
  279. Nicky Pine on

    I love the New Zealand native Hebes, now in such a variery of cultivars. Great for borders, filling spaces and aren’t too fussy about the conditions they grow in.

    Reply
  280. Michelle Kavesh on

    I love sweet peas! So excited for this book – been wanting to plant delphiniums and other perennials. Thank you for entering me in the book drawing!

    Reply
  281. Hanna on

    So difficult, but right now I fell in love with Geum. Oh, and I planted some different Hypericum for their coloured berries, and they don’t mind the unusual heat and drought we’re having for weeks now. Could become a new favourite (easy to propagate, too!)

    Reply
  282. Barbara on

    I love Luculia gratissima, it has such beautiful scented flowers and it blooms when not many things are flowering.

    Reply
  283. Rachel on

    My favorite shrub is rose of Sharon. It’s so beautiful and dependable and shares the same namesake as my beloved mom. What’s not to love!

    Reply
  284. Jennifer on

    So many! Hellebores, lilacs, peonies, irises, old roses, aquilegia, knautia, echinacea, all my perennial herbs, and the natives for the pollinators.

    Reply
  285. Krista on

    Roses! I love that I can do a heavy trim if I feel like it and they still thrive.

    Reply
  286. Ivy on

    My favorite perennial of this year is the perennial pincushion. It’s quite prolific in flowering in its second year in my garden, and I LOVE the shape & color of its flowers! The view of a clump of purplish blue flowers is so distinctive and soothing.

    Reply
  287. Abby Miller on

    I live in Spokane, which is nicknamed lilac city. They will always be a favorite.

    Reply
  288. Dora on

    My favorite shrub is lavender. I have about four that are thriving. I love how beautiful they look and when I water or pass them I love the smell. Makes me happy.

    Reply
  289. Josephine Blasi on

    I have slowly discovered over the years that shrubs are amazing in the garden. Hydrangea is probably one of my favorite and I love all the different varieties that I have discovered. Another shrub I thoroughly enjoy, and use quite often is a shrub whose name I do not know. I’ve been able to grow starts from cuttings, and I have quite a few shrubs now on our property and my daughter uses them in many of her floral arrangements. I’ll have to look up that name somehow. Another shrub that has so many varieties that are so lovely are the viburnums. Thank you for the chance to be in the drawing.

    Reply
  290. Kathy Ivie on

    Peonies are my favorite flower, wish they bloomed all summer long.

    Reply
  291. Starr on

    I have really been loving the enormous number of different Salvia plants. Every year I get to know more and more about how different varieties work in my bouquets. There are so many and I have found that there are several that hold up well in floral arrangements.

    Reply
  292. Karin Johnston on

    Sanguisorbas have captured my attention in the last year or so. I noticed a picture of one in the article. They are quite resilient perennials. Mine grow in acidic, very damp conditions and in part sun and they do very well. Another bonus, the deer are not terribly interested. They do get nibbled in the spring but if you use a spray deterrent early in the year, it seems the deer are no longer interested once the bloom starts. I would love to add more to our garden but they are so hard to find locally. Maybe I need to start growing these lovelies en masse to get them out there?

    Reply
  293. Tami brundage on

    I just really love echinacea, it is such a lovely and useful flower!

    Reply
  294. Alison Freeman on

    I enjoy how abundant and versatile my Strawberry Shortcake hydrangea bushes have added to my summer/fall home arrangements. The flower bundles are white in the summer and slowly blaze into pink and deep maroon. The leaves are a fantastic addition as well.

    Reply
  295. Vada Grindy on

    I love the return of the salvias. There are so many forms and colors. With each year they become more beautiful and endearing. I look forward to them every year like an old friend returning for a visit.

    Reply
  296. Renee Fisher on

    I have a neighbor who allows me to cut curly willow branches from her tree. These branches make a wonderful winter arrangement in a large urn with boughs of evergreen clippings, pinecones and red possum haw berries!

    Reply
  297. Lenore Messick on

    I love all the bellflowers. Their petals are so delicate, and rhe cool colors, shades of blue, violet and dusry pink, are wonderful with the peonies and lady’s mantle that are a highlight of the June garden here in Northern Europe. They are endkessly interesting to look at, and to grow.

    Reply
  298. Peter Krimmel on

    My favorite is daphne. They smell incredible right in the middle of winter and just a few of them perfume an entire room!

    Reply
  299. Tera kinzel on

    I am currently adding woodies to my new cut garden. I don’t have a favorite, perhaps because I like so many plants! I have always loved anything cherry when in bloom.

    I am looking forward to reading this new amazing book! I am so greatful to everyone that has taken their ideas and passions, and seen them through.

    Reply
  300. Jenn Davis on

    I think hellebores are my favorite because they are often the first sign of spring after a long winter. I love all the varieties they come in and are great in any arrangement.

    Reply
  301. Jade Elms on

    I fell more deeply in love with daffodils this spring than ever before. They are so early and so cheerful during our rainy springs in Oregon. And the deer wont eat thim (which means I can plant them everywhere)!! Planning to plant a thousand more this fall.

    Reply
  302. Leah on

    There’s just too many! I don’t know how she narrowed it down, but I love, along with the rest of the world, peonies and hellebores, but I, too, love micro-seasonally. Any given week, whatever’s creeping back in, I love. I like seeing the dogwoods and lilacs slowly fill back in. I love all the bulbs PERIOD. Nigella, feverfew, buplereum, Bells of Ireland, lavender, etc., etc. Roses, Queen Anne’s lace, the mints….
    Her book sounds fantastically useful. I imagine it’s quite the resource. And how awesome to be able to quickly reach for one book instead of 45. Great interview .

    Reply
  303. Leah on

    There’s just too many! I don’t know how she narrowed it down, but I love, along with the rest of the world, peonies and hellebores, but I, too, love micro-seasonally. Any given week, whatever’s creeping back in, I love. I like seeing the dogwoods and lilacs slowly fill back in. I love all the bulbs PERIOD. Nigella, feverfew, buplereum, Bells of Ireland, lavender, etc., etc. Roses, Queen Anne’s lace, the mints….
    Her book sounds fantastically useful. I imagine it’s quite the resource. And how awesome to be able to quickly reach for one book instead of 45. Great interview .

    Reply
  304. Lisa Edelhuber on

    My favorites are daffodils because they take me back to my childhood carrying armloads from my grandparents field! I actually have some growing here at our new little flower farm that belonged to my grandparents from many many years ago. They have both passed on, but those memories from so long ago come flooding back when I see these flowers & smell their wonderful perfume each spring.💖

    Reply
  305. Carmen on

    My grandmother grew beautiful delphiniums many years ago when I was a child. Today, I cut my first bloom from my own plant!

    Reply
  306. Alexa on

    Mock orange. The smell is heavenly, and I’m always impressed how long it lasts in the vase.

    Reply
  307. Jessica Rosenberry on

    I love my bearded iris ‘. My Grandmother always had them and I still have one from her garden. They range in all colors and always bloom for me in the spring.

    Reply
  308. Stephanie Hough on

    What a beautiful book – it looks like inspiration galore!

    Reply
  309. Becky Walstead on

    I received a start of a weigela years ago. Every year I am so amazed at the color and beauty of it!

    Reply
  310. Denise Thanepohn on

    Lily of the valley is one of my favorites. The ones I have are my great grandmother’s stock which grew at the side of her house in Illinois. I never knew her, but I often visited my great aunt who lived in that house. I picked them every spring for her and my Mom. I still can see my grubby hands gently sliding up the flower so it didn’t break. The scent is wonderful and means early summer to me now that I live in Alaska. Perennials are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Two of my children have recently bought their first houses and I’ve promised them both some of Great Grandma Helene’s lily of the valley. And the tradition continues…

    Reply
  311. Charisa on

    Something is just so charming to me about Hellebores. They bring beauty at a time I seem to need it most!

    Reply
  312. Mary G on

    I love peonies, the many bvarieties , the beautiful fragrances. I wish they would last all summer long!
    Hydrangeas are a close second, with the variety of colors.

    Reply
  313. Lindsey Gunsauls on

    My favorite perennials are my David Austin roses! They just do something for my soul <3

    Reply
  314. Miriam on

    As a child, I loved my grandmother’s flowers, especially the bridal spirea and the mock orange. Now, I love the panicle hydrangeas in summer and fall.

    Reply
  315. Jennifer Shirar on

    This year I added scabiosa to my garden and I am slightly obsessed. They are so sweet and make such a lovely posy.

    Reply
  316. Michelle Brodsky on

    Hydrangeas are one of my favorite perennials. There are so many varieties and colors. My mother-in-law has a huge white that has blooms the size of a volleyball.

    Reply
  317. Melanie Stallings on

    I love hydrangeas as part of a beautiful arrangement. I’m looking forward to devouring this book.

    Reply
  318. Gerry G. on

    It is difficult to choose one perennial but I will choose peonies. So many varieties, gorgeous long lasting blooms, low maintenance and a very long lasting plant that gets better every year.

    Reply
  319. Judith Garlick on

    Shortly we will be leaving our beautiful farm and moving to an urban property more suitable to 3 generations of our family; at mid-seventy this seems like an adventure still. Today I indulged in the clipping of a huge jar of Winter Sweet (Chimonanthus praecox), inspired by your interview with Rachael. The kitchen smells divine. The tall shrub shows no sign of it’s trim. The glass jar full of bare branches with lemony brown buds and almost translucent cream flowers looks spectacular on the black granite bench.

    Reply
  320. Alison Densley on

    I love lupine! They don’t bloom for long but their flowers are so beautiful.

    Reply
  321. Dolly Perry on

    My favorite is the Mock Orange in my front yard. But I also love Lilacs and Forcythia.

    Reply
  322. Sheila on

    Right now I am obsessed with roses. I love the scents, colors, varieties of bloom style and size, and much more. I also enjoy the lavender around some of my roses, too, for the complementary colors and scents. So many more wonderful plants and that’s what’s in my viewfinder this week.

    Reply
  323. Michele A. on

    My favorite shrub is my doublefile viburnum. It’s very old and so elegant. In bloom, she’s a showstopper.

    t

    Reply
  324. Heather on

    My favorite Perennial is the one currently in bloom! There are too many to pick just one. This book sounds dreamy and full of wisdom and knowledge. Which will help me and many other to expand our flower farms

    Reply
  325. Jeanine L. on

    For the past couple of weeks I have been enjoying feverfew and Campanula poscharskyana together – the blue and white looks fresh and crisp, just right for this early summer season, and they have lasted a couple of weeks in the vase. And they both are easy perennials to grow and propagate.

    Reply
  326. Colleen Lopez on

    This year I discovered a perennial named “Astilbe”
    I’ve planted two of these and her light pink spires are so beautiful and fit lovely into my sweet little garden. Im very excited that she will bloom year after year.
    Colleen Lopez
    Zone 9

    Reply
  327. Sarah on

    One favorite is Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’

    Reply
  328. Rebecca Herzfeld on

    My favorite perennial is the camellia, but not for the flowers. The leafy branches make long-lasting greenery that provide a structural background for all types of flowers. If cut on the diagonal, slit at the bottom, and kept in water with flower food, the cuttings can last for several weeks and used for two or three arrangements. In the winter I have also picked branches with buds on them and put them in a vase. The evergreen leaves look great, and the flowers will slowly open and bloom inside when nothing else is flowering.

    Reply
  329. Stacy Stewart on

    Hello! So excited to read this book. My favorite perennial is delphinium. 😊

    Reply
  330. Kim on

    Love this so much, so inspiring! Can’t wait to read ideas for planning my perennial garden🪻

    Reply
  331. Deborah Carman on

    My favorite plant right now is persicaria. It’s like an exclamation mark with gorgeous leaves.

    Reply
  332. Elissa Arnold on

    New Love Clematis shrub, Clematis heracleifolia,
    is a beauty and adds such a lovely touch to the garden.
    The purple-blue blooms are stunning. The perennial
    is even better than the vine variety because it forms a
    bushy, upright silhouette that is self-supporting.
    A true gem❣️🎊🎉🌿🎊🎉🌿🎊🎉

    Reply
  333. Josie on

    One of my favorite perennials is Roses! Love them so much and this year they are just pumping out the blooms!!

    Reply
  334. Vannessa Osbourn on

    Peonies are my favorite perennial to use in arrangements. Sometimes you only need one!!

    Reply
  335. Anna Berry on

    I’m so excited for this book! I have an entire 1/4 acres of my property that I’ve decided to plant with shrubs and flowering trees. I’m eager for guidance and ideas. This books looks like just the think I need!

    Reply
  336. Ann on

    The first favorite that comes to mind is a peony. My Mom had pink and white ones in the back yard when I was growing up and the smell was just heavenly! I remember sitting and watching the ants busily climbing all over the blooms. Would love to have some for my yard some day! Favorite shrub would be the lilac. It’s another wonderful smell that triggers childhood memories and I am fortunate to have several in my yard.

    Reply
  337. Mike A on

    My favorite perennial “this season” has been yarrow. It grows so upright and blooms for such a long time. If I am lucky I can get a second late season burst. It self seeds well also. Works really well for filling in a flower bed over time.

    Reply
  338. Laura Brunk on

    My favorite perennial are my purple coneflowers. Not a lot of fuss and it’s fun to see the goldfinches ear the seeds. Missouri 6b

    Reply
  339. Jane on

    I love hellebores in the early spring. Ice and Roses is my new favorite hellebore.

    Reply
  340. Karen on

    My favorite for years has been hydrangeas. I also have grown to love peonies as well. Both of these plants have many different varieties and colors of flowers. This book looks beautiful!!

    Reply
  341. Becky on

    I love perennials and your arrangements are so earthy I love them, looking forward to getting ahold of your book,

    Reply
  342. Daisy Henderson on

    My favorite perennial is a Malvaviscus arboreus, aka Turks Cap. It’s native to North Texas, and I love it because it’s such a fast growing shrub that has the cutest little red blooms that attract hummingbirds, and it comes back every spring even during our coldest winters.

    Reply
  343. Karen Turner on

    My favorite is a peony…any peony…I love every one of them but especially my first 3 as they were a gift from my Grandmother 43 years ago. Now we have 250 in our yard, 70 varieties. About 40 of them are in our germination beds, ready to be gifted or sold at our valley wide plant sale. The plant sale proceeds support our elementary school pollinator gardens and a college student scholarship fund.

    I have been doing ‘peony rescues’ for about 30 years. Folks call me to come dig them from the churches, barns, yards, farms…usually due to construction projects. I dig them, divide and pot them for the plant sale. My neighbors are the recipients of some but after so many years their beds are full and their family’s bed are full. But there are always a few new neighbors, it’s a great way to make friends…’want any peonies?’…it’s a rare birds that declines. 🥰

    Reply
  344. Renee Link on

    yarrow is native plant (for my region), grows easily, holds up well and offers a complimentary fill to nearly any arrangement.

    smoke bush and nine bark are unique and generous.

    Reply
  345. Mechel Wall on

    I have been blown away with my Purple Poppy Mallow. I planted it in a full sun berm and it’s covered about a 6×6 area. With a new landscape at our new build, plants that perform well are a blessing when everything else is small and immature.

    Reply
  346. Cheryl on

    I love my mock orange bush. It reminds me of a special time during my childhood, when my mom and I were able to move from a decrepit, scary old house to an adorable and freshly redecorated little home in a small nearby town. A huge mock orange bush reigned over the gorgeous garden in the back yard. That was the beginning of happier times for our little family.

    Reply
  347. Katrina Kaufman on

    I am by no means a seasoned flower grower at the age of 65, but I am a seasoned flower lover! I’ve always had a flower garden for as long as I can remember but since retiring, I have been inspired to start planting cut flowers. I got a late start here in Indiana as I was busy in the spring moving my mom from TN to IN to live with me. We had to leave behind her 40 year old rose bush which broke my heart! 💔 Someday I want to start growing roses here. Right now, my pride & joy is my Smooth white hydrangeas! They remind me of snow in summer! I am learning how to cut them so my mom can enjoy them in her bedroom! I LOVE “Growing Floret”!

    Reply
  348. Emily T. on

    What a beautiful book! I would say hydrangeas and forsythias are my favorite!

    Reply
  349. Cristin on

    My three year old baptisia burst at the seams this Spring; I think it might be my new favorite. In the summer, my Henry Eilers Rudbeckia gives and gives, and then gives some more! To me and to the pollinators 💛
    This new book looks divine!

    Reply
  350. Jocelyn Delong on

    It’s hard to decide on a favourite but maybe because it is blooming in my garden now, I love Mock Orange. The smell is amazing and it takes me back to my childhood growing up on a small hobby farm with parent who were gardeners. I’ve just discovered that I can add it to my bouquets.

    Reply
  351. Veronika on

    Is extremely difficult to choose just one favorite! My current favorites are delphinium, lilac, and hollyhock.

    Thank you for bringing this beautiful book to our attention, and for all the resources you provide! 🌺

    Reply
  352. Meagan Rossi on

    Hard to pick a favorite – I love roses, they remind me of gardening with my mom and Pake (grandpa). Peonies are a challenge for me and very frustrating but I am going to keep working on them hah. I also have a hydrangea tree that I planted in honor of my dad after he passed that is special. I want to add in some lilac shrubs and climbing roses next!

    Reply
  353. Lyn Bonham on

    I love gardenias and hydrangeas. I have just started gardening this year, at age 66, and it is bringing me such peace and joy. I feel a deep connection to my grandmother when I am working in the garden. I would love to use this book as a beautiful resource to brighten my garden!

    Reply
  354. Susan Martin on

    I was given 5 alstroemeria seeds 30 years ago. Just beginning to garden then …I didn’t know what those seeds would become. I have not seen this variety anywhere … the yummiest coral, peachy pink with yellow eyes on 3’ sturdy stems. They last two weeks as a cut flower.
    Now a modest flower farmer … they are in the earliest bouquets sold in front of my home. All proceeds are donated to local charities (last year $12,000)
    My annual gardens are now filled with Floret delights. People go crazy over these unique bouquets! It is so fun to see the happiness the $10 bouquets bring.
    Total full circle experience. I get to do what I love … and people get fantastic generous bouquets.
    Meals on Wheels and Animal Services are the beneficiaries. I feel 🍀 lucky to be living this life.
    Thanks Erin
    ⭕️❌ Sue Martin Olympia WA

    Reply
  355. Jody on

    I love my lemon verbena shrub. Whenever I walk by it I have to grab the leaves and run them through my fingers then inhale the fragrance. So wonderful!

    Reply
  356. Rachel C on

    I finally got some peony blooms this year, so I would call those my current favorites!

    Reply
  357. Teri on

    We had huge viburnum snowball bushes growing along the fence of my childhood home, and I just planted some in my own yard this year.

    Reply
  358. Anna on

    Thank you for sharing – the book looks gorgeous. I will never grow weary of beautiful books on floriculture. Currently my favorite (and one I don’t see anyone talking about for arrangements is Baptisia (False Indigo). The leaves are spectacular with a super long vase life. They’re a nitrogen fixing perennial native to central/eastern North America and a workhorse in the garden and earlier bloomer than many others. Their lupine-like flowers are beloved by bumblebees and they create super unique black pods in late fall that persist through winter. Hope others will enjoy her and fall in love like I have!

    Reply
  359. Dusan Clark on

    So many options, but my current favorites are roses, peonies, and hydrangeas.

    Reply
  360. kat on

    I have so many favorites that show off their beauty, but I look forward to the blooming of my Lenten Rose in early spring in Michigan.
    That first of the year, coming up in the snow, peeking out of their last years sheltering leaves helps me know that Spring is finally on its way.
    Plus the blooms last into the start of Summer.

    Reply
  361. Sherrie Young on

    My favorite is the lilac because of the fragrance! I think including it in a bouquet adds character to the bouquet, even when it is just in bud.

    Reply
  362. Lisa B on

    That’s a tough one, but having just wrapped up peony season, I would have to say peonies.

    Reply
  363. Lori Christian on

    I typically swoon over whatever is in bloom. This week my favorites are Campanula ‘Pink Octopus’ for its whimsical blooms and Campanula punctata x trachelium ‘Sarastro’ for its phenomenal color.

    Reply
  364. Stephanie on

    My absolute favorite perennial in my garden are the Sunset Hyssop/Agastache rupestris. They smell wonderful and attract all the hummingbirds and bees.

    Reply
  365. Amie on

    I love delphiniums, Gillenia, Henry eilers, and smoke bush

    Reply
  366. Mary on

    Roses! I love the smell of them and all the beautiful colors. My grandfather had a rose garden when I was growing up and they always remind me of him and his garden.

    Reply
  367. Rachel Webb on

    Definitely daffodils.. I always know spring is right around the corner when I see them coming up! The earth is warming up from its winter nap!

    Reply
  368. Brie Quinn on

    My favorite perennials currently are herbs – sage, oregano, rosemary. They are often overlooked in the cut flower space, but they can be very popular design elements plus they all smell amazing! Additionally I love dogwood for woodies. My neighbor has a patch and it looks so pretty in the summer with its variegated leaves, and is so bright in the dull Maine winters when they are the fiery red sticks! Can’t wait to add some to my production.

    Reply
  369. Cathy Baker on

    My absolute favorite flower is the peony – its beauty and fragrance – yet such a tough plant. This article really spoke to me because my biggest gardening challenge is doing it all by myself and never being able to get to everything I wish to accomplish. The perennial is most certainly an aid on that front (something that can be done much better with flowers than with edibles !)

    Reply
  370. Ashley Bowes on

    Oh so many to choose from but if I had to choose, it would be snap dragons I love the way they open up and look like little fairy flowers 😍

    Reply
  371. Ann Kerker on

    My favorite perennial is Clematis, it’s the gift that keeps on giving year after year….I never tire of all the beautiful colors!!

    Reply
  372. Tracy Gartner on

    I’d have to say the lilac! The smell takes me back to childhood, picking them for my mum & making “perfume” with them by filling a little glass bottle with water & their flowers 💜

    Reply
  373. Carol on

    Not much of a gardener but feel myself getting pulled in to flower gardening by all the lovely inspiration Erin and her team provide.

    Reply
  374. Stacie Bettinson on

    I have several varieties of Hydrangea in my yard and love bringing them in for bouquets from July to October. They last quite a while in the vase and even love them dried thru the fall. The huge Limelights are probably my favorite.

    Reply
  375. Kalynne Gray on

    My favorite perennial is my daylily. I bought it for my grandma for her 80th birthday and gave it to her in a pot. About a year later, she asked me to take it and plant it in my garden. A few months later she passed away and when it bloomed in my garden later that spring, I felt like I was so connected to her. The next spring (May 29, 2023), this daylily had its first bloom of the season, on her birthday. She is always there with me, in my garden. After her birthday, I bought a couple more daylilies and they have been putting on a show!

    Reply
  376. Autumn on

    My favorite right now is my butterfly bush! It’s in full bloom and so fragrant! The bright pink flowers are so beautiful. They just make me happy!

    Reply
  377. KP on

    I love blue vervain, sedum, and mostly my oregano when it flowers

    Reply
  378. Sandra Zendner on

    My favorite? Oh depends on the season. I do love lavender though. Especially the taller varieties that soert of wave in the breeze.

    Reply
  379. Megan on

    Hydrangeas, hydrangeas, hydrangeas!!

    Reply
  380. Kathleen Clemons on

    Seeing my grandmother’s Peonies open each year at my home brings me great joy, grateful for her legacy plants.

    Reply
  381. Catherine Thorne on

    Today my favorite is the mock orange bush growing outside my dining room, where its aroma wafts in through the window. Heavenly!! 💫

    Reply
  382. Amber on

    Peonies are so beautiful and I love the fragrance.

    Reply
  383. Monica DeMars on

    I would love to check out this new resource and wealth of knowledge from Rachel. I have a very small garden and I love cut flowers. So incorporating perennials that do both is the goal. I love hydrangeas, roses, lavender and peonies. Great blog! Thanks

    Reply
  384. Johanna George on

    Liatris! I planted 50 bulbs last year and wish it had been 500 with how wonderfully they have come up and multiplied this year! P.s. pick me,please!

    Reply
  385. Deb Moss on

    I have been growing Milkweed for the last three years. The first year the plants did not produce any flowers or pods. Last year there were a few more and the runners pretty much took over my little flower bed. In the spring this year I pulled and cut stems that I did not want. I now have these beautiful flowers with the sweetest aroma. The bees and loving it. And I saw my first butterfly today. Hoping for a few monarch butterflies this year. I also have a stand of Tiger Lillies that I started four years ago. I just love these beauties.

    Reply
  386. Denise on

    Again, the flower, and stem rules, teaches and inspires. To keep going, moving through dreams and visions of our own.

    Reply
  387. Kayla on

    My favorite is peonies for sure! But there are so many good ones and I am excited to keep learning more!

    Reply
  388. Kathleen Palanca on

    Hi Erin, thanks for this giveaway and opportunity to share my love for Roses! I’ve been growing them in containers – about 21 and adding a few more heritage. It has been an adventure to track down discontinued David Austin varieties and learning old garden roses. I absolutely adore them – their colour, fragrance and form, its winter now in Australia and can’t wait for rose season.

    Reply
  389. Joanne Fetting on

    My mood changes season to season and year to year. This year some favorites are hellebores, lupines and foxgloves

    Reply
  390. Maggie Kaiser on

    So hard to choose! Peonies and lilacs! I hope to expand with more perennials next season.

    Reply
  391. Angela Good on

    Native Azaleas are my favorite plant of any type. I planted 13 where we last lived, in the Florida panhandle. We have returned to Memphis and I have plans to tuck them into every corner of our small walled backyard. Watching them bloom every spring is one of the greatest joys of gardening for me. I love the airy form of their branches and the small amount of space that they take up. The fragrance of Florida Flame is amazing.

    Reply
  392. Carrie on

    I love lavender, peonies and black-eyed susans. Each of these fill me with a sense of calm and contentment. I often divide my black-eyed susans and share them with family and friends.

    Reply
  393. Sarah B. on

    I love hydrangeas! Hydrangeas are so low maintenance and are beautiful as a stand alone flowers or with other flowers.

    Reply
  394. Catherine Rousselle on

    Peonies and lilacs, because I mean, THE SMELL. And bonus, they look amazing.

    Reply
  395. Susie Tollstrup on

    Oh what fun! I’m anxious to widen my scope when it comes to perennial flowers and shrubs. My favorite perennial? Probably my David Austin Roses, particularly the Eden climber. Planted late last season along a picket fence, they have performed exceptionally this year and surround my raised beds. My own garden of “Eden”!

    Reply
  396. Jane on

    I love so many perennials but some of my favorites are echinacea, peonies, climbing roses, oh and foxgloves!! So beautiful!! I’m curious if the book references the zones the perennials work in, I feel like England is very different than Vermont.

    Reply
  397. Rhonda Niblett on

    My favorites are lavender and peonies. Due to harsh winters here in Montana I like the idea of perennials and shrubs. We have such a short growing season often that the most bang in the shortest time is valuable. I also like the more wild and earthy arrangements when incorporating plantings other than the traditional flowers for arrangements. Thank you for the nice interview.

    Reply
  398. Patty on

    I had the most gorgeous blue spirea shrub and it was my baby but I lost it it this year and I don’t know why so now I need something to replace it this book woukd be a great addition in helping me to that ..anything I can plant and cut is a winner for me .

    Reply
  399. Kelly McNeill on

    My absolute favorite are my grandmother’s calla lilies. I moved them many many years ago and mistakenly covered them with silage tarp. I never marked where I planted them so I just knew I had killed them because they never appeared again for years. But this year, they have reappeared in the old spot and the place I replanted them in. My Nana’s flowers are absolutely beautiful!!!!

    Reply
  400. Lindsay on

    My favorite perennial is yarrow – I love the delicate flowers and the airiness it brings in a bouquet!

    Reply
  401. Nancy on

    Ten years ago I moved from the coastal area of California to the mountains of northwest Arizona. I now live at 5,500 feet altitude in zone 6b. To my delight my beloved roses grow well in this area and I have 36 bushes. However, I have discovered a new perennial that grows extremely well in this dry mountain climate that I have come to love. It is salvia. There are so many amazing colors from purple to red and orange and they bloom profusely all summer. I am always amazed at how they come back every spring stronger and larger than before. If you cut them back to the ground after the first flush they arise victoriously and give you more glorious blooms. A true winner

    Reply
  402. Lindsay on

    Mophead hydrangeas are a perennial that I grew up with, seeing it everywhere on Long Island, NY. My aunt is somewhat of a hydrangea whisperer and grows many of them in her small garden. It is for sure a fairy perennial to me.

    Reply
  403. Randi Pratini on

    Kerria japonica stirs my fancy as well as so many others fancies whom I share it with.

    Reply
  404. Judith on

    My favorite shrub is the forsythia. Not really for aesthetic reasons–although yellow is one of my favorite colors, and it is particularly welcome as one of the first signs of Spring–but for very sentimental reasons. I lived for years in coastal Southern California, where there was insufficient chill for it. But now I live in Northern Texas. I planted it the first autumn I lived here.It’s thriving, and this Spring I brought some delicate branches into my home. I’ll stop now. I might cry.

    Reply
  405. Clare on

    I love to use the old rose families in an arrangement- species, gallicas, albas, noisettes and damasks to add fragrance.

    Reply
  406. Stephinie on

    I’m not sure I can pick a favorite, but I’m currently burrying my nose in every peony and putting giant blooms in every room in the house! Definitely excited about this book as I’m currently designing some large new perennial beds on our farm!

    Reply
  407. Rebecca on

    Hellebores are absolutely lovely!

    Reply
  408. Kate on

    Peonies, hydrangeas and roses!! ❤️

    Reply
  409. Debbie Dorst on

    My favorite bush is Cotinus ( smoke tree) . It adds such amazing color and interest to arrangements!

    Reply
  410. Danielle on

    Smokebush is so interesting and beautiful, it’s definitely one of my top 3 favorites. This book sounds like a must have for all gardeners!

    Reply
  411. Bethany on

    One of my favorite bushes lately has been my pussy willow. It is so prolific and I love the greenery it puts off. It adds a great depth and fullness to a bouquet!

    Reply
  412. MaryBeth Brandt-Mailhot on

    I love flowering quince. When I was a little girl, we always included small branches of them in the May baskets we delivered to friends. I’m trying to collect cuttings from the bushes at my mothers’s home. She passed this last year and the bushes are so huge, I can’t imagine trying to move them.

    Reply
  413. Mendy Pelster on

    What a wonderful idea for a book! I can’t wait to read it. There are so many to love but gardenia, hydrangea, and crape myrtle are some that I love. Beyond that, my newest addition is curly red willow and it is beautiful and prolific. I could go on but apparently can’t pick just one.

    Reply
  414. anne on

    Daffodils are my absolute favorite.

    Reply
  415. Cathy Roche on

    My favourite is magnolia fairy blush for floral arrangements all year round. Gorgeous with just leaves, flower buds before opening, flowering and after flowers. No maintenance oh and the little waxeye birds love it.

    Reply
  416. Stephany Bryant on

    Favorite shrub is nandina bush used for greenery. Favorite perennial is phlox.

    Reply
  417. Cindy Conner on

    What a beautiful book❤️
    My heart swoons every spring at the sight of lemon yellow Forsythia when it is paired with coral flowering Quince. The colors together are like a gift as the garden comes to life. I like them best when they’re allowed to grow wildly out of control.

    Reply
  418. Gwen Van Netten on

    One of my favourites is ligularia. There’s a type for all gardens, be it sun, part sun or shade. The purple leaves add a wonderful colour impact as well.

    Reply
  419. Karla on

    My favorites are always changing, sometimes daily, today my favorite is baptisia…

    Reply
  420. Nancy Duran on

    I love peonies and lilacs. Both come and go so quickly, but I sure enjoy them when they’re here!

    Reply
  421. Danee on

    Im in Zone 6A in Michigan. My favorite perennial? I absolutely love hellebores. I had planted two at our old house and I now realize they weren’t getting something they need because it took 5 years for them to do much. We moved two years ago and I planted 12 new ones and they were prolific this year. I am thrilled that most of them have beautiful flowers still. I wanted to pick them so badly but my kitty eats everything I bring in. I decided a nice shelf that is higher than she can reach is the answer for next year.

    Reply
  422. Natalie Larson on

    I love any type of rose! I have a hard time getting them to thrive!

    Reply
  423. Amy on

    Love so many, but have a growing love of hellebores and how amazing they make an arrangement!

    Reply
  424. Amber Doig on

    What a marvelous interview. Thank you for putting this beautiful flower story on your blog. I have many favorites, don’t we all? If I have to select one woody, it is woody sage for fragrance, strength and color. My all time favorite perennial has to be Shasta Daisy,.

    Reply
  425. Katherine Morin on

    My favorite perennial is echinacea. I love it in all its shapes and colors. I am starting a collection for cold climates on my land. I can’t wait to discover all the varieties adapted to my climate.

    Reply
  426. K McG on

    Lavender is my favorite. The smell and color and stately beauty.

    Reply
  427. Karen Risser on

    Rachel’s book speaks to me. I have always loved the textures of the out-of-the-ordinary plants to incorporate into arrangements. Most folks are surprised by the unusual.
    Thank you Rachel for your dedication to growing and perseverance in writing a book to share with all of us!

    Reply
  428. Rebecca Hammond on

    My favorites are lilacs and peonies. They were both favorites of my Gran, who passed on her love of flowers and plants to me. Luckily, I got her green thumb, too!

    Reply
  429. Anna on

    I love cotinus!

    Reply
  430. Bonnie Doane on

    Bonnie Doane June 20th 2023

    I have so many favorites, but “Rockin Playin’ The Blues” Salvia longispicata x farinacea is right up there with the best. It is easy care, blooms
    profusely. It hangs on to it’s flower petals for a very long time. Very showy in the garden.

    Reply
  431. Margie Harper on

    It’s hard for me to choose my favorite! I have been unable to do my gardens this year because of an injury that happened while tending to our Koi pond.
    I happen to come across your program and haven’t stopped watching. I went through season one on a Saturday and loved everything about what you do.

    Looking forward to many more episodes and plan on ordering seeds and other items from your site.
    Than you for sharing your family and your passion with all of us garden lovers.

    Reply
  432. Annie Cohen on

    My favourite perennial is Verbena Bonariensis, I bought three plants to interweave among my tall grasses at the back of my front verandah border, only to find a few weeks later that the 300 Acre farm my husband and I had just bought on semi arid land in western NSW, Australia, is absolutely packed with these beauties!

    Anyhow- I love it so much that “wasting” the money on them wasn’t even slightly painful. And now I get to enjoy endless fields of purple through most of the summer, gently waving in the breeze.

    Reply
  433. Michele Paciunas on

    Wow! I am reading these 1500 ( so far!) comments and writing a list! So many are new to me. I agree it is impossible to pick a favorite but hydrangeas are pretty amazing!
    Erin I tried your boiling water trick the other day for some “Limelite “ that I needed for a wedding- amazing! Whoever discovered such a thing??
    Thank you so much for your generosity and all the knowledge you share. I will be looking for Rachel’s book and enjoyed the interview!

    Reply
  434. Nancy Lucas on

    I’m currently enjoying our hydrangeas here in the Sacramento area…but the gardenias may win over because of their intoxicating perfume! Too hard to choose a fave perennial💜

    Reply
  435. Lea on

    So hard to pick one favorite! I would have to say tulips. Love seeing them pop up after a long winter.

    Reply
  436. Charlotte on

    Goodness so many favorite perennials but my newly discovered perennial is Baptisia! I absolutely love the foliage and the gorgeous purple flowers that the gigantic bumblebees must find intoxicating! My mom and I just visited a botanical garden and that’s where we discovered there are all different colors of Baptisia! I’m thinking my next color to add to my garden is Pink Lemonade!

    Reply
  437. E. Lorraine Thomas on

    One of my favorite perennials are the hollyhocks. These beautiful, stately flowers really makes my garden pop!

    Reply
  438. Lynda Dorrington on

    Rachel and Erin, thank you for being so inspirational and generous with your knowledge. I garden in Australia and while weather is a constant challenge, wildlife runs a close second. It has taken time to find the middle ground between growing and sharing a percentage of everything with the critters that call the garden home. I love lilacs and daphne for the richness they bring to winter and early spring with roses, hydrangea and dahlias filling the summer months with shrubs like viburnums’, crepe myrtle and smokebush for their unique flowers and autumn foliage. Having recently retired, I’m finally doing what I was always meant to do…I’m a fulltime gardener.

    Reply
  439. Tracy Teed on

    Hydrangeas!! Its always been hydrangeas!

    Reply
  440. Andrea on

    Camellias are my favorite perennial because when mine unfurl their petals on the bush, I am transported to my childhood and watching my mother float the beautiful, bright pink blossoms in low crystal bowls filled with water and candles. Flowers are powerful memory holders. ❤️

    Reply
  441. Natalia on

    The photograph with the pale coneflower really caught my eye. When I see a flower arrangement with echinacea is the echinacea purpurea and not the echinacea pálida, which lives in the garden longer than purpurea. I mostly make arrangements for myself from my own garden/backyard and mostly use perennials that are blooming at the time, so a book that is all about using perennials as cut flowers seems fascinating.

    Reply
  442. Erin on

    Lilacs have always been my favorite because they remind me of my childhood and make me think of my mom and her bright purple kitchen! The smell never fails to perk up my spirit.

    Reply
  443. Jane warner on

    I have to choose forsythia as it was the first blooming spring shrub. Coming from Buffalo , New York it was such a welcoming sign of new life after a long, cold winter. Covered with snow, it still survived the elements. We also used to take cuttings inside and it was easily forced into blooming. Just loved it’s bright yellow flowers!

    Reply
  444. Betsy Walbridge on

    I love the concept of using predominantly perennials and woody plants for arranging. As I shift my garden cutting garden to sustainablity and helping pollinators I am looking to follow her approach.

    Reply
  445. Allison Fraker on

    Favorite perennial is the peony and I love to research and share it’s age. Love to share with folks that the plant can live for decades, something to share with your children’s children! Her book sounds exactly like what I need. Thank you for the many resources!

    Reply
  446. Linda Asberry on

    The book looks amazing!
    My favorite has to be lilacs, my grandmother had them in her yard and whenever I smell a lilac it reminds me of her and takes me back to my childhood.
    We now live on the family farm and still have some of her lilacs that I treasure.

    Reply
  447. Milya on

    My favorite shrub has always been Ceanothus, or California lilac. Love the bluish purple color of the flowers and love that it makes the bees happy! Salvia is a close second for much the same reason!

    Reply
  448. Christina on

    Lavender is my fav perennial…relaxing scent and pretty textural spires that I sneak into our kitchen bouquets. Excited for this book!

    Reply
  449. Jennifer Hawke on

    I would love this book!
    My favorite perennials to use in bouquets are roses, delphinium, spirea, mint, agastache, and yarrow.

    Reply
  450. Amie on

    Cliche perhaps but my little Lilac ‘tinkerbell’ is such a treat every spring!

    Reply
  451. Heather Bright on

    I am looking at the beautiful picture of flowers, trees, shrubs, and arrangements wondering what’s the names of these beauties. Some I have never seen before. I want to grow them and I am fascinated about Rachel’s book. I want to learn as much as possible for my flower farm I just started last year. I hope to read this book soon.

    Thank you so much for continuing to share your knowledge of the flower farming would. I have learn so much already from your post, blogs, Facebook, YouTube, and classes. I hope to continue learning for years to come.

    Reply
  452. Antigone Smith on

    Currently have a huge crush on smoke bushes, especially in the dark chocolatey tones! Great addition to a more ephemeral arrangement.

    Reply
  453. Kathleen on

    I love the Eden Climber Rose. It is resilient in or hot summer months and has a gorgeous display of roses in spring.

    Reply
  454. Olivia on

    I love the idea of letting your garden walk inspire your arrangements! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book.

    Reply
  455. Cindy McCormick on

    My favorite perennial today is agastache. I love the variety of colors and sizes of the blooms. It has a long bloom life and the humming birds go crazy over it!
    My favorite shrub had to be viburnum…all varieties. So many leaf textures, colors and flowers.

    Reply
  456. Pheigi Sughara Macdonald on

    Living in Japan spring is all about the cherry blossom but I much prefer the plum blossom which come out about a month before and are a much deeper pink colour which really pops out against the bare dark branches and tells us that winter is really over. My favourite micro season is: Kawazu Hajimete Naku – frogs start singing.

    Reply
  457. Lee Ann Beckwith on

    So many beautiful options! My favorite has to be hydrangeas. I love all varieties and
    Get excited to see them bloom. I love using them in floral arrangements. One of my favorite to see bloom is my climbing hydrangea and its beautiful lacey blooms. Thank you for
    This opportunity.

    Reply
  458. Helen Brown on

    My favorite in my garden is the purple Cootamundra wattle, Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea. It’s foliage is absolutely stunning but unfortunately it doesn’t flower for me here in Queensland Australia as it is not cold enough but it buds up beautifully and along with the purple silver foliage is just stunning.

    Reply
  459. Donna on

    My favorite perennial is a 12 inch day lily/trumpet lily called Happy Returns. My brother who has a garden center calls this pale yellow beauty Happy Faces because it makes people smile.
    I have a row of these at the front of our lawn that reappears every spring and lasts until November. Having never really thought of myself as a gardener, I realize now that I love to grow beautiful plants and carefully plan containers year after year to complement the garden. I guess I am a gardener.

    Reply
  460. Andrea on

    I don’t have one specific favorite perennial. Each is great at filling its little niche in the garden. Currently, the baptisia is a favorite, but last week the peonies were! And maybe the daylilies in the coming weeks will be next! Can’t wait to get my hands on this book.

    Reply
  461. Andrea on

    My favorites are peonies and grasses – so much color and texture with both!

    Reply
  462. Rebecca Bolton on

    “I’m a plant addict.”
    Pretty much sums it up.❤

    Reply
  463. Kathleen Kennedy on

    I have a brides pearl or brides bouquet that I know is at least a hundred years old. My neighbors all get some of this glorious bounty early in spring. Every year I say I will root cuttings so I can ensure it continues to make people happy. Note to self, root cuttings.
    Kathleen Kennedy [email protected]

    Reply
  464. Michelle on

    Lupines! Shrub would be Huckleberries (a native here). It has such delicate looking leaves (of course the berries are yummy too) :)

    Reply
  465. Jeanne on

    I love calycanthus and I think my favorite shrub is hydrangea and all types colors and shapes, I just can’t get enough of them. They look so great with Dahlias at the summers end!

    Reply
  466. Heidi on

    I love including raspberry branches in my bouquets. They last a long time in the vase and there are so many sprouts to use.

    Reply
  467. Janet Mandeville on

    Here in the Pacific Northwest I have discovered how wonderful my honeysuckle plant does in my flower arrangements. The sweet smell is always an added bonus. The draping of the stems adds to the fullness of the arrangement. Blooms every year and attracts many bees and hummingbirds pollinators.

    Reply
  468. Roxane Rolon on

    My favorite flowers are delphiniums and my favorite shrubs are hydrangeas. I love blue flowers the most along with soft pinks and lavender shades. Another favorite of mine are coneflowers. They come in such beautiful colors like orange, red, and hot pink. Of course it’s not easy to choose just one.

    Reply
  469. Sarah Griner on

    I love peonies. The burst of color is gorgeous but you can also do so much with the beautiful, shiny green leaves

    Reply
  470. Pauline Keenoy on

    My favourites are the roses, which flower in abundance in my garden and are at their best in June. I grow a variety too numerous to mention but more recent additions are the English roses, Emily Bronte and Darcy Bussell, both from David Austin. One of the first one’s I planted was Gertrude Jekyll, sent as a replacement for the one I ordered which was out of stock. It’s been flowering it’s head off every summer for the best part of 30 years. I love to fill the house with bowls of the bright pink flowers, which are so beautiful and the scent is wonderful. Happy days.

    Reply
  471. Sherla Hecker on

    I’d have to say my all time Summer favorite for many, many years has been Echinacea (if I could ever learn to spell it right). I love that now I keep finding new color variations but the pink one will always be in my garden. Such a happy plant and the bees love em too.

    Reply
  472. Melissa Bokman Ermer on

    I have so many favorite shrubs I started on this farmed we moved to in 2018. The one worthy of mention here is Cephalanthus occidentalis or Buttonbush. It’s a native here and it’s finally ready this year for me to cut some stems for use in my designs! :) I love the white spiky flowers and it’s a pollinator favorite.

    Reply
  473. Frieda on

    Pink dog roses are my absolute childhood favourite. They were growing in the dunes at the beaches everywhere and I believe there is nothing better than the smell of the ocean and those roses combined. Unfortunately I have found myself relocated in Iceland and the harsh winds, cold and salt are doing my head in. I am glad I can always count on my aquilegia and lupins to return every year faithfully outside of my greenhouse oasis.

    Reply
  474. Gale Schwarb on

    I enjoy bleeding hearts for their long bloomtime and ferny foliage. I use both the stems of hanging blooms and the foliage in mixed bouquets from my garden.

    Reply
  475. Mary Collins-Lyman on

    Our favorite perennials are hellebores…..they never disappoint and are glorious right out of the gate when the last bit of snow melts. They seem to thrive in our gardens mo matter where we put them so every year we add more…….we just love them!!!!

    Reply
  476. Donna on

    I love the nine barks!! I took cuttings of the ones I have, to expand my plants!! I now have a couple dozen year old baby shrubs!! Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply
  477. Susan on

    Hello! My name is Susan and since I was a young child my favorite Perennial is Black Eyed Susan. I grown it in Georgia where we live in the North Georgia. I would love a copy of your book. Thank you.

    Reply
  478. Kathleen Woods-Smith on

    I love Hydrangeas, any and all of them. When I lived in Alaska (37 years) it just wasn’t possible to have them for more than one season except in a pot. Now that I retired to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, I can grow them in my garden. I love leaving the spent blossoms on the shrubs throughout the winter because the papery remnants are so beautiful. It is exciting to watch them come to life every spring.

    Reply
  479. Cheryl Mills on

    Well, it’s hard to chose one or two, but I love lilacs for the fragrance, and hellebores for winter bloom. So glad someone wrote a book on this subject as I am developing a garden where I can cut flowers and foliage for arrangements.

    Reply
  480. Rachelle B. on

    Such a stunning cover! Favorite woody shrub is the hydrangea! I hope it is in your book not remains a mystery to me! I also have started a small rose collection that has taken over my heart. ❤️

    Reply
  481. Rhoda on

    I love peonies. My grandmother had a deep magenta peony that she passed starts to any of her 56 grandchildren that wanted them. I just love seeing them grow in my cousins gardens.

    Reply
  482. Rhonda Chilton on

    It is hard to pick a favorite perennial or shrub. I would go between peonies and lilac bushes. I grew up in Iowa where both of these grew in abundance, but now live in the mountains of AZ and at our elevation, they struggle, but I still look forward to seeing what happens each spring with my AZ peonies and lilacs.

    Reply
  483. Dee on

    I love the colors of blues and purples so I love lavender and lilac plants

    Reply
  484. Sheila on

    What a valuable resource this book would be in my library. My favorite plant changes frequently but today it would be lavender. The scent is calming and magically to me.

    Reply
  485. Mary Menendez on

    Roses (particularly the old-fashioned ones) and Peonies… two of my favorites… a third favorite is hydrangeas… these flowers bring me happy memories and remind me of my youth and being a young mother!

    Reply
  486. Mary Richardson on

    Great interview!
    Right now I’m in love with my peonies, and the weather (drought) this year actually seemed to enhance their beauty because they didn’t droop and turn brown from excess water.

    Reply
  487. Jean on

    Thank you for posting the interview. The pictures were wonderful! One of my favorites is Echinacea. Any color!

    Reply
  488. Bobbie on

    I love Deutzia cut just before the bell shaped blooms open. I have two varieties, one from each of my grandmothers gardens. They are long lived, deer resistant, and drought tolerant.

    Reply
  489. Heather on

    I love peonies and lavender. LOVE. I’m currently working on converting our front yard into a wildlife and pollinator wonderland and am super excited to learn about other perennials.

    Reply
  490. Heather Herbay on

    One of my favorite perennials to grow in my garden is Mondarda Jacob Cline as it attracts hummingbirds to our garden and late in the day my husband and I enjoy sitting on our patio and watching them.

    Reply
  491. Amy on

    My current favorite perennial is scabiosa—it blooms here in NE Ohio from May through October and lasts for ages in a vase.

    Reply
  492. Sebastian Durán on

    What a lovely interview – thank you for sharing the generosity and inspiration!
    Nothing makes me happier than a good narcissus. Any colour, any shape. The joy they spark along with the hope of spring is immeasurable.

    Reply
  493. K on

    I’ve always grown food but this year is my first real dive into perennial flowers & shrubs. I lost my sister & mother last year & have been trying to go back in my memory archives to plant things that remind me of them. The pink daylily bulbs (300!) mom had us plant with serving spoons, the lemon balm that tried to take over the yard, and so many plants in the background of old photos I’m trying to identify. No favorites right now…well ok …maybe the foxgloves & icelandic poppies😊

    Reply
  494. Stacie on

    Oh there are so many good ones it’s hard to choose a favourite. I adore echinacea, but I’ve recently fallen in love with sanguisorba and Geum, I’m hoping that they grow well here in my Aussie garden.

    Reply
  495. Jacqui on

    For the last 7 years you have been my inspiration Erin-thank you with all my heart.
    Perennial chocolate cosmos is my favourite. It is a strong smaller plant which blooms prolifically and has the sweetest dark velvety bloom with a hint of chocolate perfume.

    Reply
  496. Sandra Wilkinson on

    How beautiful. I find all your knowledge and how your willing to share amazing. And now there is another amazing person willing to do the same. 🌸🌸🌸

    Reply
  497. Melissa Kane on

    It’s hard to focus in on one favorite but when pushed, I’d say baptisia. I love the spiky flower, especially when arranged with peonies that bloom at the same time in my garden. I also love using the foliage all summer long as a filler/accent

    Reply
  498. Samantha on

    Because they can be enjoyed throughout generations, the peony is my all-time favorite perennial. I am still cutting from the peonies that my father planted before he passed away 22 years ago when I was 14, and nothing brings me more joy than that. :)

    Reply
  499. Logan Stoltman on

    My favorite shrub right now is Hydrangea. There are so many wonderful colors & forms to chose from. I am eagerly adding a few new ones each season.

    Reply
  500. Julie Koster on

    I enjoy using rosemary in bouquets or tied to gift packages. Rosemary symbolizes remembrance and that makes it all the more special. I hope to learn so much more thru Rachel’s book.

    Reply
  501. Jessica on

    My favorite shrub for cutting is our native Mahonia aquifolium. Its early yellow flowers smell just divine! Once you take the prickly leaves off it will leave folks guessing as to what plant it came from. I always let the plants establish in gardens for quite a while (5+ years) before using them for cut flowers because they are valuable early pollinator plants when not much else is blooming in the garden.

    Reply
  502. Tonda Seyl on

    I am just getting started with flower arrangements. So far I love using my mountain mint in arrangements. It smells lovely and comes back every year and it’s a native plant in my zone 8b.

    Reply
  503. Jan Smith on

    My favourite flowering shrub is the camellia. They come in so many varieties, colours, and shapes. The foliage is just amazing for floral work, evergreen and long lasting. This fact also means structure and form during winter. Cheers Dunedin, NZ

    Reply
  504. Susan Cox on

    Primula denticulata would be at the top of my list, since they are usually some of the first blooming perennials in my garden. Countless other primroses do very well in our Southeast Alaska climate as well, blooming at different times throughout the summer.

    Reply
  505. Chris Braet on

    I suppose my favorite right now is the hydrangea. They are just coming on and I love the variety of colors and shapes of flowers and leaves. But, my favorite pastime is looking at weeds for the airy look in my bouquets!

    Reply
  506. Barb H. on

    Baptisia, false indigo, is one of my favorite perennials. It’s spring time beauty is unsurpassable and the foliage is so versatile all summer long!

    Reply
  507. Jolene Hitz on

    Right now my favorite is a Ruby Penstemon. The first of the summer flowers to bloom after a harsh winter at the 1,500’ level in western Oregon. It is so bright and beautiful. And the hummingbirds are ecstatic!

    Reply
  508. Amber Torline on

    As a child, I grew up loving my mothers hedge of spring peonies and to this day, it continues to be my favorite of all flowers. The double blossom white and pink are so beautiful and fragrant. I think the fact that you only get to enjoy these for a short time each year makes them that much special.

    Reply
  509. Kim on

    Thank you for sharing. Looks like a worthy addition to our garden Library.
    My favorite shrub is the sweet olive. The smell is enchanting and the greenery a perfect addition to floral arrangements.

    Reply
  510. Jacqui on

    I think my favorite has got to be Sage (Salvia). This little workhorse shrub blooms from Spring until Winter arrives. Add in a rejuvenating trim and she is off and at it again. They come in a million different colors and variations and are perfect in my drought prone part of California. I have so many different ones in my yard I cannot pick a favorite.

    Reply
  511. Jacque Healy on

    This winter I went to the home of a new friend for lunch. As we were cooking, I looked out the window and glimpsed a pale pink Camelia bush in abundant bloom against the barren muck of March—a vision of beauty amongst bleakness! It was…unforgettably spirit-lifting and taught me what power flowers have.

    Reply
  512. Wendy on

    I live in the Arctic and there are only a few perennials hardy enough to survive our harsh climate. Columbine is probably my favorite. It reseeds itself and surprises me with the different shades of blue/purple and creamy to bright yellow centers. I’ve never tried cutting them for a vase, I don’t know how to make them last longer than a day.

    Reply
  513. star walker on

    I really enjoyed the interview. I always struggle with what to choose for an arrangement.love the beautiful pictures. one of my favorite perennials. Is gooseneck
    loosestrife.

    Reply
  514. Sharon Alley on

    Wow! Perennials and Shrubs! I have been wanting more information about growing these, especially flowering shrubs and how to uae on arrangements. My favorite shrub is Weigela. My sweet gardening Granny planted one at the corner of her front porch. It spilled over the lawn and porch rail with these beautiful soft pink flowers. The branches were covered from top to bottom with what seemed like a million pink flowers. My Dad took care of her yard after she became ill. He would shave it bald and I would cry but in no time at all it would come roaring back.

    Reply
  515. Diane Lawrence on

    Red flowering current – I believe it is native to the PNW – is on my garden wish list. I love the bright & cheery blooms in the spring.

    Reply
  516. Katrin Noon on

    The Snowball Bush Viburnum would have to be one of my favorites. My Mom grew one in our backyard and it will forever remind me of her and her love of flowers which she thankfully passed down to me.
    Rachels book looks dreamy.

    Reply
  517. Susie Marglin on

    Having spent years as a florist and creating a garden as a source for my arrangements I understand how one moves from one art form to another. The scrubs , perennials, annuals and grasses all take their turn to create those short but continually, sometimes very subtle, changes in the garden and thus arrangement of flowers. The themselves seasons bring a different view and perspective of the garden.The wonderful additional benefit of such a mixed variety of plants is the habitat the garden provides for pollinators and other insects and birds that continue to spread the creative genius of nature.

    Reply
  518. Jessica on

    Here in Kamloops, BC, Canada my favourite perennial would have to be peonies. It’s an absolutely stunning bush in every variety and although the flowers last a week or so the greenery is lush and extends well into the growing season.

    Reply
  519. Sandra Christie on

    I love tansy – easy to grow, frilly foliage and those cheerful little yellow blooms. And, it can be divided and gifted so easily.

    Reply
  520. Vicki Bolinger on

    My favorite shrub is the honeysuckle. I’m not sure if it’s technically a shrub, but I love, love, love its sweet fragrance. Nothing smells more like summer to me than honeysuckle. I remember as a child riding my bike on a 5-mile trail that was filled with the pale yellow blossoms all along the way. Now we just need someone to figure out how to make them bloom all summer long! That would be heaven!!

    Reply
  521. Carla on

    Oh I have a ton of favorites, in early summer I can’t resist a big vase of delphinium but maybe the one that makes me the happiest are hellebores, because they bring so much joy when (almost) nothing else blooms.

    Reply
  522. Kris Elledge on

    I have been incorporating so much landscape into my farm space, I am looking forward to reading her book. I have been loving the perennial, Nepeta lately. It is a great pollinator, fast growing and beautiful mounding purple color. I also love sweatbox, Sarcacocca. It makes great foliage for arrangements and love the cute little, fragrant white flowers. Thank you for sharing her interview.

    Reply
  523. Kate Stephens on

    My favorite plant is Romneya Coulteri. Not easy to find in the Vancouver, BC nurseries, but I’ve seen the plant over in Victoria. Absolutely stunning!

    Reply
  524. Mel Janecka on

    Right now I love deutzia. I pruned a large Deutzia “magician” shrub and kept three (3-6 feet tall) branches for an antique glass jar on my front porch. The huge “arrangement” has graced my entry for almost a week amd smells heavenly.
    MJ

    Reply
  525. Alyson on

    I can’t get enough of “limelight hydrangeas!” Last forever in a vase and dry beautifully!

    Reply
  526. Christine McLaughlin on

    My favourite tree is the Japanese plum planted on the boulevard by the municipality. There are a number of them planted the 3 blocks of our street and are unique in our neighbourhood. Looking down the street in early spring or the sunsets through the branches from the stairway landing heralds the return of spring. And then the petals fall like snow and everything is covered in pink! Such a joyful sight.

    Reply
  527. Mary on

    This looks dreamy. The timing is awesome as we just moved to a new home & there is lots of space to create a “new”beautiful garden. Thanks for sharing Erin!

    Reply
  528. Philippa Foes-Lamb on

    I loved this interview so much! I grow perennials, predominantly older varieties and ship them all over New Zealand. I adore flowers and this book would be the most wonderful addition to my collection of gardening book treasures! Fingers crossed too!

    Reply
  529. Maureen on

    My favorite shrub is the mock orange I have outside my southern facing side door. This year the abundance of flowering branches is amazing. The scent takes me back to my childhood.There was a large shrub outside our back screen door growing up. I believe the sense of smell has a deep root in our memories and flowers bring back some of life’s best simple moments.

    Reply
  530. Celeste on

    Hard to pick just one, but Baptisia may be my favorite. I have them in just about every color! They never disappoint.

    Reply
  531. Erika McLean on

    I am from south Alabama where the summers are always predictably hot and humid, and the rest of the seasons are…. well, they are still hot and humid with a dash of cold thrown in. As a child, my favorite shrub/tree that brings back my fondest memories is a chinaberry tree that sits in front of the main Butler barn. (My family makes feed for livestock, grows peanuts, cotton, corn, etc -lots of row crops- the Butler barn was the hub of the farm); somehow, it never became invasive. My cousins and I loved to pluck the berries and perch in its limbs and have “chinaberry fights”. During the summers, every person in the community who came to the farm, always found their way under its limbs, and that is where the men would stand and talk for literally hours. It had the sweetest smell and the most beautiful flowers. I am 46 now, and that chinaberry tree is still there. I pass it when I go to the horse barn and feed my horse, and I see its perfect canopy still just as it was when I was a child. If trees could talk, that one would have a lot of tales to tell.

    Reply
  532. Karen Burnett on

    Thank you for the wonderful interview and pictures. Adding this book to my collection is a must! Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  533. Heather on

    My current favorite is my Viburnum but it changes weekly 😆

    Reply
  534. Noelle on

    I am so excited for this book! Hellebores are one of my favorites and I hope to add them to my garden!

    Reply
  535. Kathy Blakeslee on

    How perfect would this book be to my flower library. I love that Rachel shares this knowledge not only for plants but wildlife too.

    Reply
  536. alicia johnson on

    I love my gardenia bushes more than any other! There is just nothing like that thick, flowery aroma lingering in the southern summer’s dense, heavy air.

    Reply
  537. Laura webley on

    My urban property that is my flower farm is becoming somewhat of a secret garden. Each year I try to add more perennials and useful shrubs that I can grab to add into bouquets

    Reply
  538. Kathryn Casey on

    Hellebores for the win! I’ve been amazed at the potential of these flowers. But beyond that, mums. They are an old an faithful friend.

    Reply
  539. shelagh on

    Thank you Erin for bringing more beauty into my day by sharing this inspiring interview with Rachel. A favourite native shrub of mine here in the Pacific Northwest is Oceanspray; the profuse sprays of creamy-white flowers are gorgeous at this time of year, and what’s not to love about its name! Perhaps my favourite perennial in the photos of Rachel’s acreage is her sweet whippet :-)

    Reply
  540. Jill P. on

    I grew Sweet Williams last year from seed, and wasn’t impressed with the amount they flowered. So I dug them out, and left the clumps under the rhubarb. This year,they pushed flowers out around the rhubarb leaves in amazing quantities and colours, right at the time between spring bulbs and summer annuals. They go so well with lambs ears, and oregano that is just ready to bloom. Yes, I will replant them in the fall, they are a definite favourite!

    Reply
  541. Helen Farrington on

    The real truth, if I am being honest, is that my favorite shrub or perennial is the one I am standing in front of at any given moment. If I am stepping out of my front door, it is the Rosa glauca. If I turn to the right, it is the White Gold Spiraea. If I walk to the north, it is the Cotinus Royal Purple. Or the Fothergilla gardenii. Or the Salvia Burgundy Candles. Or the Geum Totally Tangerine. Why not ask something easier, like, “Which is your favorite child?”

    Reply
  542. Diane Karchner on

    Salvias are my passion right now. So much to learn about such a versatile long-stemmed beauty. Thx for all you share to continue my lifelong learning in all things perennial! And for introducing to this new voice. Excited to get a copy of this!

    Reply
  543. Anne on

    How can you choose just one?! I guess iris edges out everyone for me, with peonies a close second. ❤️

    Reply
  544. Ellie Schneider on

    My most favorite shrub is the lemon broom…I have several growing together in a large section on my garden. It plays an important part , for this is where my children hide among its twisted branches. I use it’s fern like greenery in the winter for fillers in my bouquets and from late spring to early summer I enjoy the abundance of tiny, golden, sweetpea like flowers, that give off a heavenly lemon scent.

    Reply
  545. Sherry on

    Gold variegated Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ makes my heart (and garden) sing for 10 months of the year. The way it pokes up with strength and hope in early spring, catches wind and light, sparkles in the sun, brightens the shade and sways with the breeze all summer, and adds a sense of the harvest season as it dies back in late fall make it a perennial favorite.

    Reply
  546. Lauren Athey Penrose on

    I am an avid perennial gardener just recently moving into cutting flowers in general. I heard about this sweet book on the Let’s Grow Girls podcast and was disappointed when we found it wasn’t available in US yet. So I’m elated to see it come to us! I began gardening as a way to cope with a difficult day job as a hospice music therapist and haven’t looked back. I began giving cut flowers to patients last year and was hooked. They were such a great way to connect and reminisce with them. I especially enjoyed giving them to the dear folks who couldn’t get out to even see their gardens anymore. Thanks for promoting this book!!

    Reply
  547. Petra on

    The incredibly beautiful and long lasting hellebores are my all time favorites in the spring.
    What great pictures of the farm! I wish there was more of them!

    Reply
  548. Sandy Powell on

    What a lovely looking book with inspirational photography. Picking just one shrub is quite hard, I used to manage a public garden that was full of rare and unusual plants (for New Zealand) we had an Enkianthus that grew like a shrub/almost small tree and it has the most stunning, delicate flowers ever.

    Reply
  549. Ruth van Rensburg on

    I’m so excited about this new book! My absolute favorite perennials are Lupines. Every year they reseed new plants that are a shade different than the original one I planted (from seed!) so it is a beautiful start to the blooming season to see all the new variations of purple develop in spring.

    Reply
  550. Nickole mitchell on

    I love my black lace elderberry. The deep dark purple leaves with the show of white/pink blooms has a calming effect on me.

    Reply
  551. Brenda B on

    Growing up in South Texas, my grandmother had a large gardenia bush right by her front door. Every morning after feeding her family, grandkids and neighbors breakfast, she would put coffee grounds around the roots of her gardenia bush. To this day gardenias hold a special place in my heart not only because of their pure white beauty and intoxicating scent — it’s all the wonderful memories of Memmie’s gardenia bush.

    Reply
  552. Jocelyn on

    Favorite shrub is the understated native snowberry. The different leaf shapes depending on age are so surprising, and it’s such a resilient component of our hedgerows. (But also giving a shout-out the Twin Blackberry who seems to be beloved of all the bumblebees and hummingbirds)

    Reply
  553. Anne McGilvray on

    I think the dwarf flowering almond would have to be my choice. She is a stunner surrounded by loads of tulips to welcome the spring season.

    Reply
  554. Maria on

    What a wonderful resource – regardless I am sure a copy will find a way into my collection next to my Floret books. Right now my favorite perennial is hydrangea, but the fragrance of the peony is a very close second.

    Reply
  555. Leticia on

    My Favourite perennial are peonies.

    Reply
  556. Jocelyn on

    Goodness, I can’t wait to formalize the names of my microseasons! When the Boysenberries Blush, the first Nesting of the Bumblebees, Lemonbalm High Tide… how fun 😍

    Reply
  557. Katie on

    The vibrant flushes of fuchsia from rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) and orange from California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) in my drought tolerant garden are some of my favorites this time of year. And, they are SO easy to grow!

    Reply
  558. Laura Olson on

    I love peonies!! I have about 10 varieties which is small but I love them 😍

    Reply
  559. Laurie Ford on

    I am in the process of building a home and have roses and peonies that I’m ready to transplant once I have a “real house”. Some of my peonies have been moved three times in the transition of getting to my permanent spot. I hope they will acclimate and thrive in their new home.

    Reply
  560. Sheena on

    I love my perennial garden, I would have to say Daisies are my favorite! 🌼

    Reply
  561. Sandy Mattes on

    We have been enjoying a longer than usual cool spring here in Virginia this year. As a result our spring bloomers are lasting longer. I especially love my different colors and varieties of Veronica!

    Reply
  562. Diane on

    I love the Rose of Sharon trees that I have added in the last 5 years. There are two beautiful pale pink ones as you enter our drive in the summer. They
    are just loaded with blossoms and bloom all summer in the sweltering heat of Texas near DFW airport(we are suppose to reach 100 degrees today). I have two more of a different variety and they are all in full bloom right now. They seem to thrive even extreme heat. I plan to add some more in our back yard which are a shrub variety that will get much larger. I just love flowers! In recent years, I have gravitated more and more to perennials. I look forward to this wonderful new book!

    Reply
  563. Carrie on

    It is a huge dilemma to narrow it down to one favorite! Right now it is roses, and lavender, along with gorgeous grasses. Thank you for sharing this interview and photos.

    Reply
  564. Jennie B on

    The photos in the article gave me new bouquet ideas! Beautiful!

    Reply
  565. Patsy Jennings on

    I live in northeast Texas and work with natives when possible. Callicarpa shrubs grow well here and provide beautiful lush filler. I grew up calling it buckbrush but that’s just a local name. Later in the season branches are covered in vivid purple berries. It’s lovely either way.

    Reply
  566. Cheryl Nelson on

    I love peonies! I have 4 bushes that my mom gave me 28 years ago, one of which is at least 4’ diameter. Mom’s been gone for 25 years now but the plants she gave me live on. I learned so much about gardening from her. They are great in bouquets and the fragrance…!

    Reply
  567. Joan West on

    I am looking forward to checking at this book, I am wanting to add shrubs and trees to complement the flowers I have.

    Reply
  568. Kirsten on

    Favorite shrub or perennial…hmmmm…

    OK, I’m going to say hydrangea. They come in allsorts from antique to white to bright bright crayon colours. I used bright blue and hot pink interwoven with light pink spray roses for my Gran’s memorial service. And I love to dry the antique pinks and creams for winter crafting. They work well in both shade and sun and are soft and lovely and olden.

    Reply
  569. Marebear on

    I was just at a nursery and saw a golden white spirea. I think I must go back and get it!

    Reply
  570. Linda on

    What a wonderful, inspiring interview! It’s allowing my daydreams to incorporate woody shrubs in my soon-to-be “forever” garden. My son has gifted me a home of my own in east Tennessee now that his dad has passed over, and the backyard is an empty canvas. The gardens I’ve planted over the decades are essentially English gardens, but I’d love to expand this one to include those flowery shrubs. (I, too follow the Japanese micro seasons–such a delight to take part in nature’s changes every few days!)

    My favorites? The fragrant perennials! Peonies, lilac, lavender, honeysuckle, roses.

    Thank you for all the love you send out from Floret to so many of us online! Because of you, dahlias will be an essential part of my new garden!!!

    Reply
  571. Judith on

    In Spring I love the few short weeks of Lady Banks Rose with its long canes of tiny light yellow buds.
    In Summer I love canes of berries
    In Autumn I love Viburnum as the leaves turn red.
    In Winter, big branches of Holly with berries.
    These are just a few – I love foraging for branches all year long.

    Reply
  572. Ginny Talbert on

    Oh, its so hard to choose! I love calicarpa/beauty berry for its fall berries and ninebark “coppertina” during spring bloom. And I wish Black lace sambucus wasn’t so stinky because its foliage and blooms are exceptionally beautiful.

    Reply
  573. Kelly on

    In my area of Oregon, mountain mahogany thrives and this time of year has the most beautiful, whispy seeds pods. Such a delight to arrange with!

    Reply
  574. Andrea on

    Itoh peonies, Limelight hydrangeas, climbing roses, purple beardtongue, Soda Pop heuchera…how do you pick a favorite child? This year I am especially enjoying my large purple alliums that rise out of the peonies and heuchera. They are magical!

    Reply
  575. Sandy on

    My Alliums are very beautiful and unique. I love their majestic height and bountiful flower heads. They pop up each year and make us smile!

    Reply
  576. Sarah on

    I love love love Viburnum bodnantense! The smell of their flowers, borne on bare branches in winter, is so beautiful and makes all the difference as the daylight gets shorter.

    Reply
  577. Lizzie on

    I would have to say Roses are my favorite perennial. There are so many beautiful colors and designs. And they smell amazing. I have a ST. Swithun, English Climbing Rose that is blooming right now and it is just magnificent.

    Reply
  578. Lauri Meyer on

    Hydrangeas have to be one of my top 3 favorite perennial shrubs to grow, both for its landscape beauty & use in floral arrangements. It’s hard to find fault with them! Back when I used to do wedding design work, I would always purchase live hydrangea plants at the flower market rather than cut stems for use in my arrangements. This would guarantee my blooms would be fresh & plump when I was ready to use them. And when the work was done & the flowers were delivered, I had all kinds of young hydrangeas ready to plant around my property & to share with the brides & their family & friends! I still love wandering around the farm & recalling which plant came from which wedding & how much they’ve all grown!

    I moved on from the floral design business about 6 years ago to farm the flowers instead, naively thinking that farming might not be so hard on my body! (LOL) However, the backaches (and the bulging disc!) still remind me that flowers are a labor of love no matter where they come from! They feed my soul. That makes them priceless. And at the end of the day, I’ve discovered that I’m a much easier client to please when it comes to choosing flowers for my arrangements! :)

    As always, thank you for the opportunity to share a little blurb about my love for all things floral and a chance to win a recommended book by one of your favorite gardeners! Your generosity is endless! L.M.

    Reply
  579. Francoise on

    Gardinias Growing up in southern California we had one gardenia plant up against the south east corner of the house near a perpetually leaking faucet. It bloomed nine months of the year creating miasmic wafts of scent that made it to my second-floor bedroom. I now live in Portland, Oregon where I am grateful for the potted gardenia that we have that achieves blooms sporadically in spring and summer. We bring it in fall and winter and put it near south facing window where it heroically battles our German Shepherd fur factory and the occasional whitefly infestation. It is outside now where it has regrouped itself and is throwing out three or four gardenias every week, competing with our two-story wild haired Jasmine. Heroic.

    Reply
  580. Jay Hamilton on

    It looks like I’m the 1,417th comment. Lord knows who is going to dig down this deep, but you never know…

    Life isn’t as full of surprises as it once was. (I waited to find out the sex of both kids.) May be it’s because we get set in our ways as we age. We don’t take risks or are try new things. I got caught in the rain while riding my bike and that hasn’t happened since I was 12 years old. Great fun, exciting and a total surprise. That’s how I describe my dara’s. I started then from your seeds last year, my first as a backyard naturalist attempting to sow a clipping garden. What a surprise! The Dara starts out as an unassuming plant and then takes off with the heat of the summer growing well beyond what its stalk should support only burst open in a dot matrix of tiny blooms that cover the darker end of the color palette from brown to purple. But the big surprise is how this supposedly annual flower reseeded itself to spread its pedals like a peacock and show off again this summer. Like being caught in the rain, life’s surprises are organic, natural and bring you joy. My perennial Daras are the centerpiece of my modest flower garden in Arlington, VA. They act like royalty showing up late but displaying impeccable manners just like the English.

    Reply
  581. Kristina on

    Hellebores may be my favorite flowers, next to dahlias. Their beauty reminds me orchids, but a heck of a lot easier for me to grow and maintain! The variations in colors, and the surprise in what colors end up growing each year after seeding different varieties together is fun and such a gift to see every year.

    Reply
  582. Jennifer Williamson on

    My absolute favorite shrub would have to be Azaleas. Here in South Carolina they are around almost every corner. They come up in spring and usually stay until summer. The way they completely fill themselves with blooms is gorgeous. There are so many different colors too. Definitely brings me back to my childhood and all the times we would play hid-n-seek and we would behind my grandmother’s Azaleas.

    Reply
  583. Ernie on

    Clethra for the smell. Physocarpus ‘amber jubile’ for the color show…. And flowers to boot!

    Reply
  584. Mary Combs on

    I’ve always tried putting shrub cuttings into my bouquets, and am constantly buying new shrubs with that in mind. My favorite that I use to harvest along the roadside when I was younger, but have since bought to have my own is Button Bush. It gives such a fun whimsical look to arrangements.
    I would love to have help in using my shrubs more as most seem to wilt so quickly. This book sounds like the perfect resource!!

    Reply
  585. Jen on

    I use lavender in all the slightly ignored spots in my garden, it doesn’t need much attention, comes back every year bigger & better, & when I accidentally bump it , it reminds me it’s there with its fragrant lavender scent.

    Reply
  586. Trish Konieczny on

    I can never get enough of Thuja green giant.
    Its fluffy, soft fullness is cool and compliant.
    My hands ruffle through the shrub’s mesh with delight.
    To bring in a branch displays life fresh and bright.

    Reply
  587. Libby on

    I really love camellias. And in the south they add so much cheer in winter.

    Reply
  588. Angela Grandgeorge on

    I just discovered Ninebark and I have 3 varieties in the garden. It has been a huge hit in our bouquets thus far

    Reply
  589. Barb on

    I’ve always been drawn to Delphiniums. My Dad used to grow these tall beauties in his garden, and as a child, I was mesmerized by their brilliant hues.

    Reply
  590. diane hunter on

    I love anything that blooms but a few favorites are bee balm , coneflowers and zinnias. This summer has been hard with this horrible heat wave but that is the beauty of natives perennials , they are so adaptable. It’s so wonderful to have ladies like the two of you to help us all in this wonderful journey. Thank you both ❤️

    Reply
  591. Jane spencer on

    I love the uniqueness of my blue billow Korean hydrangea. I moved it 3 times before it found its happy spot but now it is so lovely and super easy to propagate

    Reply
  592. Guy Zimmermaan on

    Dahlias for the variety of size and color! Oakleaf Hydrangea. What’s not to like!

    Reply
  593. Tami Alderson on

    Thank you for sharing the interview with Rachel. Looking forward to following her on Facebook. I love roses. I have a pink cottage style rose bush that is a piece from over a 80 year old bush. It was from my husband’s Granny. It’s beautiful and produces a lot of blooms,funny thing is I still have it in a 5 gallon bucket! I do have plans to move it to my flower bed.
    I would love to have a copy of Rachel’s book,it would be inspiring.

    Reply
  594. Stephanie Stickley on

    I adore lilacs- always have since I first discovered them on my great grandmother’s Newport property. The scent is pure heaven, the flowers so delicate and lovely.

    Reply
  595. JoAnn Fisher on

    I’d liver her book and I enjoy following progress at Floret, on Discovery and thus website. My favorite woody shrub is little lime punch, but I’m exploring other perennials and shrubs. Good luck to both of you.

    Reply
  596. Jean Marie on

    What a fantastic interview. I would love the book as I now have a garden to plant and love perennials and shrubs.
    Thank you Erin for doing what you do!

    Reply
  597. Linda on

    I’ve recently discovered Sunshine Ligustrum. It’s like a bright light, shining in the garden. And, I’m amazed how tough it is. I’m experimenting with trimming up the lower branches to shape it in a more tree-like form.

    I’m also having a wonderful time shaping topiaries from boxwood and eugenia.
    Thanks to you, Erin & your books & videos and to Rachel’s new book, I’m learning & growing right along with my garden.

    Reply
  598. Lisa Philipps on

    I especially love the photos of the hellebores! I have lots of hellebores but none of those gorgeous pink ones! thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  599. Diana on

    Love lysimachia as a perennial.

    Reply
  600. Trish DiFilippo on

    I love my buddleia – pugster variety in indigo blue and amethyst. The blooms are so full and the tips curve a little – so unique, so Dr. Seussish. Where I live in PA, they start blooming around the 4th of July and they don’t stop until close to Halloween (obviously not with same summer vigor, but they are still pushing them out). The smell greets me when I open my kitchen door. Even in the winter, they have structure worth staring at when they are lined with frost or snow.
    Love them!

    Reply
  601. Pam Woodson on

    I enjoy ferns, they are simple, but always showcase the flowers they are paired with:)

    Reply
  602. Alesa De Jager on

    The shrubs I cut from most often in my garden include smoke bush, nine bark, hydrangeas, and forsythia foliage (which moves and has its own agenda). The perennials I am always thankful to cut year after year are daffodils, fritillaria, Japanese anemone, and of course the peonies.

    Reply
  603. Connie on

    Jasmine Sambac is one of my favorite shrubs

    Reply
  604. Jessica Hudspeth on

    I’m not sure I could pick a favorite but the reason I prefer the perennials and shrubs over annuals is the long term investment. I plant them with purpose and intent with the thought of a generation of family I will never meet harvesting from them. In a way it allows me to be apart of our family long after I’m physically gone.

    Reply
  605. Maria Giddens on

    I would have to say Alstroemeria and my favourite would be Indian Summer..stunning bronze foliage and bright orange and red flowers with tall/great picking stems

    Reply
  606. Elizabeth Trow on

    Ninebark – Physocarpus opulifolius

    Ninebark is one of my very favorite shrubs. It’s easy to grow in full sun or light shade. I enjoy arranging with unique foliage. I love the size, shape, color and texture of a ninebark leaf. Whether my arrangement calls for a long arching branch, a medium length or a short piece my Ninebark will supply it.

    Reply
  607. Kate Carter on

    My favorite perennials are peonies! They are just fininshing in my garden, lucious scents and beautiful petticoat blooms. They are so welcome after our harsh, cold winters here in Wisconsin. I can’t get enough of them!!!

    Reply
  608. Karoline Bröckel Wörle on

    My favourite shrub is an English rose shrub called „Vanessa Bell“. It blooms in large clusters , is pale yellow with a dark yellow eye. The fragrance is similar to green tea with aspects of lemon and honey. It forms a bushy, upright shrub.
    Right now the roses in our garden have started to bloom and it’s always such a bliss.

    Reply
  609. Cris Walton on

    I adore lavender!! The purple with the sage green is the most lovely combination. Of course, I can’t look at any plant without smiling! I love your books Erin and I love that you got to meet this amazing gardner and share her story with us!!

    Reply
  610. Robin Nowakowski on

    I would absolutely love this book!
    My favorite perennial is the Annabelle Hydrangea ❤

    Reply
  611. Vicky Vega on

    I live in New Jersey in the US.
    One of my favorite woody flowers is my common lilac bush, although I have many others as well as perennials the sent of lilacs is my absolute favorite. And I am excited to plant some different varieties.

    Reply
  612. Mindy Tillery on

    I was delighted to receive your newsletter today & really enjoyed reading the interview with Rachel. I would love to be considered for a copy of the book. One of my favorite shrubs here in Florida is the Philodendron specifically the Tree Philodendron though is is more of a low & spreading shrub than a tree. I love the lushness & the large, thick above ground roots that cover over the beds outside my patio as they provide year round jungle like beauty. The huge spreading leaves look especially amazing when cut as a single in a large vessel. Thanks so much for this wonderful interview Erin & Rachel.
    xOx,
    Mindy Tillery

    Reply
  613. Tori on

    Delphinium are side of my most favorite perennials. My mom has beautiful ones in her garden and whenever I see a delph it reminds me of her!

    Reply
  614. Sarah Dunn on

    Great interview! Great information.
    My favorite perennial is catmint. Nepeta works so well as an “underplant” in my zone 7 garden. Filling in under peony and other upright plants. A close second are the hardy geranium. They work in the same way in the shade gardens. I’m excited to be able to possibly win a copy of the new book, it certainly sounds quite detailed and interesting.

    Reply
  615. Barbara Jo Moran on

    At our last house I planted Lenten Rose under the canopy of Winterberry. Pretty in the fall for the colorful berries for the birds. Then in the late winter and into early spring a breath of color from the Helleborus.

    Reply
  616. Jolene Lowrey on

    Black chokecherry bushes! Birds love the fruit, it withstands all weather and soil conditions, and the fall leaf color is phenomenal!

    Reply
  617. Susie on

    I just discovered a deciduous shrub in the hydrangea family this year: hybrid mock orange philadelphus x purpureomaculatus ‘Belle E’toile’. Gorgeous and incredibly fragrant! I wonder if it would make a good cut flower?

    Reply
  618. Sam Wehunt on

    One of my favorite shrubs in beyond midnight caryopteris. It has lovely blue flowers in late summer that the bees really love. I recently added a chartreuse variety to my garden and I love to look out and see it glowing.

    Reply
  619. Jolene on

    I have always loved the shrub temple bells pieris which is SPRING. I can’t get enough of it. It grows well in southern New Zealand and is amazing in any wedding or funeral work.

    Reply
  620. Stephanie on

    Love this inspiring interview! I always look forward to flowering quince and especially (invasive) honeysuckle because I feel free to cut as much as possible!

    Reply
  621. Haley Whittington on

    Oh my favorite woody shrubs would be forsythia! It’s one of the first things to bloom in the south and let’s us know that Spring is near!

    Reply
  622. Elisa Allen Arias on

    I farm in Baja California Sur, Mexico and one of my favorite perennials is the banana tree! The five banana varieties we grow provide such lovely shade & structure to the farm beds, and I love seeing how chefs and retreat leaders use the big leaves in recipes and on tablescapes.

    Reply
  623. Katherine Wisdom on

    My favorite perennial is Lamb’s Ear – whose flowers probably don’t often make it into many flower arrangements, haha.
    But love the softness, from the colors to the texture.

    Reply
  624. Stefanie Dixon on

    Currently obsessed with Ninebark (any and all), I’m always keen to try anything that catches my eye when wandering the garden or nearby woods.

    Reply
  625. Stacey Spencer on

    My favorite perennial is echinacea. It is a beautiful, big, sturdy, long lasting flower. I even like to fry them for a totally different look.

    Reply
  626. Trish Rapson on

    I have a Climbing Geranium with pink flowers that has covered a fence at the front of my house. I am amazed at how it grew from one little cutting. It seems to flower all the time. I have shared so many cuttings from it. But I really enjoy seeing people walking past, stop and pinch a little cutting.

    Reply
  627. Rosemary on

    Looking forward to reading this. Enjoyed reading about Rachel’s background in the post too.

    Reply
  628. Kellie S on

    I’m working on adding woodies for foliage cutting. Boxwood, laurel, ninebark, mock orange, vine maple, snowberry, salal, and candy willow are ones I’ve added in the last couple years.

    Reply
  629. Courtney Underwood on

    I did not grow up amongst gardeners, only people who love lawns. But, I bought my first house solely because it had daffodils and a lilac tree outside the front window. So, I suppose my first love of flowers started there. While I am floundering through my first year of starting some plants from seeds, I am thrilled to see that my favorite perennials and shrubs now have a brilliant highlight. Thanks, Rachel!

    Reply
  630. Kellie on

    How to choose? Roses, hydrangeas, viburnum, stock, veronica, peonies, yarrow, artemisia, monarda, clematis to name a few.

    Reply
  631. Tina Gamache on

    I just love a variety that can both landscape my yard and provide cut flowers. Lavender is going very well in my area right now so seems to be my current obsession 😃 can’t wait to read this book!

    Reply
  632. Carol on

    My favorite perinneal shrub is lilac. I grew up on a farm, where my mom had a huge lilac bush. And both grandmothers had lilac bushes on their ranches. When I had to move to the city, I brought several transplants from them with me. 18 years in, I’m so thankful to have them and the memories they evoke.

    Reply
  633. LeAnn Richard on

    Sweet Williams are my favorites. My granny had a row of them in her north Alabama garden. I used to sit by them and pretend they were wearing their best velvet coats. Sweet William sounds like little English men all dressed up.

    Reply
  634. Leslie Fishman on

    I live in the high desert area of Southern California and am always creating arrangements from our natives and perennials from our 100 acre farm. I love to discover books that take me on new adventures. I look forward to viewing Rachel’s book.

    Reply
  635. Lindsey on

    I love roses and false indigo! Looking forward to seeing this book!

    Reply
  636. Cindy on

    My favorite perennial is roses. My favorite rose memory is visiting gardens and hearing my mother almost singing when she talked about them. My mother died when I was very young and, I think, I am always trying to create a sacred space through gardening that I can somehow connect with her within. My experience with roses is beauty, perfume, elegance, happiness, sadness, struggle, pain, knowledge…just like life.

    Reply
  637. Allyce Capps on

    Limelight hydrangeas work so beautifully in our hot summers.

    Reply
  638. Kirsty Duberly on

    One of my favs would have to be the leucadendron family… there is such a range of colours and they can be anything from the main feature to the supporting structure of the foliage in an arrangement…plus they last ages in a vase!

    Reply
  639. Sarah G. on

    Hmm…my current favorite is probably narcissus. They are just so easy and critter proof, and I love seeing their cheery blooms at the end of winter when I’m sunshine and flower starved :)

    Reply
  640. Adele Anderson on

    I love roses… I have rose bush beside my house that is over 60 years old! I look forward to planting g more perennials in my yard.

    Reply
  641. Mary on

    My favorite perennials are lavenders.

    Reply
  642. Diane D. on

    One of my favorite shrubs for design work is bridal wreath spirea. It it gives a light and airy feel to any arrangement.

    Reply
  643. Sharon Mirtaheri on

    When we moved last year I had to leave behind several beauty berry bushes. Callicarpa Americano. It has the most vivid fuchsia colored berries on it in the fall like no other shrub I have ever seen. None of the garden yours I have ever been on have had this shrub so I don’t think people really know about it and in my area of Virginia they are not easy to find either. I bought two for my new garden and can hardly wait to see the berries color up this fall!

    Reply
  644. Erin Sedlacek on

    I am really growing to love ninebarks. Their movement is great and I have many wine colored ninebarks in my garden to cut from!

    Reply
  645. Karlena Lynn on

    I’m really into hardy fuschias right now. I have 9 different ones that range in color – even a yellow!! and from partial sun to shade and our hummingbirds love them. They are not as showy as the tender fuschias but i love the unexpected surprise on folk’s face when they recognize the trumpets growing on the plants

    Reply
  646. Marian Luther on

    This beautiful story and book has come at a time when I’m entering my retirement years, however, I will only be trading my desk job for my farm job as I start my small farm in the PNW. My dream has always been to have land and grow flowers and food, but with climate change it became apparent it needed to be much more and so I am learning agriforestry and gaining knowledge of the plants beyond the norm that can not only create beauty in a garden but sustain us with edible parts. Along with that comes growing for beauty and artisan uses and so I have to say that Korean Spice viburnum is one of my favorite flowering shrubs, beautiful incredibly scented blooms and a shrub with interesting leaves and form. Thank you for ever enlightning us Erin!

    Reply
  647. Elizabeth on

    My favorite perennials are definitely peonies!

    Reply
  648. Linda on

    There was a Burkwood Viburnum on the property when we bought our house 37 years ago. I look forward to smelling its fragrant flowers every spring and seeing its red/orange foliage in the fall.

    Reply
  649. Adelaide Lunceford Schreiber on

    Growing in the deserts of Utah I love Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Cutleaf Balsamroot. (Balsamorhiza spp.)

    Both of these perennials bloom with multiple yellow daisy-shaped flowers every spring even without any irrigation. They are also native to the western U.S. which fuels my passion for finding native cut flowers and useful plants.

    Reply
  650. Marlene on

    I live in an area that has a short season and is difficult to grow in. I’m interested to learn more about shrubs and hardy perennials. I’m looking forward to reading this book
    I do love the delphiniums which reliably come back every year

    Reply
  651. Natalie Brockman on

    My favorite perennial flowers are snowdrops. Many flowers outstrip these little beauties in one way or another, but after a long, cold winter nothing is so welcome and so cheerful, so reassuring than seeing those tiny white bell-shaped darlings peek through the snow. They may not make it into a bouquet, but they are the herald and promise of what is to come.

    Reply
  652. Elisia Barber on

    One of my favorite perennials that can become a small shrub is cimicifuga. I absolutely love the foliage and the smell of the spikes that catch you off guard while walking down a shady path.
    My first time adding in irrigation was so that I could put a few of these into my own shade garden. I recently celebrated getting my masters degree with a new variety called Brunette and I can’t wait for it to bloom!

    Reply
  653. Michele McNelley on

    It is so hard to pick just one! Elderberry would have to be my go to. Medicinal, useful in arrangements and part of our farm’s sustainability, it’s one of the most sought after perennials we grow.

    Reply
  654. Wendy Keller on

    I have so many, now that I live in Florida annuals seem to become perennials too! A very good thing! I love shrimp plant and I have a French hibiscus that I marvel at daily!!!

    Reply
  655. Amanda Nolt on

    My favorite perennial is definitely peonies.

    Reply
  656. Lisa Jay on

    Being from the south, Crepe Myrtles are one of my favorite “structural” shrubs for arrangement. The branches have a beautiful drape to them and the stems are strong and supportive. I don’t use their beautiful blooms too often, as they are delicate and like to drop, but the seed pods are just a dream for added texture!

    Reply
  657. Cathelene Morris on

    We absolutely love our Lenten roses. About 3 years ago we started ordering online and buying what we could find locally here in South Carolina. They are so drought and heat tolerant here in the Deep South, which is great. However, our favorite part about them is to be able to go outside in the barren winter and see these beautiful flowers blooming. (As well as the fact that their blossoms last so long!)

    Reply
  658. Jennifer Jordan on

    Tough question to answer. Actually, in my gardens I only plant perennials and flowering shrubs. My absolute favorite is Hydrangeas, she is the belle of the ball.
    Every year there are new varieties and I always manage to squeeze one or more in. Can not wait for next spring’s offerings.

    Reply
  659. Nicole Dillon on

    I’m going to go with Peonies. I just ordered 250 bare roots! I currently have zero on my property! It’s super scary and exciting at the same time. I am dreaming big little of a perennial one-acre cut flower farm. This book could not be any more perfect timing.

    Reply
  660. Jenna on

    Salvia and Lavender are my go-to. They stay in shape, smells amazing and compliment my rose garden nicely.

    Reply
  661. Lindsey on

    Elderberry bush! Beautiful, delicious, medicinal, and the birds appreciate it. The blooms and the berries make it a versatile plant at different times of the year. Thank you for sharing your perennials. I would love to win your book!

    Reply
  662. Cathy M. L. on

    I have to say, hand’s down, my favorite perennial has to be Alpine Strawberries. The first year I grew them was when we lived in Minnesota. The plants were thriving that first summer in a “strawberry pot” with the little cups on the sides and producing amazingly many tiny berries with a huge punch of sweet flavor. After our first seasonal frost in early October all the strawberry leaves shriveled up and turned brown. I initially thought they were done forever. So I stored the pot under our deck with the intention of emptying it out and starting again the following Spring.
    Magically and much to my delight and amazement, when I pulled the pot out again in late April, there were new little strawberry leaves emerging from the all the dried out “dead” remnants. Year after year the plants thrived in a similar cycle and grew heartier and more resilient in the process.
    Another amazing perennial in that climate were hostas.

    Reply
  663. Jean on

    We have a Turk’s cap plant that we inherited in our last move. It grows large and wild each year with very little care. In July the flowers pop out and stay till the first frost.

    Reply
  664. Alli on

    I love coneflowers and all their different colors. Just as summer is fading they start to bloom and the fun lasts a little longer!

    Reply
  665. Gabrielle Baker on

    I am still in the process of familiarizing myself with woody perennials/shrubs, but my favorite at the moment would have to be forsythia! As a harbinger of Spring, I appreciate it’s vigor and resilience to harsh weather, and its multi-faceted nature. Aside from being gorgeous holding its own in a vase, the edible flowers make the most delightful syrup!

    Reply
  666. Beth Cathey on

    I love so many different things, it is hard to choose 1or 2! For many years we could not have hydrangeas or hostas due to a serious deer issue! We finally broke down about 10 years ago, and had a space properly fenced, so that we could indulge ourselves! At the moment, Hydrangea Twist ‘n Shout ( great loose form, and the almost purple lace caps look like little spaceships circling all around), and every hosta we’ve planted, are at the top of my list . Beth Cathey, Zone 8, Northeast GA!

    Reply
  667. Martha Chavez on

    I am excited to find and read Rachel’s book.

    I have to say that it’s hard to narrow it down to one favorite but if I had to, it would be roses. Other faves are rhododendrons, hydrangeas and lilacs. I have a Korean spice viburnum that I absolutely love for it’s fragrance.

    Reply
  668. Emilie on

    The common Lilac always makes me think of my grandfather. He had full hedges of all kinds of varieties growing on his farm but his favourite one was down in the cow pasture. Years of grazing had beaten down the little shrub, but once grandpa fenced it off it quickly bounced back. It has the most beautiful dark purple clusters of flowers with a rich lilac scent. I was fortunate enough to dig up a small offshoot of the plant to bring to my own cottage garden shortly before my grandfather passed. My shrub always makes me smile and think of his old hands putting up his little lilac fence.

    Reply
  669. Tess Chawi on

    I’m sitting here thinking of how hard it is for me to achieve what I love so much about your life on Floret. I am a native Floridian and strive to grow flowers that are not from my region because I love them so! A plant that I use that is a flourishing shrub that needs no help in my hot and steamy home is the beautiful Golden Thryallis. So simple compared to the peonies and dahlias I read about in beautiful books. But….it’s a winner in Florida! Delicate, space filling, spikey and lovely! Thank you for all your wonderful inspiration!

    Reply
  670. Rebecca on

    This year, I’ve been captivated by white lilac (syringa). It looks so pure in the spring and the scent is divine. I’ve just got one recently… now all I have to do is find space for it (which is going to be a problem) 😅. Can’t wait to get my hands on this book, it looks amazing, long overdue ❤️

    Reply
  671. Moe Matthews on

    I absolutely love Hydrangeas… I don’t think you can have too many or enough.

    Reply
  672. Sand Davis on

    If I’m honest I would have to admit it is the spring flowers I love the most. Maybe it’s because, well, it’s spring! I love all the bulbs, peony’s and for woodys I love pussy willow and forsythia. Of course hydrangeas in the fall. And here in Vermont there is no shortage of beautiful fall foliage to add to arrangements. I’d love to win one of Rachels’s books!

    Reply
  673. Anne Kasten on

    There is a revolution underway in how we see our gardens, what we choose to plant in them, and the plants we choose to bring indoors to brighten our lives. I am so very grateful for the ever increasing information and INSPIRATION! It is such a delight to me to understand that I really need to look at everything as I make my decisions for what to cut and bring into the house, as well as what to add to my planting selections. This book would be an invaluable resource to me. Thank you for introducing us to Rachel Siegfried and her book. And thank you, Erin, for your ongoing inspiration and sharing with all of us.

    Reply
  674. Kayla on

    Hellebores are one of my favorites – they are such a bright spot in the winter when they begin to bloom!

    Reply
  675. Linda Q on

    Oh, this is like children-how do you choose a favorite! Some of the very first shrubs I planted in my yard were double file viburnums- a row of them along my border. They have a horizontal branching habit loaded with white flowers that bloom in the springtime. They also produce red berries in the fall.

    Reply
  676. Melinda on

    My faves at the moment are white gaura, also known as “whirling butterflies” because they are so light and dance in the wind, and salvia mystic spires which has velvety purple stalks nearly year round here in Northern CA.

    Reply
  677. Jes R on

    The resilient humble striking quality of Russian sage makes me just grin from ear to ear. Its silvery feathery purple tipped foliage is just lovely as sprays on its own or in arrangements. That sucker will come back every year better and bigger too!

    Reply
  678. Nicole on

    What a difficult question! I think I have a favorite flowering perenial for every week of the year 🤣! Mock Orange is at the top of my list right now in Summer. I love riding my bike and seeing them spread throughout town.

    Reply
  679. Suzanne Niedrich on

    Hellebores are my favorite – planting some for this first time earlier this spring. I never thought about adding them to my cut flower arrangements from my seed garden – I will now! Thank you for all that you do to inspire us novice flower lovers.

    Reply
  680. Bibiana on

    I moved to Woodinville WA almost two years ago. Before that I lived in Mexico City and for a few years in Seattle. I never had a garden before. I am excited but also overwhelmed with the possibilities. The first thing I learned was perennial vs annuals. Sounds silly but I didn´t know that and I´m still figuring out the very basic garden knowledge. My first loves are perennials and the idea of something coming back every year to remember you the winter is over and life goes on. I planted some hydrangeas, hostas and coral bells for the shady parts.

    Reply
  681. Ellen Jones on

    In the garden of a Japanese Buddhist temple, we saw a host of Honorine Jobert Japanese anemones dancing like butterflies buffeted by the breeze. In our garden, smaller pink Japanese anemone flowers seems like fairy flowers, with spun cotton seed heads in the autumn. I would love to have a copy of Rachel Siegfried’s book; thank you for offering the possibility of our owning it.

    Reply
  682. Jana Sharpley on

    L-O-V-E!!!
    Wonderful material! Thank you for blogging about it.
    Please register me for one of the free books.

    Reply
  683. Lou Bauer on

    I have been slowly adding shrubs for cutting to go along with all my other perennials that I cut and sell to a florist. I just recently added a mock orange and a Summersweet. I am excited to see how they do. I have many ninebarks and spirea and save alot for the fall color of the foliage. It’s so hard to chose spring color, flowers or fall color!! UGH I need more!

    Reply
  684. Christy on

    This would be an amazing book add to my collection. I love to read about different gardens and gardeners.

    Reply
  685. Helen R on

    Be still my heart! I’ve been breeding hellebores for well over a decade now and am thrilled that they’re finally getting their due as cut flowers. Rachel’s new book is now on my must-have list, thanks so much for bringing her to our attention.

    Reply
  686. Kathleen Archer on

    My favorite perennial is the peony. Such magnificent flowers! But I am looking to plant woody shrubs at our newish yard that can provide foliage and filler for bouquets, so I’m very interested in Rachel’s book.

    Reply
  687. Stephanie K. on

    So many favorites and so many at our house that I would love to learn more about and add in this category – roses, lilacs, mountain laurel and hellebores are up there and so different!

    Reply
  688. Amy on

    I definitely want to plant more shrubs, your headgerows are inspiring! It’s so hard to choose just one, but a few perennials I use for cutting are baptisia, yarrow, and heuchera. Can’t wait to read the book!

    Reply
  689. Judith Kindermann on

    There are a lot of perennials and shrubs in my garden in a rural area in the midst of germany.
    My favorite is Hesperis matronalis. I love the purple ones, but the white ones just as well.

    Reply
  690. M. Ritz on

    I enjoyed the interview so much! And I‘d love a copy of the book, of course!!!

    My favorites are ranunculus, narcissus and sweet pea (although that‘s not a perennial….) , oh! And scabiosa, and verbena, and Knautia! Can‘t decide!!!

    Reply
  691. Andrea. Z on

    My favorite shrub is nine bark. It’s beautiful both on flower and not.

    Reply
  692. Sara on

    I have so many favorites, but I have a special place in my heart for a huge hydrangea that was already there when I bought my house in Minnesota. I’ve tried planting a few different varieties in my new home, but nothing compares to that beauty!

    Reply
  693. DaniK on

    My favorite perennials are phlox. They seem to tolerate many conditions and while they tend to spread, they don’t do so aggressively so are easy to propagate but still keep to the original planting plan. And they seem to go on for long time – my late dad planted Phlox David 15 years ago and it’s still going strong and reminds me of him every time I walk into the backyard. I have now collected almost a dozen of varieties, including a couple I grew from Floret seeds.

    Reply
  694. Carol on

    I learned to love the peonies in my grandma’s landscaping nearly fifty years ago. But also her lilacs. It’s a hard choice. I also love boxwood and adding it to arrangements.

    Reply
  695. Sandra Martensen on

    I love Rachel’s ability to use shrubs and cut tree branches and flowers to mix it up – charming arrangements and so inspiring. I would love a copy of her book. Thank you.

    Reply
  696. Judy Sviatko on

    I am rebuilding my garden after a fire, and besides replacing my beloved roses, I’m adding a lot of natives this time. I am so charmed by my new buttonbush! It’s still small right now, but will hopefully add some needed interest to my fall bouquets!

    Reply
  697. Renee on

    Favorites perhaps would be hydrangea, yarrow, and all my perennial herbs that return so wonderfully every spring! This looks like such an amazing and beautiful book!

    Reply
  698. Erika on

    My peony border always delights me every spring, and reminds me of a special and funny birthday memory… my husband and I had been renting a house with mature peony bushes and when the owners decided to sell, we had to move before the bushes bloomed. My husband snuck back in the evening while the house was still vacant and surprised me with two buckets full of peonies for my birthday!

    Reply
  699. Misty on

    My absolute favorite flower is the peony. They are so magical, tightly tucked into their ball blossoms then explode their beauty into the world in a big overstated showey yet elegant way. Their fragrance is so signiture and undeniably their own amounst the delicate petals 🌸

    Reply
  700. Smi on

    My favorite shrub is hydrangea. With so many colors and varieties, needing very minimal maintenance, beautiful hydrangea is top of my list.

    Reply
  701. Lindsay on

    My favorite have always been lavender! Every year I add new favorites too. Dahlias and hollyhocks are two of my new favorites to grow!

    Reply
  702. Sabrina O’Malley on

    I still have so much to learn. I love my hydrangeas and Shasta daisies and recently added a few roses. My garden is a great joy to me. Thank you for helping me along this journey

    Reply
  703. Amanda Pollard on

    How exciting for this wonderful resource! My favorites include forsythia, peonies, and garden roses… I recently just ventured into garden roses and am excited to see how they do through this coming year.

    Reply
  704. Gwen on

    I would love to win a copy of this book! I am not sure I can pick a favorite. I love bleeding hearts in early spring. I love crocosmia lucifer in the summer, they are one of my favorite to watch hummingbirds feeding on. My fall favorite is the hydrangea as the white flowers turn to a dark pink color. Even if I don’t win a copy , I am sure one will still end up in my collection.

    Reply
  705. Sue on

    I am a texture and foliage kind of a girl. A few years ago I planted an ombre row of ninebarks in my garden. The foliage ranges from shades of green to golden, bronze, red and almost black. They are one of my favorite woody shrubs to cut from and add to floral arrangements.

    Reply
  706. brigette on

    I love hydrangeas especially the limelight. I allow them to dry and enjoy them scattered throughout my house all winter.

    Reply
  707. Peggy on

    I just want to learn more about them!! And slowly incorporate more on my property. I love my peony bushes and hydrangeas, and just added some climbing rose bushes. I need plants that are maintenance free but add lots of color and beauty.

    Reply
  708. Judy Cato on

    This is a book that will fill my needs for the work at my church. We grow cut flowers and arrange them for the altar each Sunday. At home I can’t get enough cut flowers to just enjoy and love.

    Reply
  709. Bruce Nivens on

    I LOVE PEONIES. So much so that I even got (from L’Occitaine) a terrific peony-scented lotion that I use at least once a week. And yes, it would be great to have a copy of the new book! And thanks, Erin, I just watched all three episodes of your summer mini glass; it was great.

    Reply
  710. Leslie Davis on

    What a lovely resource. I would love to have a copy. It is hard to pick a favorite but I do love hydrangeas.

    Reply
  711. Eileen on

    My favorites are hydrangeas and roses—a little tough to grow in Texas, but I keep trying! I love bringing the beauty of cut flowers and branches indoors. I’d love to win a copy of Rachel’s book. It looks stunning. 🌸

    Reply
  712. Meredith Kenworthy on

    I’ve got what I think is called Obedient Plant. It is tall and has white flowers. It comes back beautifully every year and is so pretty and healthy looking no matter the weather. I also like hostas. So many options and so little work. Another very dependable option. Oh! And my dark red peonies! And I recently planted a ground cover but I’m afraid it’s going to take over. I think it’s called chameleon plant. It’s pretty cool with little white flowers. It’s too hard to pick one plant… oof!

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  713. Kelly on

    My fav….Peonies…every single one of them!

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  714. Nina H on

    Just speechless……can’t wait to read it 🥰

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  715. Felicity on

    I loved this interview! Thank yo so much for sharing Erin. Rachel’s book is right up my alley or should I say garden path. I absolutely adore spring flowering shrubs especially delicate tree blossoms that look amazing in a big or small vase as I await the spring flowers. Too many perennials or shrubs to mention that I love but roses, ferns and grasses are all right up the top of the list. I wonder if like Rachel I am a plant addict :)

    Reply
  716. Mel Scholz on

    I cannot wait to read this book! I’ve been learning mostly about the annuals forgot flowers but I absolutely love the focus on primals and Woody shrubs. Favorite perennials are hellebores, roses and peonies. Can’t forget lilacs and hydrangea and so much more! Have not grown delphinium yet but after seeing this I can’t wait!

    Reply
  717. Michelle on

    Peonies are my favorite. All of the different colors of blooms and also the foliage once the flowers are finished. I’d love to be able to identify some of the types I received from grandparents and found at sales.

    Reply
  718. Elizabeth Tovar on

    This book looks incredible. My favorite perennial has to be choke berry – absolutely gorgeous in arrangements and an excellent native plant where I live.

    Reply
  719. Danae Weaver on

    Peonies are my favorite perennials, they remind me of my mother and her lifelong pursuit of beauty. She wasn’t the most gifted gardener but enjoyed flowers immensely and in her later years worked to improve her knowledge of growing her own. – I absolutely have to get my hands on this book to begin my journey of learning this art of flower gardening. The Joy it can bring to others!

    Reply
  720. Sherry M on

    Sooo hungry hungry for those many season bouquets -especially the Early Spring bouquets–and so impressed by Chris’s use of hellebores and those beautiful greens, purples and pinks! I love hearing her mindful thoughtful moments in the garden – flowers, birds, insects- I can almost feel the color of the sun light – Thank you Erin and Chris!

    Reply
  721. Terri Lowdon on

    I love roses, peonies, lavender, jasmine, dahlias…….anything with a lovely fragrance! I would love to win a copy of Rachel’s new book, it looks amazing and inspiring! It would definitely be an awesome addition to my Floret books! 💜
    🌹🪻🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼🌹🪻🌸🌺🌷🌻🌹🪻🌹

    Reply
  722. Stephanie on

    I like to mix twigs, branches, and foliage in with my flowers. Some favorites are abelia, quince, Harry Lauder’s walking stick, epimedium, and hosta.
    Rachel’s lush, slightly unruly arrangements are brilliant. So glad she’s written a book.

    Reply
  723. Janet on

    Lilacs smell of springtime – on a stroll outside or a pitcher inside.

    Reply
  724. Cendi Botti on

    For years Erin has talked about ninebark. After planting some golden ninebark and enjoying it in the ground as well as in arrangements, this happened. — A Shasta Daisy “volunteered” to sit fashionably next to it, close to where I had planted curry, just for the smell. The two perennials and one shrub, put on quite a show. And I applaud them for their performance. This year especially, as I broke my leg and appreciate my plants that work when I can’t. 😍

    Reply
  725. Elizabeth Breuer on

    Oh what an exciting book. I LOVE that she is drawn to the flowers and plants for the arrangements rather than going to the garden with a preconceived idea.
    I cannot wait to have the book in my hands one day! One of my favorites is viburnum with the blue berries in the fall.

    Reply
  726. Krista on

    Thank you for conducting this interview! It is very difficult to choose just one, but it is hard to beat a burning bush for that beautiful fall color. I did just plant two serviceberries that I think might take over the top spot in the future though. I already love the color and shape of the leaves.

    Reply
  727. Angi on

    Choosing a favorite flower is one of the hardest things to do but Ranunculus are one of my absolute favorite flowers. The delicacy of their tissue-thin petals is absolutely amazing. There is a color for any mood you are feeling and their beauty is just so breathtaking.

    Reply
  728. Kat on

    This book sounds so wonderful! 🥰🤩 I love perennials… hard to pick just one! I think, if I have to, I’d say Peonies… but, then I also like Lady’s Mantle, Veronica, Monarda, hostas… etc etc. 😂 And then roses, mock orange, lilacs, ornamental flowering cherry trees… so many beautiful plants! 👌🥰

    Reply
  729. Stacey on

    My Favorite shrub is the Western Redbud. It’s native in California where I live. I love how stunning it is in bloom with bright magenta flowers that produce seed pods. Their leaves are equally beautiful in colors of green- blue in summer and yellow red rust in fall. I can’t tell you how happy they make me feel every time I see one. My husband purchased two for our property as a 12th wedding anniversary gift. I am beyond excited to see how they grow and develop to support native pollinators.

    Reply
  730. Janet on

    What a beautiful book!!
    One of my favorite perennials are Delphinium, I started some from seed this year, and planted them out in the garden. But then I read, it’s best to start them in the fall… Anyway .. maybe having a copy of the book would really help me lol. They are small, but thriving and weather has been weird this year.
    I can’t wait till next year when I have a row of beautiful, blooming delphiniums, hopefully!

    Reply
  731. Kathleen Houser on

    I live in the Midwest USA. I love my bee balm, coneflowers, yarrow, prairie smoke. The prairie plants do well here in my growing conditions. I also love my hydrangeas, wiegela bushes and my lilacs. Love reading about gardens and the flower arrangements in this article are so beautiful!

    Reply
  732. Jane on

    Thank you for the interview with Rachel and beautiful photos. Can’t say I have a favorite. Every plant is unique to its self and the season. I do enjoy Lilacs and hydrangeas especially the Oak-leaf hydrangea,
    .

    Reply
  733. Laura De Los Santos on

    Pushy Willows and cherry blossoms. Just love the whimsical arrangements both can make. Also Mt new favorite is cotton clusters. Fell in love with cotton fields in bloom when we visited South Carolina last year. Had never seen a cotton field in bloom until then and my gosh was it just magical. So beautiful in natural arrangements!

    Reply
  734. Amanda McDonald on

    Lily-of-the-valley are my lifelong favourite flowers. Their delicate blooms and captivating scent take me away to deeply imprinted childhood memories of my grandmother, in the sunshine, wading through the garden….
    Rachel’s book looks, equal parts, swoon-worthy and a trove of great insight.

    Reply
  735. Erica Stevens on

    Day lilies and alliums – I can never get enough of them.

    Reply
  736. Ruth Oie on

    My favorites have changed in the last six years as we have relocated to a new small city and and the deer population within the city limits is unreal. I presently enjoy clematis, foxglove and variety of sages as the deer don’t seem to have an appetite for them. Enjoyed the interview and the book looks gorgeous.

    Reply
  737. Alyssa M. on

    I adore my roses, but I think the humble, versatile, and productive echinecea or rudbeckia still has to win out for me! ♥️

    Reply
  738. Jodi on

    Such a timely post and interview – I’ve been wanting to plant more perennials and shrubs for cut flowers! So many lovelies to choose from, but I really enjoy the many types of hydrangea.

    Reply
  739. Kirsten F. on

    I love peonies! They have always reminded me of my childhood home in Vermont where they were abundant on my parent’s and grandparent’s properties. I got married there last year just as the bushes were coming into blossoms and it solidified them as a flower I will always hold dear!

    Reply
  740. Abby Ostler on

    One of my favorite Perrenials is Monarda… I call it the “Dr Seuss do you like my Hat” flower because it’s very jaunty and makes me smile. I like all the colors but especially the red… my Dad loved to call it the Bee Bop and my mom had it in her gardens .. nostalgic for me🌻❤️

    Reply
  741. Shari D. on

    My favorite shrubs to put in vases are lilacs, snowball viburnum, and all the flowering branches, especially dogwood.

    Reply
  742. Abby on

    HARD to choose, but always I come back to shrub roses. They make me so happy! On the other end of the spectrum, I love Blue Arrow Juniper. Such a delightful accent plant.

    Reply
  743. C Burks on

    Privet, my roses bushes, and globe thistle

    Reply
  744. Mary on

    Thank you for sharing your interview with Rachel. Her book looks gorgeous and so informative. I have a small backyard planted with perennials, shrubs, trees and some annuals. Hellebores are my favorite perennial. The flowers are so beautiful and I love that they stay in bloom for such a long time, adding color and beauty to the yard during the winter. Hydrangeas are my favorite shrub. I have panicle, mop head and lacecap ones and love them all for their gorgeous long lasting blooms.

    Reply
  745. Marianne Dasch on

    I’d have to say that catmint is one of my favorites. It smells wonderful and the bees are always on it! I think they love it too!😊.

    Reply
  746. Cindy Addison on

    I moved to a small coastal town with my new husband and baby many years ago. I found our home , by hearing about the overgrown garden from the realtor – “every tree blooms in spring “ . It was created over 40 years by a British woman who got her trees and shrubs by post. Many trees food producing , pears, plum cherries hazelnut , walnut and a huge beautiful old Transparent apple , were all productive standards of the day . Older shrubs filled the under story , the Guelder rose , massive old climbing roses and rhodos .. but the tree that starts my year , that takes my breath away every spring as I look up into it’s 60 foot ecosystem of unfurling leaves , is her copper beech . She ordered it from Scotland over 80 years ago. I think it has been the inspiration all along for my “ wild” garden . Its grey bark and graceful branches , burgundy leaves in spring turning green with a rosy hue , its beech nuts in fall , and then in winter , its massive stately presence quietly stands . I learned about cutting beech leaves for bouquets from Erin Benzakein ; their addition transforms any assortment from the garden into a woodland . My daughter will marry in our wild garden this August . I eagerly looked forward to filling 2 statuary urns with my beech , to stand with her . I will be forever grateful for that inspiration.

    Reply
  747. Emily on

    It’s so hard to pick just one! Roses, quince, and forsythia are my top 3 – and if pressed I’d have to say forsythia because it just screams “spring is coming!!” when I see it blooming in late winter, early spring. Also, my dear friend Cee, whose real name is Cynthia, likes to call it for-Cynthia — and she feels like this plant was made just for her!! I just love that it makes you feel hopeful, happy, and special!

    Reply
  748. Anne Munch on

    I love hydrangeas, both in the garden and as workhorses in arrangements. They can boot up the scale of an arrangement or just be used in a modern, edited arrangement. That being said it’s hard to pick just one shrub or perennial. For myself, I like the freshness of whites and greens, so hydrangeas really work for me. I grew up with a Granny and my mother going out to their gardens and just snipping whatever appealed to them – conifers, fruit branches, flowering bulbs – what ever looked healthy and would work in a small glass container or a large patterned bowl. It’s a very natural and local approach to arranging plant material and it still resonates with me. Looking forward to this book!

    Reply
  749. Ariel Balog on

    For my wedding this past February we used roses with cut greens from magnolia, American holly, and laurel. It was a lovely winter theme without being too Christmas-y! The magnolia leaves looked fantastic with my light brown velvet ribbon too!

    Reply
  750. Michelle Lucas on

    My all time favorite is the lilac! The beautiful white & purple blumes, the heady scent just perfumes the spring air. Adding to the scented air is the mixture of apple & pear blossoms. They make a beautiful arrangement and the wonderful smells make me smile!

    Reply
  751. Beth on

    Hydrangeas are also my favorite but getting them through the heat and drought of summer is a challenge. I don’t have room for much annual production so I am very interested in a better use of perennials.

    Reply
  752. Anita on

    My undefeated favourite is the rose 🧡

    Reply
  753. Debbie Fortney on

    My favorite shrub is Korean Spice Viburnum. I look forward to spring each year and the spicy scented blooming of this shrub in my gardens. I love how the flower clusters fade from light pink to white. KS was the first Viburnum I added to my yard. I liked it so much that I have since added a few other varieties of Viburnum to my yard and I love them all! ❤️

    Reply
  754. Jan on

    One of my favorite perennials is hostas. There are so many varieties. I love to use their leaves and blooms in arrangements.
    I also have pussy willows I like to incorporate into spring arrangements.

    Reply
  755. Brenda Miller on

    One of my favorite shrubs is Corylus contorta (contorted filbert) – great in all seasons, and the bare branches are perfect for arrangements!

    Reply
  756. Debbie Alger on

    Choosing a favourite flower would be like having to choose a favourite child/grandchildren however it all comes down to the seasons for me…Spring brings the awakening of my world with lilacs & peonies paired with sprigs from an arctic dogwood …Summer marches in with Jacob’s ladder & Lily of the valley surrounding both huge & miniature leaves of my many varieties of hostas and as the leaves of the maple trees change colour for Autumn, hydrangeas burst forth with hues of cream& lime to deep magenta & subtle strawberry pink, letting me know that there is always more to come and then, alas, Winter blows in putting all to rest but leaving sprigs of dogwood, drying hydrangea & sunflower heads still full of seed to make indoor arrangements for the season of rest…

    Reply
  757. Trisha Brink on

    Smoke Bush…such a wild name right? This jewel otherwise known as Cotinus coggygria is definitely a steadfast favorite of mine. I love that the sun produces this blackened ruddy-red leaf for contrast in my often pastel leaning spring bouquets. But the shade gives me a cool colored blueish-green, silver dollar sized leaf to compliment a woodsy arrangement filled with ferns & hosta. The puffy, ethereal blooms are magic in contemporary displays. I even like how I’m able to utilize the long, lean limbs into round woody wreath bases for my autumn & Christmas offerings. It’s an all around winner in my book!

    Reply
  758. Danielle on

    Roses… always roses! Looks like a wonderful book to add to my collection!

    Reply
  759. Maureen S on

    So excited for this book!! My favorite perennials right now are violas and Indian Blanket. I can’t wait to try others.

    Reply
  760. Eva on

    I am so needing such a book to learn more about growing perennials and shrubs for cutting! My favorite so far are hellebores!

    Reply
  761. Janelle Bretz on

    I love watching our deciduous trees — white oaks, Japanese and vine maples, cherry and dogwood trees, and more — leafing out in an array of greens in the spring. It means a canopy of shelter and food is growing for all the baby birds and animals that are being born. And, at long last, our colorful growing season here in the Pacific Northwest is under way!

    Reply
  762. Rachel on

    Hydrangeas and lilacs are my all-time favorites. I used to have hydrangeas in my yard. They would bloom all season in the loveliest array of colors. They fill up a vase so quickly and can easily stand on their own!

    Reply
  763. Linda O'Rourke on

    I live in the low Country of South Carolina and sometimes gardening can be a challenge due to the heat and humidity. I have made a small garden around the perimeter of my yard going from shade to sun. I try to use native plants that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to support their needs. I am also interested in using woody varieties and perennials in the garden to support any cut flower arrangements that I am able to make and would love to learn more.

    Reply
  764. Jessica kitch on

    So hard to choose but I’ll have to go with one of our main crops, which is willow! Pussy willows and interested shapes and texture abound! Dried and fresh they are reliable and versatile!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  765. Connie Kelly on

    I live in New Mexico and the environment is tough for delicate flowers. To my surprise my Hellebore’s are doing well, reappearing at the last of winter. I hope to have success with other offerings this year. Thanks ladies for all your help with our garden dreams.

    Reply
  766. dawn on

    it would have to be daisies .. the natural ones that fill a field .. they always feel so happy and welcoming :)

    Reply
  767. Jonanne on

    Currently, Magic Carpet Spirea. It has pretty pink flowers that look nice in a vase with Roses :). Would love to be able to read the book and learn more!!

    Reply
  768. Hilary on

    Looking forward to reading this book. I’m a lover of my black lace elderberry bushes… and our wild Lupine season which is currently in full glory. Thank you!

    Reply
  769. Susan Friedman on

    There are many, but first and always would have to be lilacs. Their delicate beauty, aroma and history are what makes this a perfect favorite. And of course, the colors are always special ❤️

    Reply
  770. Tara Westby on

    So excited for this book! My favorite perennial has to be lilac, although as I am very new to this wide world of flowers, I’m excited to learn more about perennials and woody flowers.

    Reply
  771. Anna Cacoilo on

    It’s hard to choose but one perennial that stand out the most for me is the upright sedum. Looks great in the garden, has an abundance of flowers, comes in pink, rose, purple, burgundy, green and chartreuse. They make a beautiful statement just by themselves in vase. Great tip to grow more of sedum is to snap the stem and directly plant it in the ground.

    Reply
  772. Lee Ann Parrish on

    This book looks fantastic! I’ve always been a lilac fan. Brings back fond memories of my grandparents’ farm & my grandmother’s lilac bush. The fragrance was amazing.

    Reply
  773. Niina on

    I love Dogwood (Cornus), so many lovely varieties with exciting foliage and pretty flowers and the bare branches look amazing in the winter!

    Reply
  774. Lisa D. on

    Love the photos and the book sounds amazing! My favorite perennial is fairly common here in the Midwest: purple coneflower. :)

    Reply
  775. Deborah Plunkett on

    As a newish gardener (my second season actually growing ornamentals and herbs), I’m in love with all my perennials (and enjoy the annuals, too).
    But, as hard as it is to select just one, I’d have to choose the David Auston shrub roses. We’ve had some hard weather the last 2-3 years, drought, extreme temperatures, very little snow, but late killing frost, and now weeks of steady rain. I lost some plants, those that survived didn’t bloom this year, or their blooms came and went quickly (azalea, rhododendron, lilacs, alliums). The roses came through beautifully, thriving, and bringing in lots of ongoing blooms.

    (If I could choose a second, it would be the inkberry holly, they came through so beautifully as well, they provide privacy, some shade, and I love their petite, delicate flowers.)

    Your photos are stunning, and Rachel’s book is a perfect sourcebook of inspiration and practical information. Congratulations to Rachel, and thank you both for sharing your knowledge with us.

    Reply
  776. Sarah V on

    So excited for this book! I have several varieties of Coreopsis in my garden, the moonbeam variety is my favorite. I love the color and texture it brings to my garden beds.

    Reply
  777. Amy on

    I love the clovers… red , crimson, yellow. They are beautiful, long blooming, compliment anything they grow next to or are placed next to in an arrangement. Not to mention they are super friend to pollinators and soil, germinate easily, prolific, and seemingly disease free!

    Reply
  778. Jo Ann Fritsch on

    I love Bleeding Hearts. They make me happy I can’t help but smile when I see them hanging on the branch.

    Reply
  779. Jojo Shepard on

    I always had a few dahlias in my garden, but last year I grew a lot of them and fell in love with the summer full of flowers, so many colors and shapes. And watching the bumblebees on Rumble Bumble all day every day brought extra magic.

    Reply
  780. Deborah on

    I really enjoy my butterfly bushes and the smell to me is of honey. I enjoy just about any flowers, but hydrangeas are so beautiful.

    Reply
  781. Maylene W. on

    The Green and Gorgeous tour was the one that spoke to me during the workshop. It was inspiring.

    Reply
  782. Robin on

    Absolutely Love!!! I’ve been looking into growing more Perinnials and this book is perfect!! Still love My Annuals, but looking forward to growing more Perinnials!

    Reply
  783. Jacque Hutson on

    I love baptisia/wild indigo, both the flowers and the foliage. I wish it bloomed longer!

    Reply
  784. KC on

    Can’t wait to read the book– looks lovely. I added bee balm to my north Texas garden a couple of years ago– she is putting on a show right now in the intense heat we are having– need to add more!!

    Reply
  785. Marie Brodeur on

    I love that she comments on the fact that perennials and shrubs are a natural part of the environment that surrounds us. It reminds me that we should respect our natural surroundings and try to work with it. I love many perennials but my favorite ones are those that can also be medicinal such as echinaceas or calendulas. Such wise and generous plants :)

    Reply
  786. Mak on

    I love Hellibores and daffodils they just are so lovely after a cold dreary winter

    Reply
  787. Megan Kim on

    I’m excited to fill my north garden beds with hydrangeas and hellebores. Not popular here in Southern California (zone10), but seems to be doing well so far.

    Reply
  788. Kim Felcher on

    I’ve just started my cut flower garden so for years I’ve been using my perennials and stuff I find at the edges of fields, woods and ditches (there’s some really cool stuff that just grows in the wild and, bonus, it’s free!) My favorite perennial is false indigo…it last forever in a vase and I use it as a flower in early summer and for foliage all summer and fall. I have both purple and yellow flowered varieties. My other 2 favs are spirea (again as a flower while it’s flowering and foliage before and after) and weigelia (flowers and then as foliage)…both surprised me with how long they last once cut. Oh, and my coneflowers…soooooo many colors and shapes! Oh, and chive flowers are super cool, last forever and are a different shape from anything else I have. So many options, I find new cool stuff all the time!

    Reply
  789. Lanelle on

    One of my favorite perennials is the purple coneflower. I love the arrangement in this article that combines woodsy with the bright flowers! Thank you for the interview and the information about the new book!

    Reply
  790. Wendy on

    I love plants so this was a hard decision to make! I love mock oranges for their fragrant bloom, ornamental red elderberry for the beautiful leaves, and bee balm for its bright pop of color along with the amount of hummingbirds that visit it in my garden.

    Reply
  791. Patty A. on

    My garden continues to evolve, and this year I’ve added more roses into the mix of my favorite perennials such as salvias and rudbeckia. I’m hoping for some beautiful bouquets.

    Reply
  792. Carlo on

    While my wife and I don’t have a “cutting” garden, we do have a very ‘cuttable’ many woodies and perennials are tried in arrangements in the house. No pruning happens outside without material being cleaned and brought in. Like many others here it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite and it changes constantly. Two stalwarts—the glossy leaves of Ilex and Cycas.. both are useful in arrangements and are often featured on their own. (A particular favorite any time of year is a centerpiece of four silver mint julep cups filled with trimmed Ilex tip cuttings—low enough to see over at the dinner table.)

    Reply
  793. Tammi P on

    American beautyberry is one of my favorites. The delicate light pink flowers are opening now and the purple berries to follow are amazing, with the bonus that it’s native here.

    Reply
  794. Johanna Cash on

    My middle name is Heather which has led me to love Heather bushes. They’re woody and perennial and I love that there are varieties that bloom in different seasons! They also attract pollinators to my garden which is awesome!

    Reply
  795. Julia on

    Mine are Rose’s! This book sounds lovely! What awesome pictures.

    Reply
  796. Melissa Weaver Dunning on

    I have a new focus on native shrubs, and my current focus is on bayberry, spice bush and ink berry.

    Reply
  797. Nila Mae Howard on

    I’ve always loved lilacs. I climbed in woody shrubby trees as a child intoxicating myself with their scent. I have several in my small yard and eagerly await their blooming each year. I also am fascinated with all the arrangements that Rachel makes. They are beautiful and interesting combinations.

    Reply
  798. Joanne on

    I have always been drawn to the Rudbeckia family as their rich colors and diversity of shapes is just wonderful. I really cant get enough of them in my garden.
    Rachel’s book sounds beautiful and a good garden resource, I’m excited to read it.

    Reply
  799. Jen on

    I adore plants and flowers. I love roses and hydrangeas. Im definitely a beginner and would really love to win a copy of Rachel’s new book … it looks absolutely gorgeous. P.S. Floret Flowers is my favorite 💕for inspiration !

    Reply
  800. Susan Towndrow on

    I have always wanted a cutting garden even before I had heard the term. It is only now in my golden years that I actually have one. It is on borrowed land on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, with full sun and wonderful soil and it fill my heart with joy! My favourite is the double Feverfew that I grew from seed a couple of years ago and now just pops up generously here and there. 😘

    Reply
  801. Cheri johnson on

    I wish I could narrow my list down to my top 50!! Every flower I see, whether annual or perennial, leaves me in awe. This book is a must for me!

    Reply
  802. Angela Gross on

    Sounds like a lovely and useful resource. I am especially drawn to perennials. I have Rosemary planted near a corner of the pathways in my garden. I enjoy it for so many reasons, but can’t say it is my favorite, but it does bring constant enjoyment: scent, pollinators, cooking… I loved seeing the hellebores on the front of Rachel’s new book. In the last three years I have planted several varieties of them.

    Reply
  803. Alycia on

    How can I pick just one?! Phlox, Hosta, Peony, Salvia. I love how much color and joy flowers bring to the world. I love to add different varieties to my garden every year knowing that they will come again. My girls have also caught the joy of flowers. It all started with a pink anemone so maybe that’s my favorite because that’s where it all began.

    Reply
  804. Vicki Tayloe on

    I have always loved roses, wild, cultivated they always bring me joy. Mixing in local plants and creating unique flower arrangements is the best of traditional floral gardens and the native plants. I can’t wait to read this book!

    Reply
  805. Gwen on

    I love countless perennials, Daphne’s to early spring bluebells to foxgloves, delphinium, feverfew, yarrow, black eyed Susan’s, cosmos , hydrangea and Japanese anemones , to name a few! Will be needing this beautiful book!

    Reply
  806. Sarah on

    Snowball viburnum!! I want one for my garden but don’t have a spot yet

    Reply
  807. Stephanie on

    Such a tough thing to choose a favorite perennial! I think hellebores might be it. They are the first to show green leaves after a long winter. The flowers are beautiful and change over time – even faded they are lovely. Pretty in the garden or cut arrangements and the leaves are every bit as interesting and useful in bouquets as the flowers.

    Reply
  808. Rachael on

    Peonies are my favourite (at the moment) and bring all the glory into a nice vase in the house

    Reply
  809. Colleen on

    Hi Erin. Thank you for your dedication to floral beauty in so many avenues. Love Rachel’s arrangements. I live and Florida and am challenged with embracing the tropical. My current favorite is Queens Wreath vine.

    Reply
  810. Lynn Shepard on

    Hi, I am new to gardening and just planted peonies this year. They are beautiful! I would love to learn more!

    Reply
  811. Mary on

    How to pick just one? I’d say the perennial I cut from most to get some depth in arrangements is a smoke bush. Thanks so much for the interview and sharing details about Rachel and her new book!

    Reply
  812. Christina on

    What a great resource Rachel has created! So excited to dive in! It’s difficult to choose a favorite, but I sure do love Hydrangeas!

    Reply
  813. Marcia G on

    Love the use of the natural branches and incorporating those into a flower arrangement.

    Reply
  814. Jo Ann Wright on

    Perennials have been my passion for more than 30 years. They are the backbone of my garden and especially my cutting garden. I had a cut flower business with my young grandsons for 2 years and my perennial garden got us through many times when there were few cut flowers available from annual flowers. Perennials are like old friends that come for a visit every year. I have some that have survived for years and are not so available to purchase anymore. I can’t say which is my favorite because I think they all are each year at their glorious bloom time catch my attention. I do a weekly arrangement (or two) for my daughter-in-laws place of business. It is such a joy to make something that all will enjoy as they enter her shop. I love working with flowers and enjoying the beauty that only God could create.

    Reply
  815. Shannon Jay on

    I love going into the garden and choosing the flowers which are blooming to create bouquets. Flowering perennials bring birds into the space and that is such a joy to see!

    Reply
  816. Andrea V on

    Baptisia is my favorite at the moment.

    Reply
  817. Kimberly on

    It’s so hard to pick a favorite flower but if I most I do love Ranunculus !!!!

    Reply
  818. Amy Richardson on

    I love hellebores…the first little flowers peek out reminding that winter doesn’t last forever.

    Reply
  819. Loren on

    I was so inspired by the interview and the idea of using perennials and non traditional flowers and plants applied to me. I have a great backyard with lovely trees and would like to incorporate a side yard with perennials instead of a fence. The picture were inspirational and motivational. Thank you for all the beauty you bring us.

    Reply
  820. Bj on

    I’ve been planting elderberries, hawthornes and herbs to attract wildlife and pollinators. I’m a micro rose hobby grower on a tiny lot and want to add foraged plants as well for wild bouquets.

    Reply
  821. Elisabeth Waring on

    Where to start!
    Perennials have become my favorite resource in my garden, and I definitely want to learn more. Every year I wait expectantly for my lime-light hydrangeas, the salvias, anemones, sea hollies, and a host of other beloved plants.

    Excited to read this beautiful work!

    Reply
  822. Linda Hovgaard on

    One of my favorite flowers is Queen Anne’s Lace. I love the delicate lace flowers and fernlike foliage – gorgeous in bouquets. I have grown the Floret chocolate, green and white varieties from seed. This year I also grew the Floret Autumn Splendor Hibiscus from seed and just transplanted my starts into the garden. I can tell these are going to be one of my favorite foliage plants – beautiful. I am so excited about Rachel Siegfried’s book. I love incorporating woody cuttings into my bouquets and fillers that are unusual and stand out. I also love just cutting a bouquet of branches to display by themselves. Winning a copy of her book would be such a treat and honor!

    Reply
  823. Karen Singh on

    Hi! My favorite shrubs are viburnums. I like all of them but the leathery leafy ones. They bloom from very early spring to summer and can grow as they will or be pruned as you wish. Some are fragrant and all are lovely.

    Reply
  824. Val Taylor on

    One of my favorite shrubs is buttercup winter hazel, Corylopsis pauciflora. I like to force winter branches to bloom around Christmas. I include in arrangements during the holidays and the twigs look great with evergreens. They open to sweet creamy yellow flowers. I also love watching their pleated like leaves open in spring and they have a cool purple margin. Birds like to nest in them and forage. It’s a very versatile, fun shrub to have.

    Reply
  825. Leora on

    I’ve been really excited about this book because I want to learn more about perennials and woodies. I’m interested because I love that they add to the garden ecosystem by providing for the songs birds and pollinators, and I can’t wait to learn which ones make excellent cut flowers! I don’t have a favorite yet but looking forward to learning which ones to plant next!

    Reply
  826. Kyle Adams on

    It’s hard to pick a favorite but I’ll go with bleeding heart

    Reply
  827. Kathi Wilson on

    I love lavender. We have 2 different types growing in our yard – I do not know the names. I just appreciate the beauty, fragrance and differences. It is only in the past year, since finding Growing Floret that I have realized and begun cutting the beautiful flowers, and plants my husband has planted and nurtured, to make arrangements for our home and for others in our neighborhood, that I share them with. Erin and Floret has added a new dimension to his hobby. I also share the arrangements with family through technology.

    Reply
  828. Samantha Robillard on

    In 2021, my husband and I bought our first home. We knew going into that there was a lot of work to be done on the inside and out. I had a blank slate to work with for landscaping and that is when I took a dive into perennials! There are so many I have discovered and found that I love, but my favorite has to be peonies! This past spring was my first spring to see the first blooms for a couple plants and it brought so much joy knowing that my hard work and dedication to plants over the last two years is showing!

    Reply
  829. SUZ Kling on

    I garden in the middle of a 39 acre PNW forest on the Oregon coast that should satisfy all native plant movement proponents……beside an old micro one room cabin/think aging hippies searching for affordable real estate in the late 70’s……..there is a small circle of occasional sun…..chairs are positioned…Beverley Nichols is being read multiple times….I contemplate a swath in pots (difficult to dig holes in soil filled with Douglas Fir roots) filled with Chantilly peach snapdragons…….some summers I dare to add multiple colors…..this makes me feel brave and happy……..

    Reply
  830. Kara on

    Berries! =) Blueberries are my favorite perennial here. They’re beautiful to look at and they feed my family.

    Reply
  831. Cassidy on

    Wow! I need this book! I’ve actually been thinking about adding lots of perennials to my farm the past few weeks, but didn’t know where to start! I only have a few at the moment, so I am hoping to dig through this book for suggestions!

    As far as my favorite goes, that is a very good question haha! To name a few of my favorites, I absolutely love delphinium, hellebore, foxglove, echinacea, yarrow, salvia, English garden roses, and basically all the perennials haha! I don’t think I could ever pick a favorite! Whichever one is in front of me at the time, I will tell you that is my favorite!

    Reply
  832. Kathleen Jackson on

    🌿 O, Yay!! Mahalo to Rachel!

    I shared this interview with my husband this morning because the “micro week” concept just lifted me straight out of my 4 season brain! What a truly inspiring moment we shared as we agreed to create our own unique seasons beginning with the arrival of our favorite mourning doves. I’m grateful you two ladies fostered a concept of planting a seed called “perennial permission!” Not just thinking outside the box but planting your ideas out in your Hügelkultur bed…

    I appreciate your continued inspiration. You sharing your wisdom means the world to me, to remain focused on growing the good things in life. 🌱

    🦋🌻

    Reply
  833. Lora on

    Snowdrops and daffodils! They bring me so much joy and say winter is almost over but most importantly – deer don’t eat them! Ha!

    Reply
  834. Susan on

    Wonderful chat with Rachael… so much inspiration. I’m just getting started after a recent move. New landscaping fun, but boy is it a lot of work this time around, maybe it is my age talking to me. Mostly a blank slate to start with and so far the trees/shrubs are going in and then to the under plantings. Trying to get perennials in and learn the new zone and what I can keep my monsters away from (aka deer). So far I’m loving the Natchez Crape Myrtles, Hydrangeas, Confederate Rose, Lantana, Hosta and various Grasses, along with the climbing roses that we just planted.
    I can’t wait to get my hands on the new book, it will be a wonderful read especially when the heat hits and it is to hot to do any planting.
    Thank you for sharing… I love this plant community!!

    Reply
  835. Chris Wayland on

    I’d love to have peonies. The flowers and the foliage are great for home bouquets.

    Reply
  836. Catharine on

    Mock Orange in bloom now is a short season favourite, the fragrance wafting on the air is magic.

    Reply
  837. Sarah Allen on

    Thanks for sharing your wisdom Rachel! I love the lavender perennial bush!

    Reply
  838. Diane on

    I just removed a tree from my small perennial boarder and am working now on enriching the soil and figuring out what to plant in this, now sunny, spot. I’m looking forward to reading the book and using the plant guide as I start planning for fall and next spring’s planting. I plan to incorporate all of my favorites- peonies, alliums, larkspurs and foxgloves.

    Reply
  839. sushma kommineni on

    My favorite shrub and perennials are peonies. Their bloom period is short, but they make a statement in the garden or in the vase. They are a symbol of elegance and beauty packed with a delicate fragrance. They can live lifetime! Thinking about them makes me realize that I need to enjoy every tiny moment that is before my eyes and not take time for granted.

    Reply
  840. Kristine H on

    In 2021 my family and I decided it was time to upgrade to a bigger home. While I was a little hesitant to move after loving my home and garden of 20 years I caved in !!!! One of the biggest reasons was the house we were looking at had a great backyard to start a new garden and this most wonderful tree as I thought it was. Turns out it’s a Paeonia suffruticosa, ‘Joy of Longevity’ Japanese tree peony . The very first spring she put on the most amazing show of beautiful flowers I have ever seen!!! Needless to say I’m in love with her to this very day!!! 💕💕

    Reply
  841. Carol H on

    I live near the Oregon coast – plenty of wind and not much summer heat. Rose Jude the Obscure does beautifully here and has become a favorite! It’s filled with gorgeous blossoms in June, and continues to flower throughout the summer.

    Reply
  842. eric on

    I love the idea of using more perennials, natives, and nontraditional flowers and plants.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  843. Elizabeth Ludwig on

    My favorites are my tiger lilies. They have always been one of mya favorites since I was little.

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  844. Shannon conley on

    One of my favorites is vitex. It grows so well here and the beautiful purple and white flowers add a wonderful vertical shape to my rounder cut flowers.

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  845. sara on

    favorite perennials, easy- roses. hands down roses. for all the work they are, all the problem solving and constant observation, every time they emerge beautiful and fragrant and full of personality, its all worth it. they might be my first flower love. and in western ny its a bonus to have them as perennials that can tough out the harsh winters up here.

    i feel like the topics on these blog posts come out at the most perfect time when i need :)

    Reply
  846. Tatiana Hodges on

    Viburnum is lovely spilling over the side of a vase. It reminds me of my grandmother’s garden when I was a small child.

    Reply
  847. Sarah hissong on

    My favorite are lilacs… I have shed a tear when the season is over.. I just want to lay surrounded by them in the grass and soak up their scent in their short season the whole time. Eep! Love them.

    Reply
  848. Kartini on

    We’ve recently moved and my goal is to put more perennials in our garden and landscaping for cut flowers. Echinacea is one of my favorite perennials that I look forward to planting in our garden.

    Reply
  849. Cathrine Zachara on

    Peonies! I would love to fill my yard with more flowering perennials!

    Reply
  850. Suzanne Gappa on

    So many things that I love in the shrub and perennial garden…. But hands down, my favorites are the two ‘Blue Moon’ wisteria vines that grow on the pergola on our patio. It is a labor of love each early spring (three hours per vine!) to prune them for good flowering. And then, once in flower, we love watching the giant bumble bees gorge themselves on nectar and gather pollen. Our son calls them “dirigibees” for the way they hover and hum above our heads. One of the joys of late spring and early summer in our Zone 4 garden!

    Reply
  851. Carol Hibbard on

    What an inspiring interview! For many years, my garden was primarily fruits and vegetables for feeding our family on a shoestring. As all have grown and it’s just the two of us , transitioning to flowers, mostly perennials, has brought so much joy to me and the many I share my flowers with. I’d love to have her beautiful book to read and as a reference through the coming years!

    Reply
  852. Alison Hirt on

    Queen Annes Lace has been a favorite of mine since I was a child, the smell takes me back to summers on Cape Cod and I find its beautiful unbrelles old fashioned yet wild.

    Reply
  853. Heather Schouten on

    I am so excited to read this book! I grew up working in a perennial greenhouse as a summer student, and fell in love with Crocosmia every year. They seemed to be unlike anything that typically grew in our Ontario gardens and just had the most beautiful tropical colors!

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  854. N on

    Foxgloves!

    Reply
  855. Jan Shefferly on

    The voluptuous lavender that is starting to swallow one of my garden beds in my pint sized garden has totally captured my heart! The bees and butterflies are attracted to it and there are so many ways to enjoy and preserve it. Happy gardening!

    Reply
  856. Robin Lamb on

    It would have to be peonies. I love the blooms!

    Reply
  857. Elizabeth Sallee Bauer on

    What amazing timing! I was just taking a break from planting a huge row of catmint. We have found we can never have enough catmint plants, the flowers are great spires but the foliage is such a wonderful filler, we use it constantly.

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  858. joy gower on

    Cannot wait to read and see the beauty of the gatden on the pages of the book!

    Reply
  859. Nancy Grant on

    I have falling in love with the itoh peonies. I love all peonies but these are bigger, supposedly don’t need peony rings and can have as many as 50 blossoms on an established plant. Amazing!

    Reply
  860. Sharon on

    My favourite perennials are peonies. I have eight of them in my garden!

    Reply
  861. Barb Johnson on

    Got so carried away, I forgot to share what my favorite cutting perennial or shrub was! I’m a huge fan of height, so I gravitate towards foxglove, delphiniums and forsythia for that, but my favorites are dahlias

    Reply
  862. Olive Mondello on

    Cape plumbago with its gorgeous sky blue flower clusters is a highlight of my summer garden!

    Reply
  863. Paula on

    Here on our acreage in central Texas, we have a sea of black-eyed susans each Spring, along with milkweed, phlox, Texas thistle, coreopsis, monardas, and indian blanket and paintbrush. So, I guess my favorites are the things that grow here as intended.

    Reply
  864. Cheryl Roe on

    I love when the Peonies and False Indigo bloom together in early Spring.

    Reply
  865. Beth on

    What a beautiful book. I’m so inspired to bring some of these plants to our landscape!

    Reply
  866. Jackie on

    Such an inspiring title. Your interview with Rachel reminds me of my morning walks inspiring each unique bouquet I would take to work. One of my favorite plants is the one Floret often uses, my burgundy leaved ninebark. It makes such a great base for the other flowers to shine. But truly my first real perennial basic are my hosta leaves. I have green, variegated white and guacamole colored that can surround a bouquet really helping the flowers stand out and look regal. They last a while too. I have brought the standard green ones from my first house, basically it was a shady hosta filled 2 acres. They are some of my foundation plants here on my sunny hilltop. I have 14 beautiful acres and roam it freely picking what nature gives me and combining it with my garden flowers. I would love a copy of Rachel’s new book for more inspiration.

    Reply
  867. Susan Lewis on

    I have recently fallen in love with Black and Blue Sage. The hummingbirds just love it and it contrasts nicely with bright blooms on my annuals such as Oklahoma salmon zinnias.

    Reply
  868. Elaine Gilman on

    As a home gardener, I am appreciating more and more the workhorses of the perennial shrubs. Thank you for the great insight and resource!
    Elaine G.

    Reply
  869. Susan on

    Hydrangeas from fresh blooms to dried flowers!

    Reply
  870. Sangita on

    I love lilacs and hydrangeas, lilacs, because their scent is just lovely and hydrangeas because they are so pretty. All flowers are pretty, but those two just make me happy.

    Reply
  871. Norene on

    I have many peonies and can never get enough of them. I also love the mock orange when it is in bloom.

    Reply
  872. Faith on

    I absolutely love peonies, however my snap dragons do incredibly well where we live and really fill my yard with color. Roses in shades of sunsets will stop me in my tracks, poppies of all varieties are my favorite of all flowers. Delphiniums, Larkspur will break the bank for at any garden store. I love them all. :) can’t wait to read the book.

    Reply
  873. Ashley Van Meter on

    Blueberries and witch hazel! Blueberries provide 4 seasons of interest and fruit for us and the animals, witch hazel is so unique and blooms in winter. My witch hazel has been getting these galls every year on its leaves that have not caused much harm to its growth, really, but that have actually added a fair amount of interest in their shape and color.

    Reply
  874. Melinda on

    For perennials, I’m obsessed with nepeta and scabiosa in arrangements right now, they both last forever and look so whimsical and their colors are perfectly harmonious together. In the garden they are incredibly floriferous and long blooming all while being zero maintenance. They’re the perfect plants haha! For woody plants, I always find myself using Andromeda foliage because it has so much delicate variation in color, from a bright warm green to a bronze.

    Reply
  875. Terri on

    This book is going to be a wonderful treasure trove for us shrub lovers!! How can I pick just one?!? I love lilacs, hydrangeas, snowball viburnums, roses, hardy hibiscus, spirea, yellow and red twig dogwoods to name a few but a big bowl of glorious blue hydrangeas will make me swoon!!!!

    Reply
  876. Becky Brownlie on

    I am in love with my Ribus aureum (clove current). It is a small shrubby American native plant that is beautiful in its subtlety…until of course, it blooms and you pass her by to be stopped in your tracks by her gorgeous spicy clove scent! My current was a gift from my sister and is planted near my front door and now holds a very special place in my heart💛

    Reply
  877. Barb Johnson on

    It’s so wonderful when 2 people you admire, colide in such a delightful way! I don’t think I’ve ever been slightly jealous of both sides before! To tour Rachel’s gardens or to have Erin pop over for a visit! Thank you, Erin for sharing this journey of your with is and thank you Rachel for giving us such a wonderful book to learn from and enjoy! Thank you, thank you, thank you to you both!

    Reply
  878. Diane - Wildhorse Ranch on

    Thanks for sharing all this wonderful information with us! I love the Daisy’s – they are my go to perennial. We have lots of wildland on our ranch near Rocky Mountain House AB where I forage for unusual accent items for bouquets. I love the “wild look”!

    Reply
  879. Jane Purdy on

    The mock orange, state shrub of Idaho, is one of my favorites every spring! Fragrant, dreamy clusters of white bring so many opportunities for whimsical, dreamy arrangements!

    Reply
  880. Sheila Edwards on

    daphne odora summer ice – we love our beautiful, and enormous daphne of many years, (after planting and failing with two tries of this variety ) who blooms and shares her fragrance to our neighborhood. Recently has spread with two daughters : D

    Reply
  881. Courtney on

    Currently obsessed with my Lilac tree in my front yard + all the hydrangeas!! Can’t wait to read this book!

    Reply
  882. Peggy on

    I have so many favorites but one of them is Echinacea or Coneflowers. They have so many different colors and sizes. They bloom for a long time. Every year I try to get one of newest.

    Reply
  883. Pam on

    Reading about other people and their passion always fills my soul with new wonder and inspiration. After all, we all should be aspiring to follow our own unique passions as we pass through this gift of life. I moved to the PNW in 2021 and this is my first year to grow perennials. As I look out over my garden, I am enjoying the foxglove, calla lilies, and bleeding hearts so for today these are my favorites😉

    Reply
  884. Kim Beaumont on

    Lilacs and lavender but there are many others. I started gardening with only perennials and shrubs and have a yard full of them. I didn’t really plant annuals (except for a few pots or hanging baskets) until I found Floret. I can’t wait to read this book!

    Reply
  885. Michelle Gillette on

    Excited to view this book. I am in the midst of planting 10 acres and can use the ideas!

    Reply
  886. Suzanne on

    I was so excited about the book. I forgot to post my favorite bush or perennial. I love phlox. They are light and airy!

    Reply
  887. Sheila on

    I love Deutzias! Beautiful flowers and an easy care shrub❤️

    Reply
  888. Jennifer Neville on

    It’s hard to nail down a favorite! Especially when, with each season there is something new and amazing, literally popping up. But I have always loved the arrival of lilacs. They signal the beginning of summer and the desire to run outside and start digging in the garden once again!

    Reply
  889. Lindsey Reed Curl on

    What a wonderful resource! We just moved out to our 11 acres in Alabama about five years ago and since then, I have been trying to think through, redesign and grow beauty that is functional and sustainable! There were already some azaleas on site around the home, but also some wild hydrangeas in the woods that we were able to split and plant and add as ornamentals in a few choice spots! This book is exactly what I’ve been looking for to learn how to add the right thing in the right place, so that I can bring in cut flowers as well! My favorite is hydrangea- all varieties!!! We are in the country but my favorite garden style is New England so I’m trying to create a nice combination of classic, manicured, and casual! I’m excited to look through this new book!

    Reply
  890. Gigi Sharp on

    Huckleberry. The shiny dark leaves and scaly bark set off the color and form of meadow flowers. With the added benefit of the blooms and berries for us and wildlife.

    Reply
  891. Mindy on

    This is exactly what I’m looking for! We’re moving onto some property and I want to landscape with mostly seasonal perennial floral bliss in mind but I haven’t quite found the resource to help me choose–till now!! I love forsythia, and lupine, and foxglove, and camellia, and apple blossoms, and tiny wild irises, and antique trailing roses, and unfurling ferns, and daffodils with pinky peach edges, or petals like clouds! I’m also a novice potter and am always looking at the lovely pots you flower farmers use for the lovely photos like in this post!

    Reply
  892. Katie Bach on

    One of my favorites is Nigella. The texture & flowers are so amazing and they last forever. They will reseed if you let them. It has gotten hard to find the seeds in the Pacific Northwest but I always buy a package when I see them .
    My other favorite is Delphineum . I love, love these. The vibrant blue’s are amazing.

    Reply
  893. Suzanne on

    I love the enthusiasm in this interview! I can’t wait to read this book and swoon over the gorgeous pictures!

    Reply
  894. Diane D on

    Roses and delphinium are some favourites here. I tried winter sowing for the first time this year and have planted a dozen new delphinium plants in my garden. Arrangements to come. This book looks wonderful. Thank you!!

    Reply
  895. Margaret Wellik on

    Raspberries are a favorite here! The foliage is resilient and a wonderful shade of green!

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  896. Kristy on

    One of my favorite shrubs is Mock Orange. Can’t wait to see this book.

    Reply
  897. Melissa Smith on

    We have a little farm-based brewery and I love my hardy but delicate looking geums (to add with some fragrant sweet peas for the bathroom counter arrangements ;)).

    Reply
  898. Bethany Stewart on

    Lilacs! I just planted several and cannot wait to watch them (and smell them) in the years to come!

    Reply
  899. Kathleen Miller on

    Catmint, Red Valerian, Yarrow, Salvia, Lavender, Purple Leaf Sand Cherry: these beauties are reliable in my southern Rockies garden. I am always on the hunt for more perennials and shrubs; I prefer full gardens to attract more songbirds if possible and they need places to hide from the hawks and owls.

    Reply
  900. Justine Muench on

    I love hostas so many colors and stripes and ruffles they add a lot of body to an arrangement ( if the deer don’t eat them first)!

    Reply
  901. Katherine on

    PEONIES ~ my favorites were already established when my family moved to an 1890s home in 1980! It’s 2023 and the peonies I brought from that home to my first home in another city continue to thrive!

    Reply
  902. Steph P on

    I am so new to this gardening thing and so eager to learn more! Last fall I planted two simple hydrangeas and the joy and excitement of watching them grow ans bloom this year had been amazing! I hope to keep expanding my garden, but those hydrangeas I think will always be my favorite.

    Reply
  903. Judy Sullivan on

    We recently moved into a home by the ocean and are trying to learn more about coastal gardening in terms of what works best in this environment (lots of wind and fog!). Regardless of location, one of my favourite flowers is the begonia. They remind me of a rose but without the thorns!

    Reply
  904. Karen Boldra on

    Smokebush. The deep burgundy leaves are always wonderful with the orange, red, bronze dahlias I grow.

    Reply
  905. Catherine Stewart on

    Finding little treasure in the forest and around our property for arrangements is one of my favorite things to do. We have a smoke bush that was already planted here and I love the dark reddish/burgundy leaves. It pairs so well with blush & white flowers to give a beautiful contrast of light & dark. So excited to read Rachel’s book and learn more.

    Reply
  906. Kara on

    Peonies and lilacs – and they each need their own season!

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  907. Leni Liakos on

    Lilacs would have to be my favorites but they don’t grow well here in the SF Bay Areaa. Mock orange, is another r

    Reply
  908. Rudy on

    Foxglove is one of my favorites! I just love how bumblebees will crawl right in 😁. Thank you or introducing us to this lovely lady and her beautiful garden.

    Reply
  909. Jenny on

    My favorite perennial is a Lily. It started from one plant that I purchased and now I have four barrels of beautiful orange flowers around my house, and several other ones that I have shared with my coworkers.

    Reply
  910. Liz A on

    Excellent. I agree with the concept of micro seasons and , thus, each seems to have its own ⭐️ . So how can you pick just one favorite.? If forced though, I eagerly await the appearance of my Lenten Roses each year as it signals the end of my winter hibernation. What has been my greenhouse focus is now shared with the awakening gardens and my passion for working in tandem with Mother Nature in all her vast beauty.

    Reply
  911. Sarah J. on

    I love hydrangeas & coneflowers. Hydrangeas for the variety of blooms, textures, leaves & size. In winter they lend some interest to the landscape as some flowers dry & stay attached to stems. Coneflowers for heartiness, beauty, & simplicity in their care.

    Reply
  912. Leslie Elgert on

    I love Lilacs. They are so beautiful and the scent feels like spring to me. They make wonderful bouquets and cheer up any room they are in.

    Reply
  913. Emily Lucas on

    My favourite is my mock orange. Although it’s only around for a very short time every year here, I cut as many stems as I can to enjoy for as long as possible. The scent is to die for.

    Reply
  914. Verna Mirtaningtyas on

    I dont have any garden yet, but love to see some pic of flowers it as a runaway from my rent place 🥰

    Reply
  915. Abby Gibbs on

    On Memorial Day in Utah my mom’s peonies bloom. Each year we cut them and take them to our grandmothers grave and share our memories of her. One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is watching her work in her garden until she was 80 years old. She loves every minute and fought to keep gardens in her life till the very end. As a recreation therapist, I now try and keep her memory alive by facilitating a garden wellness program. Our classes reap the health benefits of nature and I can feel my grandmother helping me along through each new bloom.

    Reply
  916. Debbie Boulware on

    Thank you for sharing this lovely book with us. I love my hardy Shasta Daisies, and the voracious Mint that add so much to my arrangements.

    Reply
  917. Vanessa on

    I just LOVE perennials! Yarrow is a major favorite for us as we love to dry and press flowers too. Hydrangea (limelight) is another staple in our cut flower garden for its greenery and it’s flowers.

    Reply
  918. Gwen Hersha on

    I recently discovered “smoke bush” and bought one as soon as I saw one available! The dark purplish foliage works great in a bouquet, and when they bloom, you get tufts of smoke-like florets! Super amazing!

    Reply
  919. Courtney Christian on

    I absolutely love Tulips and Peony’s! I get so excited to see those fresh little sprouts of life come back year after year and getting to experience their beauty!

    Reply
  920. Jennifer on

    Too many beauties to choose a favorite but I do love the details of Lady’s Mantle- those verdant kiwi green fanned pleats!

    Reply
  921. Fina on

    We tend to plant mostly with perennials and lots of native and low-maintenance shrubs as I live in the harsh climate just outside of Whistler, British Columbia. I love my elderberry bushes for flower arrangements, their dark burgundy lacy foliage, their umbel spray of delicate pinky-rose flowers, they way the branches arch up toward the ski past the heavy twig dogwoods and dwarf conifers around them and then they still offer so much in late fall interest with their small peppercorn-like berries that we try to pick before the birds do so to make elderberry syrup to keep the kids cold-free all winter… yep definitely a favourite!

    Reply
  922. Roz Theesfeld on

    One of my very favorite perennials is the Blackfoot Daisy native to Texas. The floral arrangements seen in the blog interview are stunning! Thank you for sharing with us Rachel’s story.

    Reply
  923. Mim on

    I have two beautiful hydrangeas in my yard. I love to watch the buds develop into flower clusters, and then the flowers shift in color as they mature, shades of pink & lavender. They are even beautiful when they dry!

    Reply
  924. Lauren Martin on

    Hands Down: Lilacs
    Lilacs hold such a nostalgic place in my heart. My dad had a lilac bush by our driveway and he’d often pick them and set a sweet vase of them on my nightstand. I’d wake up to the smell and the beauty of them there on the table with the sprung sun shining through the window. He passed almost 12 years ago now and lilacs are one of the few things that can really bring me back to him. When we bought our home 9 years ago, lilacs were the first perennials I planted. Now I put them on my kids’ nightstands to wake up to!

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  925. Pam Huntet on

    I love hydrangeas but struggle growing them in Texas. I always had beautiful ones in Washington and just loved the flowers and loved how they would dry also very easily.

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  926. Paige Southwood on

    I love perennials and flowering shrubs! It’s like Christmas morning every spring! My favorites include hydrangeas and lupin.

    Reply
  927. Megan Aumiller on

    I love love love lilacs and they bring me joy. Otherwise a shrub with such a short season of interest would get the boot. For perennials, usually my favorite is the last one I saw. I love Dianthus ‘Rose de Mai’ for its color and fragrance; I love the color and shape of penstemon, and I love salvias.

    Reply
  928. Michelle Sison on

    I love roses and love how they stay blooming for an extended amount of time. Plus with careful deadheading, you can get a second flush at the end of the season.

    Reply
  929. Nancy Massar on

    One of my favorite perennials is Echinacea / Cone Flower. I have at least 18 of them across several of my gardens. I have many varieties an enjoy them all.

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  930. Janet Nrink on

    My favorite perennial flower for arranging is Baptisa. The blue is my favorite. It is stately in an arrangement. It provides for me both framework and focal point.
    It also reminds me of my mom, a wonderful flower arranger and teacher. Baptisa is a native species for me and is long lived in my garden.

    Reply
  931. Laurie McKenzie on

    This year I discovered how beautiful and amazing Norway Maple flowers are – they are now one of my favorite go-to early spring woody stems. I also really love curly hazelnut – it’s great in all seasons! I’m excited to learn more about perennials from Rachel!

    Reply
  932. Joanne Hoblak on

    What a beautiful interview, so inspiring, some of my favourite cut flowers are flox glove and have been adding hosts leaves as my greenery. Elderberry flowers are also one of my favourites those mixes with raspberries are beautiful and natural.

    Reply
  933. Ruthi on

    The early Hellebores are one of my favorites, breaking the spell of our cold, gray winters. The variety is wonderful & getting closer just brings more joy seeing their intricate structure.

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  934. Heather Champney on

    I’m obsessed with hydrangeas. All types. I just keep adding them to my property!

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  935. Moe Bowman on

    Our swallows have returned! To know their is a micro season to honor this is enough for me to purchase your book. Amazing gardens and habitat. (Moe on Whidbey)

    Reply
  936. Gail on

    I absolutely love trilliums. 35 years ago I noticed a plant that came up in the garden tucked under a rhododendron. I didn’t have a clue what it was. Soon, one flower emerged. I did my research (no internet back then!) and found it was a trillium. I’ve never moved it, never disturbed it, we have a conversation every year and I tell her how beautiful she is. This year she had seven flowers! She gets more beautiful with age!

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  937. Susan Hansen on

    How do you choose! So many wonderful plants to pick depending on the time of year.
    Hands down for me are David Austin Roses. I love the old English cabbage rose. Dahlias would be my second choice.
    Sweet peas for their lovely tendrils and Nine Bark for foliage.

    Reply
  938. Megan on

    At the moment, the peonies are out in full bloom around here, so they’re my current favorite. I have a really hard time settling on a single favorite – I love so many things when they’re in season.

    Reply
  939. Niña Neilson on

    Fell in love with your beautiful garden/face a couple of years ago. Planted my first serious cutting garden this year!! Using Floret seeds of course!! Being retired, 72, I’ve not worked this hard for awhile❤️ Seeing a glimpse of this book sounds like a symphony to me!! I love your inclusiveness!!
    Say “Hi” to Nina for me!!!

    Reply
  940. Courtney Nash on

    Salvia and Nepeta (catmint) are mainstays in my pollinator garden that I’m constantly adding to. It’s next to my fenced in garden (no deer and bunnies) where I grow annual flowers and yummy food. I love how hardy and versatile they both are, and make amazing fillers for arrangements. Catmint is my go-to for a space I want to fill without a lot more thought, and it’s Grand Central Station for the bees, they absolutely love it!

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  941. Lauren Strach on

    Lilacs are so special to me because their beauty and my memories are so linked. They are one of the great scent-memory flowers. That’s why I loved your deep dive into all the varieties that you did this spring.

    Reply
  942. Christi B. on

    Geraniums are one of my favorite perennials, I love the variety and hardiness. I would be thrilled to be a winner of the giveaway!

    Reply
  943. Stephanie on

    My favorite perennial is delphinium! The way they survive a harsh Alaskan winter, only to grow leaps and bounds in such a short season always inspires me! Looking forward to reading this book!

    Reply
  944. Beth Smith on

    I love Ninebark. It’s a medium tall shrub but I love limbing it up into a small tree so that the beautiful peeling bark can be enjoyed. I have used the flowers and leafy branches in flower arrangements. I have had success with propagating it and when tall enough I took three of them and braided them together for an interesting tree trunk. It’s still fairly young so not a lot to see but I am excited to see it grow.

    Reply
  945. Christie Roberts on

    Hellebores and succulents are two of my favorite perennials! Can’t wait to get the book! What a great interview!

    Reply
  946. Carmen Ladman on

    Hydrangeas are my all time favorites. I love all about them, shape, size, colors!! I am excited for this resource book and I can’t wait to learn more about perennials and shrubs in a cut flower garden.

    Reply
  947. Erin L on

    I love lilacs, but also lately I’ve been in love with my roses! I love that they bloom all summer!

    Reply
  948. Emilee MacInnes on

    One of my favourite perennials (as I have many) are hydrangeas. I love the variety of colors, and the way they can be dried so nicely. I have two in my garden right now, and look forward to their blooms every year!

    Reply
  949. Sasha on

    Perennials are the workhorses of my garden and so look forward to reading Rachel’s book. It’s incredibly difficult to narrow down favorites. But smokebush is starting to look really great right now in my part of Central California and I’m so excited to start using it again in my arrangements….

    Reply
  950. Laura on

    I just purchased an 1910 home in Northern California, which comes with a huge front lawn. I’ve been busy designing ( attempting) the yard to put in many flowers rather than grass. Most recently I planted 16 shrub roses across the front, and many others flowers around the yard. My goal is to have a picking garden to be able to create and give out bouquets. Lilacs, cosmos, snapdragons, hydrangeas and lenton roses are some of favorites that I have planted so far! Looking forward to reading this book!

    Reply
  951. Darcy C on

    This book sounds wonderful, and exactly in line with how I’m setting up my gardens around my house. Everything for cutting! Just added some Veronica to my garden with the hopes of cutting and adding it to arrangements—that might be a new favorite.

    Reply
  952. Sandra De Luca on

    I have 4 favourites… lilac the fragrance my earliest floral memory from childhood, then big blousy peonies, roses in their special glory and sweetpeas, remind me of my Mom. She grew amazing sweetpeas and fed my love for flowers and gardening.

    Reply
  953. Karen Brackett on

    I would say that Lilacs have to be my favorite. I can not breath in enough of their heavenly scent and oh those amazing colors.

    Reply
  954. Stacie on

    My favorite perennial is the bleeding heart. I’m just fascinated by its unique shape and opening.

    Reply
  955. C. Allen on

    My Helen Elizabeth poppies are on fire right now. This is their second summer and I cannot get over the amount of buds this year.

    Reply
  956. Hearher on

    I am currently in love with skimmia! Evergreen, white flowers and then red berries!

    Reply
  957. Amy on

    I traveled to England with my daughter for her senior trip this past fall. I fell in love with the countryside and the picturesque gardens. My favorite perennial (at the moment) is yarrow. It’s a great filler and lasts a long time in a vase!

    Reply
  958. JackieC on

    Some of my fondest flower memories are from growing up at home. I’ve always loved my mom’s lavender bushes and walking through the hydrangeas in her garden. Like walking through massive marshmallow bushes, they’re amazing.

    Reply
  959. Debbie on

    My favorite spring flowers are tulips. As they fade lilacs then peonys bloom. And of course hydrangeas which I think are my true favorites.

    Reply
  960. Rosalie on

    I love Moonlight Grevillea!!! Beautiful blooms and pollinators love it.

    Reply
  961. Lorraine on

    I love everything about this. My favorite is, of course, is hydrangeas. But for early season I like winter hazel. Early summer I like kalmia.

    Reply
  962. Anita Vanberkom on

    Hmm…my favorite perennial. I don’t know that I can pick just one. It somewhat depends on what’s available at the time in the yard. If I had to pick, it would be roses. I love the colors, the scents, the different shapes available. I actually love the high maintenance(ness) of them. Every season has something that I can go out and tend to and I like that.

    Reply
  963. Joanne Czarnota on

    Hydrangea’s are my favorite. I love the color varieties and their enormous blooms throughout the summer. I have so many shrubs and continue to add more. I enjoy giving bouquets to friends and family when I go to visit and they love them too!

    Reply
  964. Erin on

    I love baptisia! Not only for its lovely flowers, but also the funky seed pods and the beautiful arcing blue-green foliage that lasts forever in the vase.

    Reply
  965. Monae G on

    Limelight hydrangea. The only hydrangea that seems to thrive in our part of the world (southeast Idaho).

    Reply
  966. Rachel Boyers on

    I’m so excited about this book! Thank you for telling us about it. I love my filler perennials like nepeta, alchemilla, and corydalis and how they add a fun, airy, lightness to bouquets.

    Reply
  967. Rebecca on

    Love! Perennials really are the best! Favorite ? Snowball bush, lilacs, peonies, honeysuckle, it’s like picking a favorite child, lol.

    Reply
  968. Karyn Kistner on

    I planted some perennial digitalis ambiqua from seed this year. I probably won’t get blooms until next year. I love to grow things that speak to me and I don’t see anywhere else. I am also trying some echinacea “Magnus” as I transition from annuals to more perennial production.

    Reply
  969. Angela Hickman on

    I live in the PNW and one of my favorite things that bloom effortlessly and come back year after year are my hydrangeas. I have 2. One is a beautiful medium blue color and the other is a purple-pink/berry color. Both are gorgeous and bloom with gusto. I have recently tried cutting some of my flowers and plants I have for arrangements here and there for my own pleasure and to give. The hydrangeas make a lovely addition to the mix.

    Reply
  970. Ellie on

    I love seeing my peonies pop up every year, but they’re so short-lived, so I would have to say hydrangeas. They look beautiful in any setting and are both whimsical and elegant. I also love cutting them post season for indoor dried arrangements.

    Reply
  971. Jolene Cetak on

    I have a peony, it’s this beautiful deep purple pink color that is difficult to describe. I used to give the first blossom of the year to my best friend’s mom, who I loved so much. She has passed, but with each year that my peony blooms it brings me sweet memories of this beloved friend.

    Reply
  972. Susan on

    It’s so difficult to choose a favorite but I will choose Foxlove. From the time I was in my late teens I dreamed of having an English style cottage garden. I have my garden now and it’s not quite there ( it never will be 😉). Plants come and go but I always have Foxglove.

    Reply
  973. Kendra Tennant on

    I would have to say that my favorite would be any kind of honeysuckle. Not only do they smell divine in the early morning and early evening but look beautiful in natural form or in a vase. They also attract many wonderful and beneficial insects and pollinators. I love watching all the hummingbirds (and hummingbird moths) enjoying the sweet nectar it provides. Lastly, in the Fall, when everything is preparing for its Winter slumber, the red berries are relished by many bird species.

    Reply
  974. Jo on

    I’ve just sown seeds for perennial baby’s breath which I can’t wait to use in my arrangements

    Reply
  975. Grace on

    I noticed ‘Ogon’ spires in one of Rachel’s arrangements. That is one of my very favorites. In the spring, lovely, fleeting white flowers cover a gracefully drooping bush. After the flowers fade, chartreuse leaves that seem to complement everything are the next offering. Elegant, wispy growth that is at home in almost any bouquet. In the fall, the colors take on an burnt orange tint along the edges, deepening the palette to perfectly coincide with the more melodramatic tones of Fall (stage shown in photo). It is a stunner in the garden and in the vase for 3 seasons, from earliest spring blooming along with the daffodils and hellebores to late fall.

    Reply
  976. Christianna Bach on

    Right now all the mock orange in our neighbourhood are blooming, and they’re just so gorgeous. Definitely adding them to my wishlist!

    Reply
  977. Nancy Keay on

    My dreams begin with Delphinium….the bluest blue… not the ones with white “eyes”…. the true blue!!!

    Rachel is giving me hope that I can keep growing my delphiniums that might someday look like hers💕

    Reply
  978. Andrea Raleigh on

    I’m a beginner! My favorite perennial so far is yarrow! I love that not only is it prolific year after year with very low maintenance and watering needs (I’m in the desert so watering is often an issue), but also it’s medicinal properties! I absolutely love cutting some for a vase, but saving all the leaves I pull from the stem and putting them in a jar I have prepared. I use the leaves to make a salve that helps my childrens’s constant eczema. It’s so easy, and so effective!! Easy, beautiful, AND helpful!!

    Reply
  979. Tina on

    One of my favourite shrubs is the Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolour). Its delicate lace like petals softly move with the summer breeze. If you catch the sun filtering through the flowers will glimmer. Even more beautiful beside the coast where they are watered by the ocean mist:)

    Reply
  980. Deanna Krushinsky on

    I’m all about the scent, so it would have to be my roses! Though my lavender comes a close second. 💗

    Reply
  981. Abigail on

    I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! As a first year flower farmer I am growing many annuals from seed but have also planted many perennials. While waiting for my summer blooms to bloom I started experimenting with incorporating salvia into my bouquets. So with that being said I love salvia! It has amazing vase life and look so beautiful. I am excited to learn more about other woodsy perennials to add to my cut garden for bouquets.

    Reply
  982. Denise on

    Another gardening book I can’t wait to learn from. Thank you for keeping us up to date on beautiful new books.

    Reply
  983. Linda on

    Thank you, Erin and Rachel for the lovely interview and photos.
    One of my favorite shrubs Golden Spirit Smokebush. Such a bright color and beautiful in the autumn too.

    Reply
  984. Sheila Appel on

    This is an amazingly beautiful interview. I love an English garden full of delphinium, foxglove, lupine, etc. My issue is I live in Kentucky and struggle to grow them. I’m very curious to read her book to see if she suggests other plants that offer similar looks but will grow well in our summer heat. Every year I try again with a different approach… regardless I have fun trying.

    Reply
  985. Julie Leemkuil on

    I love perennial shrubs. In our central NC location, I particularly like native Beauty Berry. Plenty of gorgeous purple seeds for both bouquets and the birds!

    Reply
  986. Janet Green on

    My favorite addition is the curling tendrils of Clematis that give and unexpected twist of fancy to the composition.

    Reply
  987. Deborah Hill on

    A favorite of mine for bouquets is perennial ageratum. It’s a late season bloomer and lasts a long time in a vase. Plus it dries beautifully. It can become invasive but it’s very easy to pull out and maintain.

    Reply
  988. Catherine Michael on

    One of my favorite perennial woody shrubs is winterberry holly, Ilex verticillata, it has year round interest and is such a wonderful shrub for my garden. I also love spirea and abelia I love their flowers and how the stems are just to architectural when I cut them for arrangements.

    Reply
  989. Gail B Wynne on

    In my zone 7 garden on the plains of NW Oklahoma Annabelle hydragea is a staple. It never disappoints and gives me cutting flowers every week for months till frost.

    Reply
  990. Ronda on

    The nine-bark has to be mine. It is gorgeous and continues to provide the lasting piece needed for a gorgeous arrangement…

    Reply
  991. Melinda on

    Peonies are the state flower for Indiana (my home) and my hands down favorite in terms of beauty, fragrance and a picture of hope for the beginning of my back yard flower bouquets!

    Reply
  992. Amy on

    I’m so excited for this wonderful book & resource! My favorite plant changes from year to year & even season to season but I’ve always had somewhat of a love affair with trees. All kinds! My longest favorite would probably be the Kousa Dogwood varieties.

    Reply
  993. Angela J. on

    Hellebores or Lenten roses as they are often called here in NC. I absolutely love them. I love that they are one of the first flowers we see around here (February) and bloom through May to early June depending on the weather. They always look stunning in an arrangement. They have this antique , old world feel about them. Plus they do well in shady areas which is about all I have got.

    Reply
  994. Robin on

    Smokebush is my current favorite shrub! The color, shape of leaves, its delicate blooms… so pretty in the landscape. I cut some blooms this year and tried them in a vase and they did not last long at all. The book looks lovely! I’m dipping my toe into cut flower gardening and it will be a great resource.

    Reply
  995. JKD on

    I like Hellebores and their late winter arrival.

    Reply
  996. Stephanie Galarza on

    Lavendar is my absolute favorite and I’m just getting into roses this past year.

    Reply
  997. Carol Lockwood Wheeler on

    This was truly needed. Can’t wait to read the book. I love peonies and poppies. They add so much color to the garden. Looking for ideas to add more to the garden. ❤️🌸🩷💚

    Reply
  998. Yvonne on

    PS. I forgot…. one of my favorite perennial is: Cirsium atropurpureum. Nice for many insects and such beautiful Burgundy red. In bouquets its a nice dotty spot. There are so many more very cool plants I can write a book full of it ;)

    Reply
  999. Kerry Merchant on

    Lilacs! Here for such a brief time but they signal the coming of summer weather with their giant purple flowers and their heady scent.

    Reply
  1000. Ellen B on

    Living in the Bay Area and working at creating a drought tolerant garden. While We had so much more rain this spring than we have in a very long time, we know that’s unusual in these times. Plants volunteered in the garden that were gorgeous. Wild Borage, Johnny Jump Ups everywhere. Hellebores under an oak, Aquilegia from the Watershed Nursery in Richmond is establishing itself. Our garden gives us tremendous joy in all its seasons. This book looks amazing.

    Reply
  1001. Kayla Sullivan on

    I love any rose bush. I am also fond of star gazer lillies, yarrow, and foxglove. This books sounds amazing!

    Reply
  1002. Julia on

    I’m in love with Forsythia and Elder flowers, I feel like they are so cheerful and inspiring in the spring!

    Reply
  1003. Symantha Jones on

    As I’ve started gardening, I’ve realized that so many flowers I’m drawn to are memories from my childhood. Lavender, honeysuckle, magnolia, crepe myrtle, azalea, they all have such nostalgia. I’m excited for the new book, I need all the help I can get to help keep my garden alive!

    Reply
  1004. Ellen A on

    What a lovely interview! This book sounds like just what we need as we begin planning for new plants on our family farm. We are new to owning the place (in eastern Washington) and look forward to bringing it “back to life.” There is a shrub/tree growing along the house that I’ve always loved with its sweet smelling, simple white flowers and bright green leaves. Fairly certain it is a mock orange. Thanks for always providing such wonderful resources Erin and the Floret family!

    Reply
  1005. Kerry on

    I am just starting my garden on four acres, learning what grows naturally and the different conditions I have. Currently I’m obsessed with ferns. There are SO many in the Pacific Northwest.

    Reply
  1006. Andrea Fraga on

    Daffodils! They return every spring like old friends, and just when you really need evidence that spring is actually possible here in southeast Alaska. I love that they multiply easily and resist pests, needing not much more than a blanket of seaweed for the winter.

    Reply
  1007. Chris Wiseman on

    I love hydrangeas! So many leaf shapes and the different flower shapes. Rachel’s book sounds like a book I need in my gardening library.

    Reply
  1008. Christine Allen on

    In my corner garden a couple of my favorite perennials scrubs are the hydrangeas and Hebe. I love to mix them into arrangements of roses, dahlias and zinnias. Gifting my flower arrangements and posting on my fb page, giving tips and people I follow; floretflowers.

    Reply
  1009. Sarah Kaye on

    I am still very much learning about perennials and gardening, but for now my favorite one is the sweetest little bunch of primrose we have growing in our backyard. When I see it pop up and start blooming I really know spring and warmer weather is truly on it’s way…..my daughters also can’t resist picking it to make a tiny bouquet for me to put on the kitchen windowsill :)

    Reply
  1010. Anne Gassner on

    My absolute favorite shrub is the Hydrangea. They come in such a wide array of colors and tend to last a long time for a perennial. Also, once they start to die, they STILL look beautiful. I use them in arrangements in the fall, even after their vibrant colors have become muted. At Christmas time, I will take dried Hydrangeas and spray paint them gold and put them either on the mantle or the tree! I particularly love the Limelight Hydrangea which will turn pinkish as it ages. My next venture with Hydrangeas is to try the climbing variety!

    Reply
  1011. Denise Veggerby on

    I love peonies … I enjoy watching the first growth emerging in late Winter. They give me hope when it is still dark and cold.

    Reply
  1012. Diane on

    One of my favorites is the majestic dark purple foliage, striking pinkish purple, and smoke-like airy seed clusters of the purple smoke bush.

    Reply
  1013. Melinda on

    My absolute favorite are English Roses! The scent and petal intricacy is always so beautiful.

    This book looks fabulous, I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits!!

    Reply
  1014. Leda Bower on

    I really liked the answer to the question of explaining how the arrangements come together, they are quite whimsical and so appealing….

    Reply
  1015. Gina Ruz on

    Great interview. I love cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychroma) because of the gorgeous chartreuse flowers. They give such a bright pop of color.

    Reply
  1016. Erin Krauter on

    I love to use grapevines in my early season bouquets. The tendrils are so whimsical and the fresh green leaves give early season arrangements a little extra brightness that compliments the pinks and blues of early season annuals. It also helps me keep the vines in check because they grow so fast!

    Reply
  1017. Susann on

    I’m building my garden from scratch, and we built on sand so I have a lot to work on. I love adding Abutilon flowers and orchids as well to my bouquets.
    Beautiful idea pictures and interview. I need this book!

    Reply
  1018. Karin on

    I love so many flowers and shrubs. But I love the impact of azaleas in the spring, and the magic of alliums throughout the spring and into the summer.

    Reply
  1019. Sarah White on

    Mock orange! I grew up in Southern California, in the middle of orange orchards, and no longer live there. This is a perennial I can grow in my area whose scent brings me back to my childhood days of running through the orange trees 🍊 I love it!

    Reply
  1020. Kristen on

    One of my favorite perennials is a Festiva Maxima Peony that I found trying to grow under a very large lilac bush in my new yard. At the time I wasn’t sure what it was but I dug it up and moved it to a new location where it started to thrive and is now a gorgeous, prolific bloomer in my garden.

    Reply
  1021. Lenore Schmidt on

    Minimal water in the Central Valley of California means growing plants that thrive and survive in the heat of summer; the native California golden poppy is truly the star!

    Reply
  1022. Verna Ruiz on

    My favorite is a hosta! I love all the different sizes and shapes and colors and they are so hardy!

    Reply
  1023. Nancy Hoell on

    My favorite is hellebores, beautiful flowers, sturdy stems, and simply lovely.

    Reply
  1024. Liz on

    I love so many it’s hard to choose a favorite, but dahlias are high on the list!

    Reply
  1025. Yvonne on

    I’m work with flowers and all my heart is beating for them. The botanic is so various and all time ready to create some nice combinations and beautiful arrangements. I hope here in Germany the slow flower movement will grow much faster than the years in past, because it’s so necessairy to change a lot of unsustainable points and sources in the florist work. Local flowers, good and healthy conditions for nature as the base and people who work with. That’s what I like to see.

    Reply
  1026. Marilyn Norberg on

    I love the Smokebush as it fills in my arrangements so beautifully and balances out the soft pink flowers I have with more depth

    Reply
  1027. Laura Sones on

    I’m excited about my spirea. The dark pink, light pink and chartreuse leaves on the lighter ones just pull in great foliage to set apart your focal flower. However they are incredibly bright to stand alone!

    Reply
  1028. Jennfer on

    I love Beauty Bush! I grew up in a yard designed and planted by my grandma. She passed before I was born, but I felt connected to her through the flowers, shrubs and she planted. The Beauty Bush was always a favorite! And the lilacs, columbine, peonies, daisies, roses, hawthorn, bridal wreath spirea, I guess I have a lot of favorites!❤️

    Reply
  1029. Yan on

    Sweet pea is my must have every year!

    Reply
  1030. Meegan Davis on

    Oooo, it’s so hard to choose just one but if I’m forced to…….Deutzia is my favourite right now. I have one variety that is literally dripping in the most beautiful pink flowers with a bit of white outlining the edge!

    Reply
  1031. Leah on

    I am new to the flower growing world and new to gardening in general. I am loving this community and so encouraged and inspired by you all! I have never heard of Hellebores until this year and I have become slightly obsessed!

    Reply
  1032. Diana M Jonassen on

    Hard to pick one! I love peonies and hydrangeas the most-classic and classy.

    Reply
  1033. Colton on

    It’s too soon to pick a favorite!! Right now I am new to exploring shrubs and perennials, but I am eager to continue to learn more! I know the previous books I have ordered helped a ton with increasing my knowledge and I can’t wait for this book to do the same.

    Reply
  1034. Cindy on

    Salvia is my obsession! Whether a shrub, herbaceous perennial or annual, there is a Salvia for every place in your garden. Low water needs, easy care, hummingbird friendly – it’s an essential in my garden.

    Reply
  1035. Adrianne on

    I’ve been beginning my garden in zone 4 Montana, a much slower growing season than western Washington where I lived most of my life. Thankfully, my favorites peonies, lilacs, and hydrangea can handle the extreme hits and colds we have. It’s a learning process, but a fun one.

    Reply
  1036. Meghan Thompson Payne on

    I live on a steep hillside and many think it’s impossible to live let alone have a garden on. I have terraced section and let other areas stay on slope. I enjoy the shrubs and perennials in these on slope areas. Currently a favorite of mine is pincushion protea.

    Reply
  1037. Sandy Mitsch on

    I love, love, love hydrangeas of all kinds, colors, and shapes! 🩷💙🤍

    Reply
  1038. Mikayla on

    My favourite shrubs for bouquet making are hands down ninebark, and then roses- I’m a sucker for a dark leaf and ninebark comes in so many colours! Despite the fact I don’t have a garden of my own, I’m allowed to grow in pots and I would never be without ninebark!
    My favourite perennials to grow for cut flowers are white bleeding hearts and muscari baby’s breath in the spring, penstemons, jacobs ladder, helenium and yarrow during the early to late summer, and asters, dahlias, perennial sunflowers and joe pie weed in the fall!

    Reply
  1039. Myra on

    I love Stonecrop Sedum!

    Reply
  1040. Lisa on

    I love mock orange! It’s a native here in the PNW, divine scent and lovely white flowers.

    Congrats to Rachel Siegfried. I love your work and can’t wait to get the book.

    Reply
  1041. Amy on

    I love hydrangeas and am working to incorporate more. I love how productive they are, and I feel like I get a hug from my grandmother whenever they come into bloom 😍

    Reply
  1042. Shannon on

    I love viburnum because they are the first major bloom of my garden and at some point some of the blossoms will become ammo in a springtime snowball war.

    Reply
  1043. Jen Goodlin on

    I have never heard anyway talk about micro seasons… this is incredibly fascinating to me and I feel like my lense has just changed and i am very excited to see and understand my garden in a new way. Can’t wait to dive into this book, the interview alone is enchanting

    Reply
  1044. Tiffany Geehan on

    I’m so excited to see a book on the subject of perennials. I’m a complete newbie to flowers and shrubs, I’ve always used my garden for herbs and vegetables. But I was gifted a plot for veggies a couple years ago and that allowed me to use my home garden for flowers. It was a total blank slate so I decided I wanted the workhorses of it to be perennials that I could rely on to come back each year and then I could change up the annuals, what I considered the showstoppers, each new season. As it turns out, for me, ASTILBE, is the showstopper. Those furry like plumes, in their different shades, capture the sunlight so beautifully and the way they sway and dance in the wind, I could watch them for hours.

    Reply
  1045. Kelli Nichols on

    I’m in love again with an old lacecap hydrangea , variety unknown, which is opening now in shades of periwinkle and lavender. A mass of that in a vase with some lady’s mantle tucked in—gorgeous. It needs nothing else. I can’t take my eyes off of the colors, and it gives me the feel of miraculous, abundant spring.

    Reply
  1046. Sherri on

    Peony is my favorite! I have over 40 containered and olsn to sell rustic bouquets at the local farmers market here in the PNW of Washington state zone 6 although this year I feel like it’s been zone 4…

    Reply
  1047. Janie Olp on

    I have developed a new appreciation for Hydrangias! You never can be sure of what colors you will get…the soil and exposure to different elements gives you a thrilling suprise each year. I love the unique gifts they offer!

    Reply
  1048. Brenda Ruckstuhl on

    I adore and of course this book needs to be added to my collection! Beautiful pictures and wonderful interview.

    Reply
  1049. Rhiannon Le Fay on

    One of my favorite shrubs is romneya. Still not sure if it’s a good cut flower but I love how wild and beautiful they are.

    Reply
  1050. Shaleigh on

    My favorite is the Foxglove! It’s so stately and unique. I’d love to lean into more perennials on my little farm.

    Reply
  1051. Carol on

    Before our grandmother’s home was sold, my sister and I dug up some of the pink and white peonies from her yard to bring home to our gardens. They bloom every May and are gloriously abundant, providing flowers for many arrangements and bouquets for friends.

    Reply
  1052. Kris on

    My new fave perennial is Hellebore. Dramatic leaves and flowers. I still haven’t acquired it for my garden (hard to find!) but admiring it from my mom’s garden.

    Reply
  1053. Debbie Dehoney on

    Just new to perennials! I love annuals but I like the idea of year round color of shrubs and flowers that will come back each year. Always learning!!!!

    Reply
  1054. Chessy on

    My flowering almond is my pride and joy! Every Spring it is absolutely gorgeous 🌸

    Reply
  1055. Jeanne on

    Your flower arrangements are so gorgeous!! I love how they look so airy and natural. I love flowers, and right now, the peony is my favorite. I have many beautiful colors/shades of peonies and they are all spectacular. Thank you for the opportunity to win your book. :)

    Reply
  1056. Emily Pietz on

    Witch hazel varieties are my favorite! Their aroma combined with their interesting structured florets are a joy in the colder season. On their own they have an almost extra-terrestrial quality!

    Reply
  1057. Cathy Kennedy on

    My favorite is Peony. It does well here in Middle Tennessee as does Hydrangea.

    Reply
  1058. Sarah McGrath on

    I have several blueberry bushes and I just love that they are both beautiful and productive! This book looks wonderful because the longer I garden the more I love perennials!

    Reply
  1059. Eliana on

    I LOVE lilacs. They were my mom’s favorite flower, and now they’re mine. <3

    Reply
  1060. Christina Zalisti on

    The roses for me as well as the peonies which I planted for the first time this year two plants. One did not succeed. I hope to be able to see these beautiful flowers in my garden soon!

    Reply
  1061. Lindsay on

    Delphinium are becoming one of the perennials I look most forward to. They signal that summer is about here. I so wish I had my passion of flowers and gardening when I lived in England . I would have been able to have seen so many of these gorgeous gardens up close. I’ll just have to make a trip back!

    Reply
  1062. Patti Moree on

    This book looks amazing, and exactly what I’ve been looking for.
    My favorite perennial is ‘Southern Comfort’ verbascum. I love the different colors of the blossoms as they change as the blossom ages.
    Thank for the opportunity to win an amazing book!

    Reply
  1063. Erika Glocker on

    Peonies, I wish they had a longer bloom time, though. Roses, rudbeckia, hellebores, red and yellow twig dogwood, nine bark. I also have some type of a black lace leaf elderberry that is fantastic right now.

    Reply
  1064. Barbara on

    I will always love hydrangeas—every variety of them!

    Reply
  1065. Stacie on

    On my farm, lilacs kick off our growing season. The scent is nostalgic to so many.

    Reply
  1066. Kay on

    My favorite perennial is the peony. I would like to learn how to add more perennials into the landscape. Can’t wait to get this book

    Reply
  1067. Dearborn on

    I have so many favorite perennials it is so difficult to choose one favorite. I love the Bridal Wreath Spirea in the Spring, followed by the unruly nature of the Geum blooms. I also love Astrantia, Verbascum, Aster, Hellebore, Baptisa, and Columbine. Flowering Dogwood branches are lovely, as are Crabapple. I also love Oakleaf and Panicle Hydrangea.

    Reply
  1068. Tracy on

    Just one favorite is hard! But the first that comes to mind is the bougainvillea!!! When the dry season is at its driest here just before the late spring rains begin these plants shine with all their glory if they are in the right place! Full sun and sandy soil makes these a happy happy star of the garden. To top it all off the pests here don’t seem to bother them and that is saying something for here in South Florida!

    Reply
  1069. Tracey Brookshier on

    Lilacs! The short time frame they bloom; the tiny blossoms in big masses; the SMELL! I’m not a very girly girl, but I like my flowers girly.

    Reply
  1070. Kathleen Fitzpatrick on

    I am pretty new to flowers, I jumped right in with seeds this year! Weather has been so gloomy and cool that everything is so slow. Need ☀️

    At this point, my favorite is black eyed susans. The color and stature are powerful.

    I would ♥️ a copy of this book !

    Reply
  1071. Shawn on

    It’s precisely what I have been looking for for ages. I always struggle to fill out my bouquets with more greenery and variety. I have followed her for some time and I am so happy she has published this book.

    Reply
  1072. Esther on

    There are so many perennial/shrub favorites, but I always come back to lavender! I could sit in a field of it forever. Its color, fragrance, herbal uses—everything about it is just so lovely and timeless.

    Reply
  1073. Gayle Eubanks on

    I’m a big fan of Dahlias. Since I’ve been following Floret, I’ve also started noticing woody plants in my garden to add to cut flower arrangements. I have been enjoying using the branches from my Purple Smoke Bush as an accent or filler in my arrangements Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  1074. Jenny on

    My favorite is mock orange. I just love them, the smell of the flowers is wonderful.

    Reply
  1075. Justine M on

    I love cotoneaster and escallonia as fillers. Smoke bushes have lots of colours to chose from and great leaves (of course!). So many great shrubs out there.

    Reply
  1076. DeeAnn on

    I like to put asparagus tops and feverfew in my vases to compliment whatever flowers I have picked.

    Reply
  1077. Ashley R on

    Perennial white stock has held a spacial place for me for years. Every year it’s beautiful white flowers, silvery green foliage, and intoxicating aroma are the highlight of our summer perennials!

    Reply
  1078. Ashley on

    Choose a favorite?? Ugh if I haaaaad to choose… roses and lilacs would maybe be a hint above the rest! So nostalgic for me and you can’t beat their scents!

    Reply
  1079. Shanna on

    This book looks like an amazing resource. I live in the deep southern part of Louisiana so I have to plant flowers that can take the heat. I love hydrangeas and camellias. I really want to plant foxglove & peonies but I’m not sure they will do well here.

    Reply
  1080. Charlie Ryan on

    One of my favorite shrubs is flowering Quince, Chaenomeles speciosa. It’s best to me in the cool months of the year after the leaves have fallen and it’s form is highlighted. Most all cultivars have some if not almost all contorted branches, which are great for arrangements in the winter and early spring. Once they start flowering, they become a wonderful stem for arrangements, especially in a taller vase where the stem can drop below the lip of the vase. A wide range of colors too.

    Reply
  1081. Debbie Gaughan on

    What a great interview… and introduction to a new way to approach growing. Favorite? Hmmm, I do love hydrangea and oh those peonies, and let’s not forget roses and.. and… and…

    Reply
  1082. Brenda on

    That is a beautiful English garden. And a lifetime of work. I planted a Delta Blues Chastetree this year, for future blooms. I miss my beautiful lilac bush in Michigan. I’ve lived in the South for many years now, and mostly working on planting native perennials and establishing native milkweed. Some of my favorites here now in Alabama are in bloom currently, Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Elderberry. I have a Pee Wee Hydrangea we are getting ready to plant, picked up recently from a nearby nursery. Here’s to future blooms!

    Reply
  1083. Torrie on

    I loved hearing about the concept of micro seasons — I like how that challenges me to pay much closer attention to my farm and how it evolves.

    I just ripped out a bunch of ugly/dying shrubs on our property to make room for some new ones that will be good for cutting. At the top of the list? Ninebark, in about every shade I can get it :)

    Reply
  1084. Elizabeth Cash on

    Salvia is one of my favorite perennial. The flowers last for a long time and I love the unique smell. Also you can cut it back for a second bloom!

    Reply
  1085. Melissa Stonehocker on

    In my garden I have a mini rose bush that produces the tiniest white flowers. It was my great grandma’s, then my grandpa’s, then my dad’s, and now it is mine. It is an honor to be given the responsibility to care for this beautiful rose bush and to watch it bloom multiple times each year. I feel a special bond to each previous owner every time I look at it.

    Reply
  1086. Maureen on

    Living in Alberta, close to the mountains, I have been sourcing hardy perennials and shrubs for my garden. My favorite is hydrangea. There are several varieties that do amazing here. Not only are the blooms gorgeous on the plant, many of them dry wonderfully and are beautiful for wreaths and arrangements.
    This books looks divine! 🧡

    Reply
  1087. Sue Waiter on

    I’m so looking forward to getting this book. I’ve been slowly converting my front garden to mostly perennials so this is perfect timing. Plus, the book looks absolutely beautiful.

    Reply
  1088. Rebecca on

    I love lilacs and roses….both for their flowers and their greenery…so different from each other, but beautiful together.

    Reply
  1089. Rebecca on

    My favorite perennial in my garden is bleeding heart. My grandparents had several well-established bleeding heart bushes in their garden and I loved seeing them bloom as a child. Now that my grandparents have passed, my bleeding heart is a reminder of them and the fond memories playing in their yard.

    Reply
  1090. Janet on

    A favorite perennial of mine is hydrangea. There are many many varieties and they’re all amazing. I am in zone 5 of Minnesota where they grow very well.

    Reply
  1091. Fran on

    Peonies, any and all varieties light up my life! Means summer has truly arrived here in the north when they start blooming! I also often use cuttings from my ninebark shrub in arrangements!

    Reply
  1092. Tricia Farrar on

    I really like using Honeysuckle & Yarrow when I make arrangements.
    ❤️

    Reply
  1093. Leigh on

    It’s a bit corny but I love love love peonies!
    We had the most gorgeous coral and pink peonies for our wedding flowers last year. No only we’re they so vibrant and joyous but they lasted! So much so that on our week roadtrip post wedding, we brought them along to brighten up our airbnbs and continue the wedding sparkle!
    We’ve just bought our first house and I’m so excited to get planting!

    Reply
  1094. Margaret Gino on

    I’m fortunate enough to have a vast blueberry grove on our farm. From spring through fall it offers stunning foliage and its berries at all stages work magic. Blueberry brings me back in time… the slow days of childhood summers.

    Reply
  1095. Margaret Thorson on

    I’m always interested in learning more about growing cut flowers.

    Reply
  1096. Catherine Lundvall on

    I love old garden roses and I have been growing them for 40 years. Lilacs hold a special place in my heart because I have fond memories of my grandmother’s lilacs. When my father passed away a few months ago, I planted over 20 new varieties all over my yard.

    Reply
  1097. Erica Cooper on

    Hydrangea’s, Hostas and Peonies grow great here, add interest to the garden and provide elements to add in cut flower arrangements. They are hard workers!

    Reply
  1098. Joanne on

    So many favourites, but this year seems to be hellibores, I love the different colors, their leaves and structure. After pollinated they last longer after cut too. For an early spring flower it a welcoming site. It’s almost July and they still are in the garden! ❤️

    Reply
  1099. Nicki on

    Roses and hydrangeas; oh my! Looking forward to reading this new book. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  1100. lori on

    definitely a favorite on our farm is baptisia-it’s such a triple threat: native, nitrogen fixer that makes and excellent cut greenery.

    Reply
  1101. Susan on

    I love Hydrangeas and Coneflowers. The Cut Flower Source book looks like a great resource!

    Reply
  1102. Lydia on

    My favorite woody plant is the serviceberry (Amelanchier). I love how much value it adds to my garden!
    In the spring the delicate white blossoms can be forced inside, in the summer the red to blue berries are edible and delicious as well as a favorite of the birds and in the fall the leaves turn the most magnificent orange to red ombre.

    Reply
  1103. Mike Young on

    I love all flowers but all the spring buds are my favorite. Makes me think the earth laughs in flowers.

    Reply
  1104. Margrette Ramirez on

    It’s all about hellebores for me. Their blooms signify the turning of the season and the countdown to spring. Also, I live north of Seattle so their blooms are a reminder that the amount of daylight each day is getting longer and longer.

    Reply
  1105. Jennifer on

    I love the camellias that bloom, depending on variety, from November through April, here in western Washington state. The sheer profusion of gorgeous flowers shows us it is finally spring! Hooray! Camellias ask for so little and give so much back. It’s great fun to collect their chunky seeds in autumn, plant them, and many will become darling baby camellias. After blooming, their thick evergreen leaves provide shade and structure in the garden border. Blessed are those who live with and enjoy the beauty of camellias!

    Reply
  1106. Susan on

    This book sounds fabulous. One of my favorite perennials is camellias because they’re often blooming when nothing else is flowering.

    Reply
  1107. Cristen on

    Spike Winterhazel (Corylopsis spicata) is one of my all-time favorite shrubs; the soft yellow descending flowers at the end of winter and the architecture of the branches makes her magical.

    Reply
  1108. Linda Withers on

    Peonies and Hydrangeas are my favorite. I haven’t tried to grow Peonies but would love to! Of course I love Roses as well- I’m writing a children’s book about Papa and his rose garden💐

    Reply
  1109. Cheryl Jardine on

    Thank you Erin for featuring this new very inspirational book and interview. My daughter and I are first year flower farmers and I would lean toward the perennials and woodies adding in the seasonal annuals. My favorite maybe because we live in a northern area with a short growing season would be bridal wreath spirea. I love the casual and loose look it brings to an arrangement.

    Reply
  1110. Gill Graham on

    As a Brit living in California this book will be a taste of home!! I love peonies as my parents grew them in their garden.

    Reply
  1111. Ellie Lightfoot on

    What a lovely book. My favorite shrub is flowering quince. It’s red flowers are so vibrant in the late winter/early spring landscape. It’s a joy to see after a long winter.
    Cheers,
    Ellie

    Reply
  1112. Keah Schuenemann on

    After a trip to England, I’m recently in love with delphinium! I’m looking forward to learning how to grow mine taller next year.

    Reply
  1113. Jen on

    My top favorite focal perennial is peony but I love adding mignonette and feverfew to an arrangement as well!

    Reply
  1114. Lisa Woerner on

    Oh I want this book.
    Baptisia is a great perennial because I can use the blooms but the greens stick around all summer.

    Reply
  1115. Davia on

    Oh gosh. How to pick just one? But if I had to it would be peonies and I’m so excited because we’re going to hopefully be putting our first crop of them in the ground this year! I cannot wait!

    Reply
  1116. Glennis on

    It is indeed a wonderful book, but what a shame you did this interview so long ago (Jesse the whippet has been dead a while). Would have been interesting to read your assessment of the book and its concepts rather than just the interview.

    Reply
  1117. Beth Benjamin on

    Hellebores for me – so many shapes and colors and they come when you aren’t expecting them. Although it’s hard to leave out winter daphne to add for scent.

    Reply
  1118. Kathy Buck on

    My heart always skips a few beats when my tree peonies begin to bloom. I have several and one of them is an apricot blush multi petaled beauty that is incredibly fragrant. I love the simplicity of a few stems of the same flower in a vase but i would love to learn about making mixed bouquets of flowers . Thank you Erin for sharing your passion for growing flowers!

    Reply
  1119. Connie on

    Sarah Bernhardt peonies are my absolute favorite with hydrangeas close behind!!

    Reply
  1120. Dodey O’Malley on

    It is so hard to pick 1,2 or 3 favorites. When I walk around my yard, I feel a sense of calm. Love stopping to smell my Sweet Peas and the Lavender but then the Peonies and Roses seem to draw me to them.

    Reply
  1121. Kim on

    I love viburnum! Little berries plus beautiful fall foliage?! What could be better

    Reply
  1122. Tracie Coleman on

    Looks like a dream property cultivated with amazing plants. Excited to read the book!

    Reply
  1123. Cindy Cooper on

    A favorite woody shrub for cut flower use is Viburnum ‘Diablo’. The bronze foliage is beautiful but the flower bracts are ornamental long after the blooms fade away. Excited to read this new book on my favorite subject!

    Reply
  1124. Pamela Quigley on

    I’ve tranformed our small urban lot in an edible garden, starting 15 years ago. This year, I volunteered to *try* to grow my niece’s wedding flowers. I’ve been devouring books from my library on growing and arranging cut flowers, including yours. I think that I am hooked! I’ve always had a small patch of wildflowers where I toss seeds gathered from my neighborhood’s hellstrips. Coreopsis has been the dominant survivor, but every year it’s a new and wonderful mix. This year, three hollyhocks have sprouted! I can’t wait to see what colors they are. Thank you for this interview and introducing me to another amazing flower farmer!

    Reply
  1125. Laura Kirste Campbell on

    Rachel’s book sounds so lovely!
    My current favorite cutting shrub is Carpenteria Californica, Tree Anenome. It’s a harsh woody bush that tolerates our area well and delivers a lush amount of poppy-like white flowers that have a long lasting vase life.

    Reply
  1126. Debra on

    One of my faves: Spice Bush ( Calycanthus occidentalis) a native shrub with deep maroon flowers that have a rich fragrance.

    Reply
  1127. Marion Schmidt on

    My heart sings when I greet my Yves Piaget and Isaac Perrier roses in bright pink! And the fragrance is intoxicating. Pure joy!

    Reply
  1128. K on

    I cannot get enough of her Jesse photos!

    Reply
  1129. Margaret Morgan on

    I love mock orange and look forward to its bloom every year.

    Reply
  1130. Stacie Butler on

    Can’t wait to get my hands on this book! Some of my favorites are hydrangea, roses and you can’t beat camellia branches for greenery!

    Reply
  1131. Sarah McGovern on

    I love mock orange and viburnums of all kinds. They add a special touch to the spring arrangements as well as being so fragrant.
    The return of the barn swallows is a special moment on my farm too. Here it’s usually around the first day of spring, I’m March.

    Reply
  1132. Kimberly C on

    Favorite? Oh man, in the end it will always be lilac. That said, I try to plant mostly perennials (and accidental perennials that aren’t supposed to be perennial in my zone but apparently are?), so there’s always something. I love Yarrow for the flowy greenery and gorgeous flowers. My peonies bring me immeasurable joy for about 2-3 weeks in May (USDA hardiness zone 5b in the great plains). The gorgeous greenery of hostas (they work in arrangements!) and the wide variety of colors and patterns it provides.

    Reply
  1133. Ethelwyn Smith on

    Growing delphiniums is a great source of satisfaction to me and I love to sneak a few into cut flower arrangements!

    Reply
  1134. Sadie Zollinger on

    So hard to pick just one but I’d have to say dahlias. They have such beautiful variety in their colors, texture, and size!

    Reply
  1135. Gayle Wilson on

    Hydrangea is my favorite perennial. They take me back to my childhood and the view walking up to my little Granny’s house. Hydrangeas flanked each side of the the three steps leading into the sun porch. Little Granny would work her magic in making arrangements for people who were ill or needed their day brightened. She used the woody stems and leaves for other arrangements. I have not mastered growing hydrangeas, but continue this journey as an amateur gardener.

    Reply
  1136. Brooke on

    I always love when my bridal wreath spirea blooms! It blooms right around my best friend’s birthday and I love picking a bunch of branches for her.

    Reply
  1137. Margaret Hunt on

    This year, in our garden (we’ve lived here for two years/ three springs), a Mock Orange shrub that was hidden behind some wild rose bloomed, and I’m absolutely in love with its delicate white flowers. It makes such a great cut stem!

    Reply
  1138. Erin on

    I love ninebark. The intricate leaves are nearly as beautiful as flowers themselves!

    Reply
  1139. Erin on

    Peonies are just too beautiful not to be a favorite!

    Reply
  1140. Julie Kraut on

    I love that every season has a focus flower. Currently my favorite cut flowers are zinnias. Later in the season they are Hydrangeas and sunflowers. I also love using smaller hosta leaves as an accent in arrangements.

    I just love Spring to Fall and all of its varieties of flowers.

    Happy growing,

    Julie

    Reply
  1141. Sarah on

    Baptisia is one of my favorites!

    Reply
  1142. Jodi on

    Lovely interview. I’ve been loving hydrangeas the past few years. Something about watching them fade colors while still remaining gorgeous just makes me love them more.

    Reply
  1143. Autumn Busbee on

    Can’t help but love veronica and cranesbill geraniums!

    Reply
  1144. Lydia on

    I love forsythias in the early spring bouquets!

    Reply
  1145. Abby on

    I love native plants and right now am particularly enjoying my thimbleberries in the back yard.

    Reply
  1146. Jacqueline Brown on

    I love flowering perennials such as stokes asters, sages, and gladiolus. I loves shrubs like gardenias and chaste tree for long stems.

    Reply
  1147. Jill Pulver on

    If I had to choose one perennial to plant in my yard, it would be Salvia Mystic Spires. I love its size, prolific blooms and vibrant color. I’m excited to learn about more perennials for cutting and arranging. Thank you, Erin!

    Reply
  1148. Tammy Makoul on

    Oh my word….. so many to choose from!!! I really do love Philadelphia – mock orange. I wish she lasted longer than she does. I of course love my roses and peonies as they count for perennials!

    Reply
  1149. Chelsea Miller on

    I love irises, peonies, and lilacs. These are the “old fashioned” favorites in my area and it seems that fewer and fewer are remaining, so I am determined to keep their beauty alive!

    Reply
  1150. Megan on

    Love coneflowers the color they bring to a garden, and the fact all the pollinators love them is a bonus. My hydrangeas would be a close second they provide such a classic look to any garden space.

    Reply
  1151. Shelly Angell on

    What a great interview, thank you for sharing. It would be hard to pick just one or two but hydrangeas would definitely make the top of my list along with roses.

    Reply
  1152. Lynn Rognsvoog on

    Tree peonies are a bittersweet wonder — so very beautiful, and so transitory.

    Reply
  1153. Ann Haines on

    This sounds like a fascinating and beautiful book. Thank you for introducing us to it.

    A favorite perennial? Oh my. Hard to pick one from the hundreds in my garden! Lets go with something blooming now…peony. Specifically an unnamed variety with humongous white blooms and a heady fragrance. The bouquet on my table perfumes the whole house.

    Reply
  1154. Melanie on

    I grow several varieties of weigela with different variegated leaves. They have such a lovely habit when they flower and I often cut a sprig or two for graceful arches in arrangements that I give as surprises to friends.

    Reply
  1155. Kristin on

    I have never heard of micro seasons. That’s very interesting. It’s inspiring me to learn in a more detailed way, be more observant of my garden. There’s always so much more to learn. Thanks for the opportunity to win a free book.

    Reply
  1156. Nora Carson on

    One of my all time favorites in my Garden is Hydrangeas. This year, I bought “Summer Crush”. Absolutely Beautiful!

    Reply
  1157. Rosa on

    I would love to learn about more varieties to add to our farm too. Both perennials and self-seeding annuals make me really happy in the busy seasons. A favorite? Probably overall hydrangeas. The long lasting clusters with their lovely leaves are such a delight.

    Reply
  1158. Allison on

    What a lovely interview! I really resonated with Rachel :)

    My favorite perennial would have to be my mom’s massive rhodedendron. My sister & I would play under its cannopy in the summer, bringing my mom the big beautiful purple blooms to put on our kitchen table. In the winter, when it would ice over, we would go out & peel the ice from the big leaves and call then ice popsicles. My favorite hike in Asheville is lined with rhodedendron as well, hiking through the knoby twisty branches makes you feel like you are in a storybook.

    Reply
  1159. Sharon Battaglia on

    I live in Florida, zone9b. My favorite is Vinca(periwinkle). Here in Florida it never dies ! It reseeds itself. I press the flowers and use them in my mix media paintings. Roses are my second choice. I also dry the petals and whole roses to use in my art.

    Reply
  1160. Tami on

    I love hydrangeas, all colors and shapes. For shrubs, I love using boxwood for smaller arrangements. Thank you for providing so much floral education.

    Reply
  1161. Nick Masla on

    My favorite shrub is the double lace cap hydrangea ‘Wedding Gown’. It has pure white double blooms that start in July and gradually change color from pink to red then green and lastly purple-red, providing a four month show in the garden. Blooms picked in the Fall will last an entire year in dry arrangements without any special treatment.

    Reply
  1162. Wilma Knight on

    I am choosing two – peonies and lavender!
    Thank you for all of your expertise with all plants; I really enjoy all you have to say!

    Reply
  1163. Christine Hansen on

    So hard to choose 1, but I’m currently obsessed w hellebores and need to plant them! This book looks like an amazing resource and I would be over the moon to win it!! 🌸

    Reply
  1164. Scarlett Dunn on

    Upon moving to Florida 20 years ago from the mountains, I had no idea of the native perennials growing all around me. Passionflower & Coral Honeysuckle have come to be two of my favorites, needing very little help from me to flourish & feeding all our pollinators!

    Reply
  1165. Jason K on

    Thank you for the interview. Living in California with our dry summers, I love Little Ollie and common myrtle shrubs. Their evergreen leaves and adaptability to shaping provide year-round structure in the garden.

    Reply
  1166. Trina on

    Love my peonies! And find myself always going to clip my sedum.

    Reply
  1167. Molly Marshall on

    It’s so so tough to pick a favorite, but lately I’ve been collecting roses. I used to think they were “ugly” because I was really only familiar with the grocery store variety… but they come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. They fascinate me!

    Reply
  1168. Brooke Adler on

    This year I have been able to add more perennials to my garden. It’s so lovely to have contrast to the fast paced annuals and the pollinator presence has nearly doubled! My favorite one that I have added this year has been the agastache black adder. More bees that imaginable.

    Reply
  1169. Karthik mohan on

    I love roses. They are hardy and beautiful and have so many colors and growth habits.

    Reply
  1170. Megan on

    My favorite perennial right now is lavender or hydrangea. I’m still new to the world of flowers, but I’m enjoying every single one that I come across!

    Reply
  1171. Megan on

    What an interesting interview! This book sounds amazing. I love hydrangeas and roses!

    Reply
  1172. Christine on

    Roses are my all time favorite perennials but in the past few years, I’ve been seeking out all the different shades of Baptisia. Love thee shape and coloring.

    Reply
  1173. Rebekah Kristovich on

    This is great! I would love to receive a free book- The Cut Flower Source Book! My favorite perennial is really hard to narrow down to one! But I anxiously await for the wisteria, delphinium, heather and the hydrangeas to start showing their flowers! My favorite I think is the Heather and all the different varieties and colors!

    Reply
  1174. Shelly J Davis on

    I love a mock orange! The fragrance is sweet but not overwhelming.

    Reply
  1175. Meredith Williams on

    I’m going to say peonies. I love many other more subtle perennials and shrubs, but their short-lived, outrageous flowers make my whole gardening year!

    Reply
  1176. Bethany on

    Do I have to pick just one?!? Love hydrangeas, viburnum, ninebark, lavender, peonies, daisies…all make great additions to cut flower arrangements.
    I am excited to see what others I am missing!

    Reply
  1177. Sue on

    So beautiful! Thank you for sharing this Erin! What an inspiration! And blessings to you for sharing your “earth heart” with all of us!

    Reply
  1178. Sally Beach on

    My garden has a variety of so many shrubs, ferns and flowers. I am very excited to see my passion flower bloom! 😊

    Reply
  1179. Stephanie Heflin on

    I have started using Zanzibar as a greenery base for my arrangements and it works beautifully! In its early growing phase, it resembles dark green hellebore flowers and it cradles the roses and fills I add to my centerpieces. It stays fresh for a long time and I often switch out the flowers to create new arrangements.

    Reply
  1180. Barbara C. on

    Life without flowers would be a mistake. They are essential and bring such beauty to this world.

    I enjoyed growing flowers for wildlife as well as to be cut for bringing to the table. One of my favorites is the oak leaf hydrangea. But really there are so many.

    Thank you so much for this inspiring interview.

    Reply
  1181. Trisha Power on

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful & inspirational book! I love finding inspiration for bouquets in perennials & woodies and can’t wait to read this. Some of my favorites are lilacs, hydrangeas, every kind of rose imaginable, woody peonies and of course woody hibiscus (too hard to pick a favorite!!).

    Reply
  1182. Carol Moore on

    I’m certainly looking forward to reading Rachel’s book!
    It’s so hard to choose one favorite perennial but I believe that it would be hydrangeas for me.
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Reply
  1183. Mimi Parr on

    My favorite flowering bush is mock orange. It brings me back to my childhood, playing outside on summer break and being knocked out by the incredible aroma when I hid in its folds! Today, I can’t wait to plant a just purchased specimen in my adult home landscape.

    Reply
  1184. Isabel Fowlkes on

    Tulips, Peonies and Roses are so easy to arrange and make stunning bouquets on their own. Hydrangeas are wonderful because as they dry, they make long lasting bouquets through the winter. I look forward to incorporating some ideas from the book into my home grown bouquets . Thank you for introducing us to this great resource.

    Reply
  1185. Elaine Williamson on

    Micro seasons! Exactly! Here in the central U.S. prairie land we have at least five different summer seasons of hot, windy, and dry, and four different winter harsh times! I am in the early years of figuring out what will endure in this climate, and my passion for this journey is endlessly invigorated. Baptisia is glorious and with care, I’m sure my new rose bed will reward.

    Reply
  1186. Diane on

    I just planted one this morning: a dwarf crepe myrtle. Crepe myrtle trees and shrubs are a hardy summer show stopper giving color after all the spring flowering trees and shrubs are finished. In the fall many varieties’ leaves turn into gorgeous fall colors, something we don’t get much of here. And thank you for introducing a new person and source for inspiration!

    Reply
  1187. Dawn Harris on

    So difficult to choose! But, I am nostalgic about honey suckle which grew wild on our fence in the yard of my childhood home, climbing roses which covered my great-grandparents’ house and fence, and wisteria which grew on the first house I lived in when my husband and I got married. Lovely plants and lovely memories. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book and for the interview!

    Reply
  1188. Stephanie on

    I absolutely love peonies and Coneflower(any and all colors!l) I’m definitely a perennial nut and have been adding more and more woodys/shrubs to our property this past year.. so this book is perfect timing!

    Reply
  1189. Lori on

    Oh, Hamamelis for a shrub. It’s so beautiful all year long in a changing way. I have 3 in my small garden, if only there was room for more….

    For perennials, I too am a hellephite. It’s great that breeders are coming up with cultivars that have outward or upward facing flowers, thank you! I probably have 40 different hellebores in my garden, there’s always room to squeeze one more in SOMEWHERE!

    Reply
  1190. Liz on

    I love my salvia amethyst lips! They grow back each year so full, it smells amazing and it attracts hummingbirds and bees. Simple and wonderful.

    Reply
  1191. Rose H on

    One of my favorites is the lime colored hydrangeas. They are beautiful in arrangements with so many different colors!

    Reply
  1192. Jan on

    I’ve been loving spireas. They’re so versatile, colorful, easy to grow. Best of all, I don’t have to share with the deer!

    Reply
  1193. Stephanie on

    I absolutely love peonies and Coneflower(any and all colors!l) I’m definitely a perennial nut and have been adding more and more woodys/shrubs to pur property this past year.. so this book is perfect timing!

    Reply
  1194. Cindy Dalton on

    Oh I have so many perennials , bushes, and vines that I love! It is hard to choose, mostly because they also have memories or loved ones connected to them. Forget me nots are especially looked forward to. They are so delicate and last just a short time. But maybe my favorite is a strong, hues of blue delphinium!

    Reply
  1195. Dorothy Bond Maddock on

    So hard to choose, but my Christmas Hellebore wins the prize. Here in Pennsylvania December is the bleakest month for flowering shrubs and perennials. And then, almost on cue in time for my annual Christmas Eve family party my lovely pure white Hellebore blooms welcoming everyone at the front door. During lockdown I captured a picture for our Zoom party to the delight of all.

    Reply
  1196. Maggie on

    Dahlias are my favorite! I a very beginner gardener so I have a lot to learn!

    Reply
  1197. Jamie Daugherty on

    I can’t wait to read this book! My favorite every year is honeysuckle! I live with fields in front and the wooded area in back, so we have plenty of honeysuckle every year. It makes me smile because I know summer is close.

    Reply
  1198. Martha on

    one of my favorite perennials for cut flower bouquets is white sage – the purple blooms are beautiful as well of the soft green of the sage leaves

    Reply
  1199. Lindsay on

    My favorite perennial is Wisteria. When you look at this gorgeous perennial it looks fragile, but underneath it is strong and can take out a foundation if you are not careful where you plant it.

    It is a reminder that no matter how I am viewed from the outside world I am strong and capable!

    Reply
  1200. Natalie Lairamore on

    Thanks so much for the interview! The new book looks amazing! I love peonies even though they are not long lasting. And a second favorite would have to be hydrangea.

    Reply
  1201. Bethany on

    My favorite perennial at the moment is honeysuckle.

    Reply
  1202. Elizabeth Adam on

    I think my old favorite perennial shrub was a dogwood, but now I find that the two Western Redbuds that I have make me so happy when they bloom with their delicate flowers on bare stems, followed by such distinctive heart-shaped leaves. I had never heard of micro-seasons, but I think the short amount of time that the Redbud’s flowers are on the stems must be one of them. One of our trees has deep burgundy leaves, the other keeps a bright spring green all summer long. Thank you for all you do to promote beauty and innovation in a seemingly out-of-control world these days. Maybe we can’t save the world with flowers…but maybe we can!

    Reply
  1203. Kristen Gray on

    I live in a suburban corner lot in PNW growing mainly flowers with perennial and shrub borders.It would be helpful to read more in this subject. Next to gardening my favorite hobby is reading about gardens.

    Reply
  1204. Carol Carter on

    My favorite is the lilac, I love the smell and it reminds me of my childhood and all the lilacs that my parents and grandparents grew.

    Reply
  1205. Alissa C on

    My favorite would have to be catmint, it flowers spring all the way through fall and is always covered by bees!

    Reply
  1206. Patricia Anne Pratt on

    I live in Zone 2 British Columbia, Canada
    Even though a lot of different shrubs will not survive our winters, we do have some beauties that do. It is worth wishing and seeing what others can grow.
    I am looking forward to reading through this book. The illustrations alone will be uplifting on a dreary or cold day.

    Reply
  1207. Laura on

    I’m so excited for this book! I agree there are not enough resources when it comes to these types of plants. Right now I think my favorite perennials are lupins. I started a whole bunch from seed last year, just hoping some would survive. They all came back this year and all bloomed! It was a lot of time and patience, but so worth it.

    Reply
  1208. Dinelle on

    This summer I have been adding more perennials to my flowers beds and around our yard. Being more conscious of planting plants for the pollinators. My Mom loved peonies. I brought a plant home from her house when we sold it. I currently live in my Grandmothers home and have 3 of her peonies, still there (36 years). I brought lilac bush from my Mom’s house too. I don’t know if I could narrow it down to just a favorite. First year planting Bee Balm & a Butterfly bush and I’m excited to see the growth and color of these plants. I love a daisy too, simple but yet beautiiful.

    Reply
  1209. Kathy christianson on

    Inspiration – that is what I get from the interview. I want to change jobs and do something with flowers. After taking the Floret class and reading the books I think I know what my new path in life will be.

    Reply
  1210. Karen Oslund on

    Thank you for sharing. One of my favorite perennials is oak leaf hydrangeas. I love the flower shape made of sweet florets.

    Reply
  1211. Terry Rice on

    Hydrangeas and of course roses and lavender are some of my favorites. It’s so hard to pick just one.

    Reply
  1212. Gwen on

    I always look forward to the first signs of spring as our long winter comes to an end. Forsythia makes me smile as it starts blooming through our city. What is more cheery?!?

    Reply
  1213. Dorothy Lenehan on

    Hellebores! What a magical find when I moved to a new property in the Sierra foothills, where the deer eat every thing that is lovely. That winter surprise up through a light snow is always makes me smile.

    Reply
  1214. Jane B on

    Japanese Andromeda. Being from Maine the flowering season is very short. This shrub kicks off the gardening season in early spring loaded with wonderful little white bells in huge clusters, right outside my kitchen window. They make wonderful arrangements all by themselves!

    Reply
  1215. Carol Whitman on

    Hellebores! Hydrangea! Lilac! Also love to use red currant s on the branch. Am growing white currants, but the plant is still young, no berries yet. Fingers crossed each year.

    Reply
  1216. Lesley Russell Landis on

    I made an arrangement just yesterday of blue hydrangea, yellow echinacea, and white yarrow from my yard and gardens. It’s a nod to an old fashioned early summer

    Reply
  1217. Jessica Stagner on

    I would love a signed copy! I was a part of the 2022 Floret Workshop class. I love perennials and coneflower is one of my favorites!

    Reply
  1218. Isabella on

    A new favorite of mine this year is beauty bush! It hums with the sound of bees and is absolutely gorgeous, I love how all the branches cascade to the ground!

    Reply
  1219. Ann Bingham on

    This may seem a bit odd, as Im a novice, but horseradish blooms. They are a beautiful cluster of tiny white flowers. When the flowers fall outside you give them a little shake and use the green foliage thats left from where the blooms were. Its a beautiful sprig of different. Ive also kept using spent peony blooms by taking off all the spent petals and its looks like a starburst underneath. All seasons of a flower can be beautiful.

    Reply
  1220. Gina Cicciarelli on

    I love lilacs. I grew up in Michigan and my parents had planted a row of lilacs along the back of our property as a hedge row. We had every color and when they bloomed in early June it was wonderful.

    Now I live in San Francisco and lilacs are very rare here so when I do see and smell them, they are quite evocative for me.

    Reply
  1221. Eileen Johnson on

    My favorite perennial has always been the cone flower (echinacea). It just stands tall and reaches out to you in the garden!

    Reply
  1222. Gloria on

    This is hard to choose but this spring we really used a lot of spires, we have green, gold & red varieties and love them all. The birds really enjoy to hide in the bushes too. We are slowly developing a hedge row of bushes so this book will help us tremendously.

    Reply
  1223. Janet Reimer on

    My new favorite perennial is figwort. I have lovely patches. I use in most of my bouquets. The bees Ali love it. Thanks Floret for introducing it to me

    Reply
  1224. Cyndi Tippett on

    Beautiful book cover and flower arrangement pictures. My favorites are peonies and any type of lily. While they don’t last a long time here in NC, they are stunning and spectacular while they are showing off their beauty. I should consider more shrubs.

    Reply
  1225. Amy P on

    I love peonies! And lilacs. And berries! Like raspberries. Thanks for the interview. So much fun!
    Amy

    Reply
  1226. Mary on

    Smokebush is one of my favorite shrubs. It’s drought tolerant has beautiful purple foliage and outstanding fall color. It holds up well as a cut flower. To top it off, it has sprays of lovely flowers that look like smoke.

    Reply
  1227. Lucy Goslinga on

    For me the different types of Euphorbia are all time favorites. The lovely color in spring, their quality as fillers… I love them in the garden as well as in the vase. Some are wintergreen, or better red en green, some sow spontaneously. It’s a very varied natural group of plants, without illnesses, which Igrow in five of the seven gardenrooms I have. My hart skips a beat every time I see them in spring.

    Lucy Goslinga, the Netherlands

    Reply
  1228. Kristen Barker on

    Oh my goodness, where are my forsythia lovers at? At the end of winter when you think there is no end in sight, the forsythia… a burst of brightness and gold and lovely yellow sunshine to give a bit back to your soul what the winter took. To look at a landscape lacking in color, then spot forsythia in bloom. How could you not be restored?
    Looking forward to exploring the pages of Rachel’s English Garden.

    Reply
  1229. Laura Burns on

    I’m in love with hellebores. I love their colors and that I get something in the winter! Even blooms some times. It’s nice to have the touch of green in my garden year round.

    Reply
  1230. Samantha Metell on

    Sedum has really become a favorite perennial for me. Bees love it, the colors change as the season progresses and it’s the perfect compliment to my dahlia arrangements i make for myself and neighbors.

    Reply
  1231. Joanne Chase on

    The red flowering currant is a favorite of mine. I wanted one for years, thinking of it each time I came across one on a hike in our Oregon foothills. I finally planted one and it is so happy and growing fast. This blog post reminds me that I should prune it when I can use the branches in arrangements. Thanks, Erin, for all you bring to us, and for this introduction to Rachel.

    Reply
  1232. Luba Fetterman on

    I love all my various hardy fuchsias. Even after a hard winter for us here in WA, they come back from the ground and delight us, the hummingbirds and the pollinators with their nodding flowers. They have an incredibly long flowering season. During milder winters they keep their woody branches alive and bloom even longer!

    Reply
  1233. Elise Powell on

    I’m definitely a newbie, so there are so many perennials and shrubs yet to be discovered for me. But I have always loved peonies and hope to be able to grow them soon!

    Reply
  1234. Annette Steele on

    Thanks for sharing this interview! I’m inspired by her philosophy.

    Some of my favorite perennials in the garden are hellebores and my dwarf mock orange shrubs.

    Can’t wait to read your book!

    Reply
  1235. Daryl on

    American Beautyberry is a stunning shrub native to the southern regions of the US. In my area must be grown in a protected area but so worth it!

    Reply
  1236. bryan nelson on

    Dang I have a few:
    *Hydrangeas- Limelight is me fav.
    *Peony- new friend
    *Geums – super find
    *Astrantia -Amazing
    List goes on….
    only found out about the bottom 2 last year!

    Bryan

    Reply
  1237. Drew Adams on

    This year a new favorite of mine is honeysuckle! I’ve been using the vines in arrangements and they add such a beautiful bit of texture and whimsey! So excited about this book ❤️

    Reply
  1238. Laurie on

    One of my favorites for bouquets is Sanguisorba. I have a beautiful variegated leaf variety that looks gorgeous in bouquets! I also love the airy, see through quality of the flowers in arrangements and in the garden.

    Reply
  1239. jai on

    I adore limelight hydrangea, David Austin Roses, Camilla and lavender… As a novice gardener I am learning everyday and am anxious to get my hands on this promising book!

    Reply
  1240. Amber Ruchti on

    My favorite shrub is Edgeworthia, the yellow flowers that come in the late of winter to earliest spring smell wonderful. In summer the bush has beautiful long leathery leaves. Unfortunately, here in the Pacific Northwest Tacoma, WA they an are a hard find plant so it is on top of my wishlist!

    Reply
  1241. BJ Morgan on

    Perhaps my favorite woody shrub is American Beautyberry (sometimes called French Mulberry) (Callicarpa americana). This lovely, large shrub makes a beautiful, arching backdrop in my border from early spring until late autumn. In the springtime, small, inconspicuous blooms attract pollinators like crazy. Then, small berries form, and turn a glorious shade of bright purple in the fall. The long, arching sprays with striking purple berries add interest to arrangements, and even a few stems can make attractive arrangements all on their own. As an added bonus, the berries hold for 10 days or more in the vase. One drawback: the purple berries can stain tablecloths and other fabric, so you may want to protect them with a matching napkin or doily. Finally, in the autumn, the leaves turn a lovely shade of yellow. A most admirable shrub, I must say.

    Reply
  1242. Cathy Larsen on

    I live on the Central Coast of California where drought, high winds, and clay soil make growing a sustainable garden challenging. Thankfully, many varieties of rosemary, lavender and sage tend to do well here so these plus a variety of tea trees and Melaleuca currently dominate our landscaping scheme.

    Reply
  1243. Kate Moore on

    I am just beginning the journey of adding perennials to my garden. The first perennial I added was a hydrangea. It is still one of my favorites and a garden staple here in South Georgia. This year I added a gardenia and it’s aroma is so intoxicating, it may take the position of my favorite while it’s in bloom!

    Reply
  1244. Leslie Layton on

    I’m so excited for this book of yours to help guide me in future plantings for creating spectacular arrangements! Thank you for taking the time and effort to put this together.

    Reply
  1245. Jo Ann Lowe on

    Flame Acanthus (Hummingbird Bush) ! Living in
    Central Texas it is drought tolerant,it’s a beautiful show from now till frost & it reaches to the heights against a trellis giving rest for all the lil’hummers.
    Thanks, for this opportunity, Jesse is plein air worthy on that beautiful setting.

    Reply
  1246. Michelle Battistini on

    After moving from the PNW to Southern Idaho, I have a newfound love for Penstemon! It just shows up early in my garden each year – no matter the weather – and holds its ground like beautiful soldiers all summer long.

    Reply
  1247. Patricia Taylor on

    Living on 40 acres of old farmland in the northwoods, my garden style is probably “rustic” – being surrounded by wildflowers, vines, a variety of trees that edge our pond in addition to all my peonies and other perennials offers greenery through out our short summer season. Even my golden spirea shrub gives a bright spark of color to an informal bouquet in the kitchen. Thank you for the opportunity to share and also a chance to win Rachel’s beautiful new book.

    Reply
  1248. Chris G. on

    My favorite shrub/ perennial has to be the rose. Nothing else comes close.

    Reply
  1249. Lucy on

    Viburnum… all of them. I love these plants!

    Reply
  1250. Carolie on

    My favorite perennial is Baptisia. It reminds me of the walks my dad would take me on in the native prairie grass pastures when I was little; I loved the Buffalo Peas that I later learned were wild baptisia. I was thrilled when I was able to establish baptisia plants in my beds.

    Reply
  1251. Pamela Burke on

    I love airie perennials and I love bees. Nepeta Walkers Deep Blue snd colored coneflowers are my favorite

    Reply
  1252. Pat Kuffner on

    A favorite of mine is columbine, which self seeds around the garden, so there is always some blooming somewhere.

    Reply
  1253. Carrie Wilson on

    Oh to pick just one! When my girls were 5 & 7 my anemone were taller than them and almost as tall as me. My best friend said my lavender looked “happy”. I had a home in Los Angeles where I tried my hand at every perennial I could. I bought small lace cap hydrangeas from Trader Joe’s that grew into enormous bushes. My Russian Sage was brilliant and productive. Looking back I realize I didn’t cut enough of those gorgeous wild flowers. Now, living in Appalachian mountains I have a pasture I dream of planting. But the ground here is literally rock. And the deer are in charge. So my memories are my flowers now.

    Reply
  1254. Yelena on

    Hydrangeas, roses, peonies, lilacs, lupines, yarrow, feverfew, asparagus fern, ninebark, mock orange, honeysuckle, clematis! There are so many great ones, I can’t wait to learn about more varieties!

    Reply
  1255. Emily Kruczynski on

    Hellebores blooms in the spring and then I use the foliage throughout the summer in arrangements!

    Reply
  1256. Kathleen on

    Peonies! Love their giant flowers—especially the white ones.

    Reply
  1257. Lisa G on

    I can’t wait to read this book! I think one of my favorite perennials (this week) is the Pink Peace rose. It thrives here in Colorado, has enormous blooms that last for days in a vase, and the scent is heavenly.

    Reply
  1258. Pam D on

    I love hydrangeas, my mom has had ones for 40 years. What a great book! Love the idea of micro seasons. I live in the high desert and I am going to start looking for these.

    Reply
  1259. Kathie Gettinger on

    I live in Alaska – our blooming times are extremely short. Each flowering tree, shrub, and wild flower is cherished as they each herald the return of the warmth of the sun and display their glory! Right now the ground floor is covered with precious lingonberry flowers, star flowers, and wintergreen flower shoots. You have to bend low to see them but oh, what joy they bring!

    Reply
  1260. Ubon Leonard on

    One of my favorites to used in fresh homemade arrangements are raspberry vines! As I’m thinning out my patch, I use he shoots not making fruit. They are sturdy and the leaves are so striking in their color and pattern. Combined with a peony and some yellow loosestrife. When the peony is done, I look forward to using the foliage as bouquet greens as their leaves are so beautiful on their own too, especially toward the end of the season when they start to change colors in the fall!

    Reply
  1261. Christie on

    On our farm we have been working on adding many more native perennials. Mock orange and Ninebark and others. I also love how Rachel is embracing the micro seasons and love this idea to appreciate them on this individual level. When our red breasted Robins start visiting the garden more in early spring it truly starts to feel like it’s ‘go time’!

    Reply
  1262. Cenna Lloyd on

    While it’s incredibly hard to pick a favorite, I absolutely love the show of a field of lupines. Their colors and movement just get me every time. I also cannot pass up a plum bough in early spring, they’re so hopeful!

    Reply
  1263. Heather O on

    I love the gold heart dicentra, bleeding heart. The contrast of the vibrant pink flowers with bright green leaves that turn yellow stand out no matter what they are planted next to. I love the floating fans of leaves as much as the unique flowers themselves. It always amazes me as well that they just pop out of nothing and explode.

    Reply
  1264. Amy K on

    I love perennials and always looking for resources to learn more! We planted a several native gardens in our yard last year. My husband is born and raised in this area, but I am from Tennessee so I wanted to incorporate a little bit of Tennessee in our gardens. I planted tons of irises from my grandmother’s garden (iris is Tennessee state flower) and it brings me so much joy to see them bloom on Mother’s Day! My favorite native perennial so far is the blue false indigo!

    Reply
  1265. Barbara on

    I love snapdragons for their diverse colors and long vase life. I doesn’t hurt that I can squeeze their little blossoms to delight the child in me. In my climate, zone 8a I can plant in fall and see them return in spring.

    Reply
  1266. Shelley Tarr on

    Rocky Mountain penstemon is my favorite perennial. The deep purple flowers are so beautiful and the bees love it. A close second would be Mojave sage. This also has a beautiful purple flower, the leaves smell so good, and hummingbirds love this plant.

    Reply
  1267. Sarah on

    I love hydrangeas for arranging. My first came from my mom’s friend’s hydrangea when I was first starting my garden. Every year I see it and am proud of turned into this pretty bush that produces every year, right when I need a few more pretty focal flowers.

    Reply
  1268. Liesl on

    One of my newer favorites perennials are hellebores. I found a spot in front of my house that they love and they just flourish! They are big and green and happy. I love that hellebore is the first flower I see of the year.

    Reply
  1269. Iona Marcroft on

    I live on the rainy West coast of Scotland, and have recently begun a flower and foliage wholesale business from an old established garden. I have begun to really appreciate the versatility of some of the shrubs I have existing which I would previously never have considered cutting for the vase…my current favourite is Philadelphus coronarius (sweet mock-orange)..the scent is incredible and it flows out of a vase with the most beautiful shape. One I will definitely be propagating wildly this year!!!

    Reply
  1270. Andrea Byers on

    My current fave perennial is Hellebore. I may have a small collection now!

    Reply
  1271. Kate Patrick on

    Echinacea pallida is definitely one of my favorites. Easy to grow from seed it is tall andd graceful in the garden. The droopy petals remind me of one Dagas’ ballerinas.

    Reply
  1272. Shelley McDaniel on

    I have long dabbled in floral arranging after being inspired by a non credit class at a community college 20 years ago. I have supplemented my cut flower purchases with things growing in my garden. That has been limited to the spring/summer growing season, here in my Pacific Northwest zone 8 garden. But just in the last year or so I have been obsessed with planting for year round interest and utility for vase creations. Looking for vintage vases and vessels is another fun element of this hobby. The winter daphne next to my front door is a frequent addition to my arrangements for both its scent and its branch structure. It is, as they say in England, “a good do-er.” Rachel’s book sounds like just what I need to take my floristry to the next level. Thanks so much for sharing her story.

    Reply
  1273. Kathy on

    One of my favorite shrubs is the Hydrangea, the purple/ blue one. I think of my dad and grandparents when I see them and that makes me happy.

    Reply
  1274. Susan Kay on

    Living in California dry, my favorite perennials come from the family of salvias.

    Reply
  1275. Kathy Ramsey on

    Two of my favorite perennials to use for greenery are nandina and peony. I also love the branches from the river birch.

    Reply
  1276. Trish Nagel on

    My favorites at this time are Coneflower, Yarrow and Black-eyed Susan! I would love to explore more of the woodies that I could incorporate into my landscape. I am building my small flower farm this year to offer a wider variety in the coming years. This book looks amazing!!!

    Reply
  1277. Susie Alicandro on

    Enjoyed the interview! I live on Camano, and I am loving my contorted hazel tree for cutting and adding interest to arrangements. The twisty branches add such pizazz!

    Reply
  1278. Mary Shaima on

    To focus on just one – so difficult! – I will go with native perennial grasses, like pennisetum and bear grass. Their lance-like leaves add a beautiful arching dimension to arrangements, and the seed heads are so wonderfully complex while seeming very simple! I’m very excited to hear about this book; I’ve always enjoyed a bit of foraging to add to arrangements.

    Reply
  1279. Pamela Walshe on

    My favorite perennials are the hellebores, I love their earthy colors, their very early appearance in spring, and the way the flowers seem to last forever.

    Reply
  1280. Julia Sebastian on

    When my daughter was turning one I decided I needed to convert some of my annual flower beds to perennial. I just didn’t have the same time and energy to devote to my annual “babies”. I made a huge spreadsheet of perennial flowers, noting the color, height, growing conditions, etc. I got to planting. I was so excited for their emergence the next year. After a hard spring when we lost our second baby in utero, I know I needed the emotional support of my garden. As the perennial flowers bloomed my spirits lifted. One little flower, the geum, has been my favorite of this time. The first to really bloom, with small, bright and beautiful double red blooms. They are my daughters favorite and give me such a blazing star of hope for what the movement of time can do for the heart.

    Reply
  1281. Joanmarie Eggert on

    Ooh, this sounds like a great book. So many to love, some that I love to grow, some that I struggle with. I’m inspired to figure out my own “micro” seasons. If I have to pick one, it’s mock orange with chartreuse leaves (don’t know the common or Latin name – sorry). I pretty much any plant or flower with fragrance!

    Reply
  1282. Sarah on

    I always marveled at the ability to take the cyclical nature of certain perennials/ shrubs to create temporary pieces of art. This seems to be an obvious but rare practice that I hope becomes more main stream than what exists in todays floral industry; local sourcing being the most important. Bravo Rachel!

    Reply
  1283. Paula Vance on

    What a hard choice. I will say Hellebores. One of the first flowers in late winter, unique, gorgeous and they grow in the shade.

    Reply
  1284. Christina on

    Thank you for sharing this interview and the book! My favorite perennial is probably echinacea. They draw so many pollinators and birds and I just love that my garden can provide food for the pollinators and birds. They come in wide variety of colors and sizes.

    Reply
  1285. Anne Schopf on

    Forsythia- forcing a few twigs in late winter jump starts the spring!

    Reply
  1286. Gabrielle A. Tumminello on

    I love wild roses, the delicate leaves, beautiful little flowers, and arching stems are just gorgeous in my eyes. Found in my little island town in NJ we have an entire street lined in them- the fragrance is heaven, and the gorgeous white to pink flowers are captivating. They also are a pollinator favorite, a refuge for much wildlife here, and stand up to our salty air & sandy soils! So many reasons to love this gem!!!!

    Reply
  1287. Carole Keffer on

    My favorite shrub will probably always be an old fashioned lilac. The color, the shape of the blooms, and the scent stir up the best memories of my childhood spent with a gardening grandma and mama.

    Reply
  1288. Katherine Ball on

    My favorite shrub is clove currant also known as Ribes odoratum. It has a profusion of golden flowers that smells like cloves. The lovely lobed leaves turn red in the fall and it produces small dark berries to feed the birds. When I walk the paths and smell it I know Spring has arrived.

    Reply
  1289. Genevieve Dubois on

    Oh goodness, to pick just one. If I had to choose, I would say lilacs are my favourite. I wait all year to for that sweet scent to waft in the air and those gorgeous purple and white blooms to appear. No matter how stressful life gets, that smell just calms my soul and makes time stop for a few seconds a day while they’re in bloom. Then I have this mysterious little smile like a schoolgirl with a crust or a springtime sprite with a secret for the rest of the day

    Reply
  1290. Crystal Hoffmaster on

    Roses are a current love I can’t get enough of. I am learning about all of the varieties and I find that I absolutely adore the timeless quality of a beautifully fragrant garden rose. With so many woody shrubs from Lilacs to hydrangeas and Elderberry, I love them all and they definitely compliment a natural based arrangement. I love the cottage feel they add.

    Reply
  1291. Nancy on

    The big leaf hydrangea…beautiful blue flowers speak of summertime!

    Reply
  1292. Kassie on

    I’ve always enjoyed the limitation and creativity challenge my small flower garden affords for my house arrangements. I work with what I have that day! Rachel’s method of letting the flowers guide her feels so right.

    Reply
  1293. Pamela Patterson on

    Gardening is my passion! I remember the first time I saw a blue hydrangea as a little girl and being mesmerized. I have always been fascinated by plants. I love being in my garden and discovering the subtle changes from day to day. I am constantly tackling the challenges that occur here in this southern coastal area.
    Thanks to Erin’s first book “Cut Flower Garden” I learned how to start seeds, which opened up a new world of possibilities for me. It was the start of an incredible journey into the life of my garden. The world of new possibilities opened up for me. In this warm climate, I’m able to start seeds throughout the year, and try them out in my garden.
    I especially love perennials and things that bloom and attract pollinators. We can grow beautiful Camellias here, as well as native Beautyberry and Clethra.
    “The Cut Flower Sourcebook” looks like a wonderful reference. The photos are inspiring and informative. It’s always a joy to discover more.

    Reply
  1294. Katja Duyck on

    One of my favourite perennials is Echinacea Purpurea. My garden style is inclusive. Counterpart of the exclusive garden. I garden in a way where there is a lot of space for plants, animals and I prefer not to use pesticides. I like to reuse materials and give plants space to spread. Let that be the garden style that I also love the most. On a beautiful, warm summer day, the most striking things are the echinacea flowers in warm colours, red, orange and pink.

    Reply
  1295. Shar Weiss on

    I love any perennial or shrub that will grow in my zone. I live in Northern Alberta, Canada so being able to withstand -40 C is a must. Peonies, lupins. Hydragena, & lilacs have survived! Love watching them persevere through hard times and endure on!

    Reply
  1296. Sue on

    I love the structure that having woody stems add to an arrangement. Additionally, having perennials feels so frugal. Knowing they will return each year just feels like an investment. I love peonies and am just getting started with a couple varieties of hydrangeas. My favorite Spring woody is the pussy willow. It arrives early and lets me know our long Montana winter is finally ending!

    Reply
  1297. Nancy Chambers on

    I live in Texas and struggle to find plants that will survive the extreme weather we deal with here, whether it be scorching heat, freezing snow, or unpredictable hail storms.
    Last year, after doing some digging online, I decided to try Hummingbird Mint and also Sombrero Coneflowers in Flamenco Orange and Salsa Red. The red and orange flowers look wonderful with the purple sprigs from the Hummingbird Mint. But most importantly, all of these perennials are hardy survivors, having made it through last winter’s snow storms and now, the relentless, triple-digit heat. If only I had enough room to plant more colors of coneflowers…… :-)))

    Reply
  1298. michelle on

    My favorites are the peonies – I only wish their season was longer – and that I had better luck growing them myself!

    Reply
  1299. courtney hildebrand on

    Lambs ear has become a recent fav but hydrangeas and peonies are my heart! Loved the interview! Thanks for always sharing with us~

    Reply
  1300. christian rubio on

    We love our panicle hydrangeas at the end of the season when they dry up and make great fall arrangements!!

    Reply
  1301. Bonnie Sue Boyd on

    I have to say that I love the peonies the best. But have been introducing more and more varieties of perennials each year to compliment them. Your book is beautiful and loved the interview.

    Reply
  1302. Brenda Brieden on

    My favorite perennials are peonies. I grew up on a farm in Illinois where we had a driveway lined with peonies. Last fall I transplanted a handful from Illinois to Michigan and I had the most beautiful blooms this year. It reminds me of home.

    Reply
  1303. Megan Schulze on

    Alaska has hardy people as well as hardy perennials! Forsythia is one of the first to bloom every year and it’s always a sight for sore eyes after a very long winter.

    Reply
  1304. Janet Smith Coyne on

    I’m in love with my flowering plum!
    When those pale pink flowers blossom out in spring photographed against a azure blue sky, it’s heaven on earth!

    Reply
  1305. jennifer on

    I love Baptisia! I was so happy to hear of this book as I am currently in the planning stages of several new gardens. The book is out of stock online. Is there a restock date?

    Reply
  1306. Veronika Shliazhko on

    My favorite perenials are peonies. I started to admire them after I first spotted them at my grandmas garden back when i was a little girl. Seeing them in my garden reminds me of my grandma.

    Reply
  1307. Shannon FB on

    It’s impossible to choose just one! I love roses, peonies, catmint and all variety of herbs. They are the first think I plant in anywhere I’ve ever lived. One new thing I’m trying this year is a Pearl bush inspired by my visit to Hidcote in the UK. If only one corner of my garden looks as beautiful as that garden then I would be immensely pleased! Happy gardening and this book is definitely going on my list 🥰

    Reply
  1308. Deborah Ataide on

    Hard to say.
    I love hydrangeas, roses, Salvia, coneflower. Dalia’s for sure. Sun flowers. Oh.. I love Shasta daisies too. Hmm.. I think everything makes me smile and happy to see them flower. Maybe I don’t have a favorite. All of them are.

    Reply
  1309. Sharon on

    Peonies are my all time fave and close behind are hydrangeas.

    Reply
  1310. Tracy Reese on

    I love plain old ninebark for fillers. I also love a good fern leaf off of one of ferns from Walmart or the grocery store! I’ll use anything that calls to me. So fun and whimsical!

    Reply
  1311. Joan griswold on

    Love to use woodies like Sweet fern and Cotinus foliage in arrangements.

    Reply
  1312. Megan on

    It is so difficult to select a favorite, because as the seasons change, so do the flowers & shrubs. I used to be a preschool teacher, however, three years ago my son passed away and the only place I find peace is in nature. So my best friend and I have started a flower farm @Contrary Gardens LLC to spread kindness. It helps bring some joy to my shattered soul. We have your Floret book, watched your show, and try to embrace an environment where nature thrives and flowers can be harvested. Thank you for letting us know about this new book. The photos are amazing ! I can’t wait to read Rachael’s book.

    Reply
  1313. Sue D on

    I love my red Weigela shrub. It’s flowers are lovely. It’s easy to grow. The ones I have are blossom-bedecked from summer to fall. And, they are deer-resistant, which is an important feature where I live.

    Reply
  1314. Rachael Moore on

    I love perennial hibiscus. I think it’s so much fun to have such a tropical looking flower in my high desert garden!

    Reply
  1315. Olena Murphy on

    I love love love peonies! There is nothing out in the garden that smells quite like them. They bloom for a short time, but it’s always such a treat!

    Reply
  1316. Connie L Ambrose on

    I like the flowering quince for its wild form and color. I like that it provides a focal point as well as a natural habitat for birds.

    In our former home we had a pair of robins build a nest but the bird I enjoy the most is the Junco as it chitters and bounces about. We are 18 months in our new home that is a rambler. I have added two berms, one with a dry creek and the other with repurposed garden fence for hollyhocks, lupine and foxglove. I have added native woody plants, hibiscus, mock orange, camellia, rescued roses and hydrangeas, spirea, heather and fruit trees.

    We’ve added honey suckle and sweet peas, climbing hydrangeas, roses and clematis as well as a large vegetable garden.

    So much more to add and the quince comes next.

    Reply
  1317. Nicole on

    Hydrangea has always been a favorite, but when I lived in Coastal GA, I grew Chardonnay Pearls and they were magical. I love that beautiful chartreuse color and then the tiny Pearls of flowers… just lovely.

    Reply
  1318. Joan Yates on

    This is so timely! I had decided last fall that I was going to concentrate on bulbs, perennials and woodies! I put in 1400 allium bulbs (6 different varieties) last fall. I also planted several varieties of coneflowers, baptisia, and rudbeckia. I already have numerous lilacs, and just added 3 Miss Canada, a pink bloomer!

    Reply
  1319. alicia on

    I have just discovered prarie smoke! Absolutely beautiful and multi seasonal

    Reply
  1320. Sarah Ward on

    How wonderful for you two to connect and share that experience with us! Thank you. The book sounds amazing and must be added to my collection! My favorites are tri-color dappled willows, and hydrangeas. After reading the book I’m sure I’ll have more…lol.
    Sending blessed summer wishes and blooms your way!

    Reply
  1321. Kris on

    A stunning beauty is diabolo ninebark with its deep purple foliage and white flowers. Another striking shrub is wine and roses weigela. Both are great for deep color in my landscape and for bouquets.

    Reply
  1322. Mary James on

    Always have loved the vastness of the Euohorbia family and the color it provides.

    Reply
  1323. Coryne Legare on

    My favorite perrenials are Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea that spread like wildfire up where I am and Baptisia. I am hoping to learn more about flowering shrubs from Rachel’s book as well as sustainable flower farming.

    Reply
  1324. Sarah Urquhart on

    This year my favorite shrubs have been the native currants. The hummingbirds loved the flowers, and now the fruit is setting and I look forward to the Cedar Waxings that will come for them.

    Reply
  1325. Debbie on

    If bulbs count, I love large alliums! They are such a cheerful, whimsical flower and make me smile. I would also love to add rose bushes to my garden.

    Reply
  1326. Mercy Flórez on

    It’s human nature, we crave what we can’t have, we appreciate what we lost. I follow you from warm and sunny Puerto Rico, and most of the cut flowers you grow won’t survive our tropical climate. But…when you started your rose collection journey, that brought back beautiful childhood memories. When I was little we moved into a house that had a rose garden in the front yard. From tiny miniature roses I’ve never seen since, to wild and straggly bushes that seemed to defy gravity with thick, heavy roses standing upright in the air. I remember not liking the rose garden because I would often get pricked or scratched when playing around with my friends.
    We moved when I went to college, and right after we moved the buyers eliminated the garden to expand the house. Oh, what I would give now to go back and save cuttings from those bushes!

    (and yes, Flórez is my real, married name. My husband’s family is from northern Spain). :)

    Reply
  1327. Rebekah Beyer on

    I love the limelight Hydrangeas. They are so hardy and productive. This is my first year to grow a dahlia so I am really excited about that as well!

    Reply
  1328. Lori Miles on

    Wonderful interview! I’ve been spending much more time in my garden this year and enjoying the experience of learning and growing. Right now my roses are in bloom and they look and smell divine… can’t wait for the sweet peas and dahlias to start blooming next!

    Reply
  1329. Vicki Bryant on

    What a great article! I particularly love the King Edward current shrub for cut flowers in the spring.

    Reply
  1330. Jamie Cope on

    There are so many choices but I love the Variegated Dogwood, Peonies, Magnolia. I always incorporate a woody backdrop in my designs. I feel like I am creating a back drop for the “show flowers”.
    Thank you for sharing your story.

    Reply
  1331. Michele McVey on

    Oh my, I love the looks of this book and am excited to gain more information on two great vase enhancers, perennials and woody plants. My favorite perennial is the gorgeous Baptisia! I wonder if it will be mentioned in Rachel’s book?

    Reply
  1332. Hydie on

    Growing up on a prune orchard, my mother would cut down the flowering branches to use inside the house. The prune orchard is long gone but I continue the practice of using flowering branches – One of my favorites from my garden to use is mock orange but right up there is also sage with the wonderful texture of the flowering pods. Think outside the box, there is no limit on what you can use from the garden to bring some of the outside in.

    Reply
  1333. Stacy on

    I’m in Maine where the Lupines are taking center stage right now. Love to see the variety of colors every year. Never know what you’re going to get. This is my first year with a white flowering lupine popping up. Last year pinks were new in my garden. What will it be next year?

    Reply
  1334. Laurie on

    This book looks stunning and so helpful! I can’t wait to read it! Some of my favorite perennials are peonies, coneflowers, and baptisia.

    Reply
  1335. Judy Hathaway on

    Flowering quince is a big favorite of mine, also mock orange.

    Reply
  1336. Saydie on

    I love roses and my lime hydrangea tree.

    Reply
  1337. Cherise on

    It’s hard to pick a favorite, I love them all! But, hydrangea and hibiscus are currently at the top of my list.

    Reply
  1338. Jen Barber on

    False Indigo is one of my favorite perennials here in zone 4. I use it for the gorgeous blue flowers and the minty green foliage :)

    Reply
  1339. Martha yoder on

    I am intrigued by the different types of nine bark shrubs

    Reply
  1340. Tracy Kelly on

    I am in love with four o’clocks. Mine are a combination of fuchsia and bright yellow. Many are speckled with both colors!

    Reply
  1341. Peggy on

    Thrilled to see my Picassos (white with dark purple calla lilies) return! Terrible stressful sad year and no new plantings…very happy some dahlias returned ( hopefully have some lovely blooms later) but my Picassos are blooming now and bringing smiles.

    Reply
  1342. Kristin Moultine on

    Hellebore remains a love of mine for its beauty and how it changes through the season. Leaves, flowers, and varieties are all so eye catching and they brighten up my garden early as heralds of spring! I am appreciating all the examples you and Rachel share of fillers that I had not considered. Thanks for your generosity!

    Reply
  1343. Sabine on

    I have been a lifelong gardener, but also a military wife, meaning I have to uproot every few years and relearn a new zone and start a new garden. Last move was from the U.K., and the inspiration I had walking through all hr lovely English gardens was life changing!

    My partner and I bought our property in the southeast year ago and I was determined to pursue my dreams of creating a sustainable floristry business through my own flower farm. The books from floret have been such incredible resources! I am so excited for this book to come out!

    My absolute favourite florals here are my hydrangeas which I have tried to grow as many varieties as possible. I also just have always adored hollyhocks of all colors! There was a garden I grew in Montana with borrowed hollyhock seeds, I was able to give some to my mother who still grows them at her house, which is a special way to hold onto that garden from over 15 years ago.
    – Sabine Gray Atelier

    Reply
  1344. Mary on

    Alchemilla mollis, Lady’s Mantle for its beauty and form in a shady fountain corner of my garden. Looking out my window at its leaves covered with raindrops against the flowers so harmonious with golden forest grass.

    Reply
  1345. Ally on

    My favorite is the dahlia and the peony is my close second, and oh, how do I leave out my beautiful roses!!

    Reply
  1346. Patricia Nesbitt on

    I love my penstemons! They look so elegant in an arrangement. I have started some Penstemon barbatus Jingle Bells from seed and am looking forward to their blooms.

    Reply
  1347. Linda Komes on

    Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my favorite cut flowers from my garden. My favorites change frequently but right now I am loving Baptista. I have several varieties of deep indigo blue and pale yellow, and would fill my garden with a few of the new varieties if I had more sunny places. I use it frequently as a cut flower to add boldness and structure in my arrangements. I also love to include first the green seed pods and then as they turn a dramatic black in the fall.

    Baptista is native here and is valuable addition to the garden attracting a range of pollinators like hummingbirds, bumblebees and butterflies. It is also long lived, relatively pest free, drought tolerant and even fixes nitrogen in the soil! A striking focal point both in the garden and in the vase, Baptista deserves a spot in everyone’s garden and is one of my very favorite perennials.

    Reply
  1348. Holly on

    I enjoyed this interview, and also hearing her interview on a podcast recently. I’m thrilled at the timing of this book as I’m just starting out on our farm! Can not wait to read it! I’m a long time food grower just getting into flowers, so I don’t have a favorite for arrangements, but my favorite perennial to date would have to be raspberries. Nothing beats a big bowl of fresh warm berries, and I’ve loved to see how Floret uses them in arrangements!

    Reply
  1349. Beth Kendall on

    Yay! We have been chatting about adding more perennials to our cutting garden, can’t wait to read this book!

    Reply
  1350. Lani Blood on

    My favorites are hydrangeas and peonies! I have nearly 40 in my small yard. Oh, and my David Austin roses too. My dream is for a lovely English garden, but living in Utah it has been a huge and wonderful challenge.

    Reply
  1351. Marie Livingston on

    Oh, it’s so hard to choose one. I’ll say Old English Roses. They are gorgeous. I’m in love with all of their intricate pedals and fragrance.

    Reply
  1352. Erin on

    Choosing just one is difficult. I think it would be a hellebore. They are so beautiful and cheerful.

    Reply
  1353. Lexya Hansen on

    The flower arrangements are very inspiring! One of my favorite perennials in Alberta is giant hyssop. It attracts bees and dries well.

    Reply
  1354. Christine Watson on

    I love the passion and friendship you all share in the flower community. It makes me want flower friends!! My husband walks in our tiny ( just starting out ) micro cut garden with me daily and he gets so excited but of course it’s not like a female friend to talk their ear off about it haha! Does the excitement ever die down? My absolute favorite is limelight hydrangeas ahh so gorgeous! Mine are just on their second year here in zone 9 so hopefully they bloom again with this heat. Dogwood trees are gorgeous! However the power people cut ours down ugh! I love cherry trees but haven’t tried one yet. A pine or cedar possibly? Anything Christmassy! I love Christmas!! Honestly… I’m new to gardening so I don’t know of many others. The book would definitely be very helpful! As all 3 of Erins have been a tremendous help for me starting out.

    Reply
  1355. Christen DeHaas on

    My favorite perennial is yarrow. I love the little pops of color and how hardy they are. They’re always a staple when I make bouquets!

    Reply
  1356. Alyssa on

    How to choose?? Perennials bring such joy with each arrival– it’s like greeting an old friend. Peonies, delphinium, roses, irises, hydrangea. Although I do use them in my bouquets, they also exist in my personal gardens for pure enjoyment!

    Reply
  1357. Kari on

    I love the bleeding hearts!

    Reply
  1358. Joyce Sico on

    I am a novice gardener and need all the help I can get with gardening! I would love to have this book so I could find a favorite to use in my little exposed-corner garden. Thank you!

    Reply
  1359. Laurie Gallagher Johnson on

    One?? How about anything that begins with the letter ‘H’— heathers, hellebores, hostas, hydrangeas, heucheras, hyacinths—for starters? I’m steering my garden more into perrenials so I can scale back on my addiction of wanton plant purchasing in summer. I know I’ll slip up anyway in spite of my best efforts—and that’s okay, too. :)

    Reply
  1360. Cindy Shaver on

    I have become so in love with my peonies! My favorite thing to do is to share their blooms with my family and friends! They are beautiful and smell so good! Guaranteed to make anyone’s day!

    Reply
  1361. Elsa Vander Neut on

    I have a lot of beautiful irises throughout my garden and I’ve enjoyed bringing them in all spring. The last ones are in a vase right now, along with some roses and larkspur.

    Reply
  1362. Lillian on

    O my i love all flowers a few favorites would be english roses, hydrangeas, black lace elderberry, larkspur, hellebore, coral bells, and astille:) Someday i would love to visit england and see all the charming gardens:)

    Reply
  1363. Stacey McPhee on

    Lilacs are a favorite, looking forward to discovering
    something new with this book.

    Reply
  1364. Linda on

    What a wonderful idea. The book sounds great! I love adding my perennials of all kinds but if I had to pick one it would be the Dahlia which we leave in the ground here.

    Reply
  1365. Betsy Valle on

    Twinberry is an Oregon native shrub that is growing large in my yard. Hummingbirds enjoy its cascading flowers that last a long while cut as an interesting and beautiful arrangement.

    Reply
  1366. Jennifer C. on

    Hope to visit G & G for a Saturday gate sale someday!
    Echium (Pride of Madeira) is my hands down favorite. After trying to grow them for several years, I finally had success last year, and now my entire hillside in front of my house is filled with them.

    Reply
  1367. Megan on

    There’s something about the daylily. It’s a fleeting flower so enjoy it while it lasts! But then I like yarrow for its punch of color among the green for a good majority of the growing season.

    Reply
  1368. Kimberly on

    thank you for sharing this interview Rachel – what an inspiration and testament to vision and planning and hard work. Its hard to pick a favorite woody shrub, but I will go with hydrangea. There are so many varieties and the blooms are lovely fresh and dried. the foliage provides shelter for shade loving ground plants and they are extremely hardy – enough to survive our cold new england weather with heaps of snow. I’d love to learn about more woody plant options and hope I win this book!

    Reply
  1369. Leslie Schutt on

    My favorite shrub is Euonymus americanus – Common Name(s): Hearts A’bustingStrawberry Bush. It grows in part shade.
    It doesn’t look like much until the seed pods mature and then…boy oh boy! Hot pink pods with bright orange seeds – spectacularly striking in an arrangement! Can’t wait to read this book.

    Reply
  1370. Holly on

    I am so excited to add this to my library! I’m still learning about perennials and shrubs, so I know my list to choose a “favorite” is small. Basically anything you’d find in a cottage garden is my favorite!

    Reply
  1371. Robin Murphy on

    I love my Hot Lips Salvia. I like the smell of it, woodsy and the hummingbirds love it as well!

    Reply
  1372. Rebecca on

    I love my maroon Ninebark for use throughout the year, and for my non – shrub perennial, I love my pink Nepeta that gets bigger every year!

    Reply
  1373. Sarah Wolf on

    The perennial that has caught my eye is blue indigo. I have two, one in ground and the other, in a large container. In the winter, it dies back to the ground; a mound of soil got deposited on top of where it supposedly grew. When i finally spread out the soil, there it was … pale, but sturdy pushing its way to the sunlight! The one in the container gave its first light purple bloom, gentle like pea flowers. Never thought of using indigo stems in an arrangement. Beautiful!

    Reply
  1374. Collette A. on

    I love hibiscus and plumeria. I grew up in the tropics surrounded by stunning varieties of hibiscus- reds, yellows, pinks, and corals.

    Reply
  1375. Christy Weidenbenner on

    Thanks for the inspiring article! It’s interesting how our friends from across the pond are producing one-of-a-kind, seasonal, and local gifts. One gets a sense from the article of the effort to offer such a treasure to the people near Oxford, England. It’s a treat to see the breadth of experience and knowledge necessary to pass on the lessons to us. Full of substance and good things.
    It’s hard not talk about old fashioned or cabbage roses when ‘shrub favorites’ is mentioned, especially the old fashioned varieties which David Austin has endeavored to bring back for us all. Few plants have captured the imagination of gardeners like roses.

    Reply
  1376. Meredith Gardner on

    I was lucky in 2019 to invest in 300 peonies. Another Floret grad had bought them bare root at only $3.95 ea, but she lost her garden plot and offered them to me. We’ve battled to save them from weeds and drought, wandering bears and dogs and this year safely under landscape fabric they produced hundreds of blooms. Both our HappiLife Farm stand and subscription customers have been spoiled with peonies for a month. So right now peonies are my favourite, along with the wild sweet peas that come back on their own every year.

    Reply
  1377. Katie L on

    This book looks lovely!! I’m so new to gardening but love perennials! My favorites (as a new gardener) are Gaura, lavender and salvia… but I’m still building my garden so I’m constantly surprised by new favorites! 💗

    Reply
  1378. Pam Harris on

    I’m in the desert and I love growing all colors of bougainvillea. I’m not a fan of the thorns but with care and lots of feeding they bloom constantly.

    Reply
  1379. Marilyn McHugh on

    Hydrangeas have always been my favorite shrub, and I love coneflowers, especially now that there are so many different colors. During Covid I started growing Dahlias and I had such amazing luck with them that I started making bouquets for my neighbors and friends. It was such fun, and Dahlias are quickly becoming a favorite.

    Reply
  1380. Chanda on

    A classic rose is hard to beat in my opinion. Maybe a peony as a close second?

    Reply
  1381. Claire on

    My first lavender plant is blooming right now!

    Reply
  1382. Joy on

    One of my favorite shrubs of all time has always been the Serviceberry. It has a sweet offering for us all year round!

    Reply
  1383. Carol Fifer on

    My favorite? Rather impossible to narrow it down to just one! One of many would have to be Penstemon which come in so many sizes and colors. And then there are the peonies, Agastache, and Corsican Violas. But my #1 favorite would be whatever happens to be blooming at the time.

    Reply
  1384. Cathy Lear on

    What a great way to add another interest in growing, by visiting gardens across the pond. English gardens add new dreams in both planting and arranging media.

    Thank you for sharing your dreams. I’m looking forward to possibly adding a few to my own. There’s always room to grow.

    Reply
  1385. Anne Trunkey on

    I have to say Mock Orange bush is a faithful favorite shrub. It has a heavenly scent and is great to work with. Lilies of the Valley take me back to childhood days. I always thought someone should create scented nose plugs! Wouldn’t that be a great way to have the lovely scent of Mock Orange or Lilies of the Valley in every breath you take? !!!

    Reply
  1386. Shari on

    I tend to fall in love whatever is blooming in front of me week to week throughout the season . Lilac, Baptisia, Peonies, Hydrangeas( all varieties) , Echinacea, Yarrow and roses. I also love perennial bulbs like narcissus, allium, and iris. I love the concept of micro seasons.

    Reply
  1387. Fran Rushing on

    I.ve always planted perennials because of the low maintenance, and only since 2021 have I added the annuals. I’m leaning back toward those perennials again and this year have added almost 2 dozen flowering shrubs and roses.

    Reply
  1388. Pat Burns on

    The Smoke Tree and Russian Olive tree are currently two of my favourites. It does change from year to year, but these two provide some of the most interesting foliage!

    Reply
  1389. Hannah on

    I’m a sucker for a beautiful wisteria. Rose bushes may seem cliché but they always capture my attention and bring me such joy.

    Reply
  1390. Perri Draisey on

    I love all the coneflower varieties. They work well for a rookie like myself.

    Reply
  1391. Katie on

    Love my various perennial scabiosas! I’m really into my Teresa salvia and can’t wait for it to come back every year. Coral bells and astilbe are my favorite for the shady parts of our garden.

    Reply
  1392. Tori on

    I am a mama of 6 and a school teacher…so finding lower maintenance way to grow flowers is exactly what I need! Thank you!!

    Reply
  1393. Sarah chute on

    Oh my goodness, I’m obsessed with trying to grow my own ranunculus. They are like a rose looking flower with all their pedals and yet, soft and small and powerful to the eye in a bouquet!

    Reply
  1394. Michelle on

    I really enjoy baptisia! I love their blooms in the spring and its beautiful foliage the rest of the year!

    Reply
  1395. Rita Tomalak on

    My favorite woody shrub has to be my limelight hydrangeas and the mini limelight. I am also mad about my lilacs and roses. I can’t do without my chocolate cosmos. I mostly grow perennials, so I can’t wait to read this book. I could definitely use some new ideas. I need to work on getting more shade loving plants going, and love the idea of adding lots of shrubs.

    Reply
  1396. Amber on

    I always come back to hydrangeas as my favorite. I love how staying power of the blooms!

    Reply
  1397. Lisa Zelden on

    I love peonies! I’m hoping to get a few new varieties and colors to add to my flower bed this year. Hopefully yellow!

    Reply
  1398. Leah W on

    This was a great interview!
    I LOVE the honeysuckle that climbs up our railings and up an old lamppost at our place. I find that the wispy, unpretentious vines make for a perfect finish to an arrangement.

    Reply
  1399. Sarah on

    I love japonica and have been wanting to grow vitex flip side for it’s beautiful foliage and heat tolerance.

    Reply
  1400. Annie on

    I am so excited to learn of this. For those of us lucky enough to stay in one house for so long-too plant “eternal” gardens is a rare blessing! I look forward to learning and finding inspiration from this books!

    Reply
  1401. Julie Carroll on

    I love to use the wild things – I don’t even know what their names are but they’re always around.

    Reply
  1402. Patricia Fowler on

    Hydrangeas are my favorites! Also love beauty berries and smoke bush. Love your Instagram! This new book looks wonderful.

    Reply
  1403. E Shuler on

    The native spirea and forsythia that grow all around my area in spring have by far been my favorite herald of the new season each year. Cutting & arranging with daffodils brings so much joy!

    Reply
  1404. Mindy on

    Northern California zone 9 farmer here. Working on creating perennial hedgerows to compliment our annual production. Rudbeckia, coreopsis, and goldenrod are my best performers so far.

    Reply
  1405. Amanda on

    Oh my, if I only could pick just one it would definitely be Peony!

    Reply
  1406. Kristi on

    Forsythias, spireas, golden glow,fruit blossoms,and peonies.

    Reply
  1407. Jolon on

    Sounds like a wonderful book! One of my favorite perennials is butterfly weed cultivar, but I don’t cut it until the pod stage. It adds so much interest to early fall arrangements.

    Reply
  1408. Leah on

    I love my lilacs and forsythia. I am interested in learning to arrange a more “natural” way. This book looks delightful.
    Thanks for sharing and being so willing to educate.

    Reply
  1409. Lynette Tilt on

    Looks like another great book to add to my library! I’ve always loved using any of the spring blossom branches in a vase especially the forsythia.

    Reply
  1410. Stacy Goebel on

    I bought a contorted filbert this year and the corkscrew branches are so cool and unusual! Very excited about this subject. Thanks

    Reply
  1411. Pleasant on

    Gosh I have so many favorites! Currently my fave is the echinacea bc it grows so well in our terrible Tennessee clay soil.

    Reply
  1412. Brittany on

    Ah, I know it’s so simple, but roses, peonys and honeysuckle are my favorites! I’m excited about this book though, and to learn about so many more.

    Reply
  1413. Vanessa on

    Beautiful topic! Love flowering quince, pussy willow, poppies and adding pruning a from my fruit trees to arrangements

    Reply
  1414. Tiffany H. on

    Perennials are my favorite because they give me something to look forward to after a long dull winter. If I had to pick one it would be the Japanese Magnolia. Their bright pink flowers light up a landscape of brown, before the leaves begin to show up. They are such a cheerful sight driving through town!

    Reply
  1415. Edie Goodrich on

    One of my favorites is the iris. It’s incredibly hardy, and the leaves are still attractive even after the blooms die back.

    Reply
  1416. L. Syrene Forsman on

    I’ve come to believe gladioli are “perennials”. Like most bulbs or tubers they return and return, with hundreds of baby leaf spears appearing around the mother tuber, eager to grow and bloom. They support and backdrop branches, leaves and grasses unashamedly.

    Reply
  1417. Anna on

    As a student at university there was a route between buildings that I often took that had huge hosta beds that spanned the length of the buildings. I fell in love with the beauty and drama of them. As an adult I have had had two homes with deep shade gardens and filled them with many varieties of hosta, I even have a potted hosta next to my front door. They are beautiful.

    Reply
  1418. Diane on

    Peonies & delphinium are favorites, although it really is so hard to pick… and what about Lilacs, China Asters, Rudbeckia & Coreopsis. The list goes on, guess I’m just a flower lover at heart! Would really enjoy this book. Planning to add more woodies and perennials and could really use the insights.

    Reply
  1419. Holly Sedwick on

    I look forward to reading this book! My current project is what we’re calling the “Butterfly Garden”. I’ve used native plants (we’re in MI) and a variety of other perennials. Three Serviceberry bushes anchor the back border and will offer seasonal interest as well as berries for the birds. A shrub which I’ve always loved is a Mock Orange – it has a simple beauty and a heavenly fragrance. Sadly, I lack the perfect place for one.

    Reply
  1420. Maggie Lackey on

    I love coralberry and baptisia. What a beautiful book!

    Reply
  1421. Carol Moore on

    I love the wild roses. This was very interesting to read and make me think of using more of the wild things that grow around the country side. I never thought of using more woody things. Thank you for sharing this interview. Blessings!

    Reply
  1422. Blanka on

    Very inspirative interview, Erin. Thank you for posting it.
    I live in north Slovakia, and my garden is from 99 % perennial, so it is difficult to say which is my favourite. Every season is unique. For spring, it is Hamamelis, Lilac and romantic Peonies. Summer invites with a sweet fragrance of Honeysuckle and the bee-strewn Salvias. Autumn perennials present their amazing fruits and warm-coloured leaves. And for the winter? Holly, pine tree and the Hellebores.

    Reply
  1423. Kari Winter on

    A favourite shrub in my garden is a large Fuchsia magellanica ~ it’s hardy, beautiful & has the charming addition of being a hummingbird magnet. I see it out of a window above my kitchen sink which makes washing dishes far more joyful!

    Reply
  1424. Patricia on

    I love tucking currant bushes into my flower beds. The birds get most of the currants before I do, but that’s ok. I also have a flowering almond that is stunning for about 2 weeks each year, then it goes through what my daughter describes as it’s ‘ugly duckling phase’. It’s still worth having :-)

    Reply
  1425. Jolene on

    Roses and dahlias are my favorite!

    Reply
  1426. Kathleen on

    Moved to a half acre last summer and loving the Mock Orange that is in bloom.

    Reply
  1427. Lisa B. on

    It is so hard to choose just one! I would have to say hellebores – they add color and beauty to the winter. They carry me over until the spring comes again. I’d love a copy of this book.

    Reply
  1428. Beth on

    My favorite perennials are hellebores and my favorite shrubs are mini smokebush.

    Reply
  1429. Suze on

    I love my hellebores and my camellia sasanquas–anything that blooms when every other flower is “closing up shop” is truly a gift. The foliage is beautiful too for cuttings!

    Reply
  1430. Susan on

    Peonies are my favorite perineal.

    Reply
  1431. Leaha Ziegler-Bako on

    What a treat! Thank you for sharing this interview. My own garden is predominantly perennial plants with the annuals only sprinkled in each growing season. My favorite in our area are camelias and I am eager to find space for them as we tackle the next phase of our garden which is very shady. Looking forward to reading this book! Cheers!

    Reply
  1432. Karen on

    I love lilacs. They are beautiful and also smell fantastic.

    Reply
  1433. Shannon Jarvis on

    Peonies are my favorite. The blooms and foliage are so beautiful!

    Reply
  1434. Karen Furnanz on

    My new favortie shrubs include Weigelia bushes and Yellow-twig Dogwoods. They add color and dimension to the garden. They bring something different each season. Here in late spring and early summer, I am truly enjoying the Clematis vines and the Peony plants! So many kinds and so beautiful!

    Reply
  1435. Mallory on

    I love Rudbeckia for an all-season plant but Peonies have my heart! We’re growing more and more perennials for cut flowers so this book will be an awesome resource!

    Reply
  1436. Erica V on

    I love peonies for their over the top, all-in blooms. I still have a peony in my garden that originated with my grandma, and have moved it three times between four states to carry that piece of history with me.

    Reply
  1437. Lori on

    Here in TX hardiness is key, so I most often invest in drought tolerant, freeze hardy plants. I love catmint for its delicate sage green leaves and lavender flowers. I think it looks like it could be in an English garden, and it spreads out and lasts for years.

    Reply
  1438. Stacy G on

    With the harsh climate experienced here in Oklahoma, I adore the Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower for their resilience. Regardless of the unprecedented arctic cold fronts or current endless waves of rainfall this season, the coneflower simply do not disappoint. It’s reassuring to have such a faithful performer in my garden. ♥️

    Reply
  1439. Barbara Runty on

    A favorite perennial of mine is the Hellebores.
    My daughter and I both have many different varieties in our gardens.
    We love seeing the buds appearing in the early Spring.
    A beautiful yellow blooming Hellebores is special.

    Reply
  1440. Lauren on

    I currently have two favorite perennials growing in my garden in coastal, midcoast Maine. I love Baptista, or False Indigo for it’s beautiful color and delicate blooms. My Sea Holly (Eryngium) is such a versatile flower for fresh or dried arrangements and it always brings so much interest. This year it has started spreading into the crevices between the patio stones, which I love! Both flowers are loved by the bees and butterflies which makes them ever more valuable. My ornamental, pink Dogwood tree is putting on a beautiful show right now, which is helping us make it through this dreary, raining Spring in midcoast Maine!

    Reply
  1441. Claudia on

    Blizzard Mock Orange is lovely, fragrant, deer resistant, pollinator friendly, and very hardy to our challenging Montana winters.

    Reply
  1442. Kristy on

    Difficult to choose just one—for shrubs I love smokebush, ninebark, evergreen huckleberry, panicle hydrangea—so many more!

    Reply
  1443. Marie Chiavoni on

    I love adding ornamental strawberry stems to my arrangements. The jagged edges give it texture. Love to go to England some day. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  1444. Andrea on

    I love black-eyed susans and hydrangeas!

    Reply
  1445. Jordyn Olson on

    This is such a great subject to write a book on! I try to only plant shrubs and perennials in my garden that can be used for cutting in my landscape, so this will be a great resource. Roses, spirea, privet and peonies are some of my favorites!

    Reply
  1446. Stefanie Stalheim on

    I just planted an annabelle hydrangea hedge and am praying I did it right. Nothing gives me the awwwwwws more than seeing a hydrangea bush in full bloom with it’s fluffy white blooms.

    What elegant flower arrangements – timeless and wild.

    Reply
  1447. LaJuana on

    We are heading into the blazing hot summer in Arkansas. My flowers are doing well now, but will require close attention and often twice-daily watering to thrive. My very favorite flowering shrub Carrie’s memories of my grandmother’s garden – flowering quince. She planted it with forsythia and spirea for a colorful hedge to welcome spring.

    Reply
  1448. Kelsey on

    Lilacs and pussy willows bring me right back to my childhood to days spent with my grandma. She always kept a pair of snips in her car in case we passed by some beautiful wild lilacs, she just couldn’t help but quick jump out and grab some for us. We’d go home and and she always let me choose a vase to arrange them in.

    Reply
  1449. Terri on

    There is a special place in my heart and vase for the sweet blossoms of the Mock Orange shrub. The scent of the blossoms fill the spring air and are long lasting in the vase.

    Reply
  1450. Julie on

    Great article, the book looks wonderful. Im on team Peonies for perennials. Thank you!

    Reply
  1451. Jessica on

    Bridal wreath spirea is one of my favorites to use in bouquets and arrangements!

    Reply
  1452. Elizabeth on

    I love airy, woodland bleeding hearts – they offer blooms for weeks. Now, off I go to learn more about 72-seasons.

    Reply
  1453. Rhonda Larson on

    I love all perennials but echinacea is my favorite. From the unique flowers to the dried heads I love to use it all year. I am learning about using more shrubbery in my floral designs. The book looks like a beautiful way to learn more!

    Reply
  1454. Susan Davis on

    I love peonies. They have been so wonderful this year!

    Reply
  1455. Lora on

    It’s so hard to pick one but I’d have to say with Fall being my absolute favorite season, that the elusive bittersweet is my favorite shrub. I found a country roadside, very old vine last year, probably 4-5″ in diameter at the base, and it makes me so happy!

    Reply
  1456. Karen on

    This interview gets me so excited to keep planting my perrenial pollinator garden I’m creating for cut flowers! One of my favorites is Gaillardia. “Dazzler” and “Burgundy” are growing right now, they smell great, and even when the petals fall off the seed head looks like a little strawberry and is gorgeous in arrangements. I can’t wait to get this book!

    Reply
  1457. Suzanne Hertel on

    Thank you for introducing me to Rachel. I‘ve learned so much from you in the past few years about flower arranging options I’d never dreamt of. Now I am excited to add more perennials to my landscape. I’m 72 and I’m finding the planting in Spring is becoming a bigger challenge. As I’m hoping to age in place, the thought of perennial planting is a good option. I’m also more concerned about the climate changes I’m seeing and am looking for plants that will survive and restore this fragile planet.

    Reply
  1458. Robyn Anglebrandt on

    In the military we have moved every few years from one side of the states to another. I have quickly learned that what grows in the north won’t in the south. Spring has been something different in each place. Here in Mississippi Queen Anne lace is one of my favorites and I see it all over the roadways here! I can’t wait to start my flower farm and see what grows. I would love it if book writers could add in a section about the bugs that may bother them from season to season and what they do about it. The chiggers here are welcoming me and I don’t want that to cause me to hesitate being outdoors any! Thank you for the beautiful book and sharing your knowledge. Looking forward to the next one already!

    Reply
  1459. Anne Neumann on

    My favorite perennial is Brunnera: long-lasting small flowers in a true forget-me-not blue and variegated leaves the rest of the growing season.

    Reply
  1460. Jaymee Tate on

    My husband and I purchased our first home on half an acre in April of 2022 and had no idea what plants were in the yard. The house was built in 1973 and the previous owners had been dedicated to the yard and land. As the spring began, I discovered multiple colors of lilacs surrounding the yard, peonies that I had no idea we’re there, and tons of gorgeous roses (my absolute favorite). It’s my favorite thing to take care of these plants and feel like I was meant to be the guardian of these perennials for the next 50 ish years; to make sure they survive to tell a story to the next generation. I’m so glad to have stumbled upon Growing Floret—I have learned so much and have been inspired by your story and work. Thank you!

    Reply
  1461. Tammy L. on

    I love my baptisia and peonies! Simple to design.

    Reply
  1462. Lorna DuBois on

    Lorna from Georgia -Atlanta area
    Good morning would love to have a copy of the book. I am retiring in four months, and I am changing my backyard into a prayer sanctuary garden. The knowledge this book would give me would help me in my journey. I love your program.

    Reply
  1463. Bonnie Walker on

    I live in Arizona zone 9.
    Can you suggest the best perennials that can survive the heat of the summer.
    Thank you

    Reply
  1464. Robyn Anglebrandt on

    In the military we have moved every few years from one side of the states to another. I have quickly learned that what grows in the north won’t in the south. Spring has been something different in each place. Here in Mississippi Queen Anne lace is one of my favorites and I see it all over the roadways here! I can’t wait to start my flower farm and see what grows. I would love it if book writers could add in a section about the bugs that may bother them from season to season and what they do about it. The chiggers here are welcoming me and I don’t want that to cause me to hesitate being outdoors any! Thank you for the beautiful book and sharing your knowledge. Looking forward to the next one already!
    Sincerely RCA

    Reply
  1465. Jodi on

    Garden tours were my favorite getaways whilst living in Engkand. Each space had a different feel and led me to contemplate and admire plants in a way that was unique to each garden. It is fascinating to see how each grower employs plants and their properties to create a story or picture or simply a pause in time.

    Reply
  1466. Brianne on

    Along undeveloped country roadsides and in cattle pastures here in central Oklahoma, you’ll find thickets of Sand Plums (Prunus angustifolia). As a kid, growing up on rural farmland, I would stand in these native plum thickets with the summer sun on my shoulders, carefully checking for ripeness before noshing. The unripe ones are awfully tart and tannic but the ripe ones are blissfully sweet with tart skin…-so you learn that lesson quick! Now as a cut flower grower, bouquet maker, (and Floret alumni, woohoo!), I adore using their long, slender branches-they last incredibly long in the vase without losing leaves-2 weeks+, occasionally rooting in the water. They grow from early spring-when their blossoming branches can be used with daffodils and hellebores until late autumn-sometimes holding their, now turned, beautiful red and bronze leaves well into November depending on the weather. Their bark is also a pretty burgundy-red that I’ve used in winter arrangements with amaryllis and narcissus. For me, the best part of using Sand Plum branches is that it showcases and gives additional value to one of our native plants-which I think is so important in order to bring awareness to the loss of our prairie ecosystems AND they herald the niche thing that rural kids in Oklahoma know.

    Reply
  1467. Marilyn Harrison on

    I have a mock orange bush in the garden that was there when I moved to the farm. The foliage is a nice lime green and the flowers have a wonderful perfume but not overpowering. I use this bush for filler from May until the end of September in my zone 3 garden bouquets, the more it’s pruned the more it produces. This is my favourite and I just wish I knew it’s proper name .

    Reply
  1468. Shelly on

    The Fairy Rose is my absolute favorite!!!!

    Reply
  1469. Brianne on

    Along undeveloped country roadsides and in cattle pastures here in central Oklahoma, you’ll find thickets of Sand Plums (Prunus angustifolia). As a kid, growing up on rural farmland, we would stand in these native plum thickets with the summer sun on our shoulders, carefully checking for ripeness before noshing. The unripe ones are awfully tart and tannic but the ripe ones are blissfully sweet with tart skin…-so you learn that lesson quick! Now as a cut flower grower, bouquet maker, (and Floret alumni, woohoo!), I adore using their long, slender branches-they last incredibly long in the vase without losing leaves-2 weeks+, occasionally rooting in the water. They grow from early spring-when their blossoming branches can be used with daffodils and hellebores until late autumn-sometimes holding their, now turned, beautiful red and bronze leaves well into November depending on the weather. Their bark is also a pretty burgundy-red that I’ve used in winter arrangements with amaryllis and narcissus. For me, the best part of using Sand Plum branches is that it showcases and gives additional value to one of our native plants-which I think is so important in order to bring awareness to the loss of our prairie ecosystems AND they herald the niche thing that rural kids in Oklahoma know.

    Reply
  1470. lisa liermann on

    Thank you for the referral to an outstanding resource – this looks like a must have! Favorite perennial: HANDS DOWN – HELLEBORES! The little vixens of the shade garden!

    Reply
  1471. Larissa on

    Just one?? So many lovely woody shrubs and perennials to adore. If I had to pick just one it would be peonies. My grandmother had a spectacular ‘fencerow’ of deep fuscia peony bushes that graced the well-worn grassy path leading from her farmhouse to the dairy barn. I can still smell their fragrance (they overpowered the barn odors!) and see the bank of blooms which stood taller than me as a child.

    Reply
  1472. Kelsey Lee on

    Smoke bush is an absolutely favorite. And Japanese anemone!

    Reply
  1473. beverly buck on

    My gardening friends tease me about my obsession with lunaria (honesty, silver dollar plant). It’s my 24/7 go to for bouquets-flower (first thing blooming-that day-glo magenta with early daffodils); leaf -often variegated; and the seed pods-bright green roundels in summer to parchment and translucent pearl through fall and winter. Lunaria can be frame, filler, or focus!Beverrly in Denver

    Reply
  1474. Mikayla on

    So hard to choose! I’ll go with smoke bush and hellebores. Such beauty! Thank you for sharing, love following Rachel (and you).

    Reply
  1475. Alicia on

    I loved this article — such great perspectives and things to consider. And, I love using perennials and shrubs in my cut flower offerings — they get better every year. I would LOVE a copy of this book!

    Reply
  1476. Cara B on

    My favorite perennial in central Ohio is bee balm (bergamot) every year it never lets me down no matter what patch of soil it is growing in.

    Reply
  1477. Brittany on

    My yard is about 90% shaded, and the sunny 10% contains my cut flower beds. With that being said, my favorite perennial are my Hellabores. I love the rimless beauty of their blooms and they grow in my shady landscaping!

    Reply
  1478. Gloria on

    My favourite shrub is daphne, which has a reputation for being a bit finicky but is the most wonderful harbinger of spring. The smell of daphne in the air brings me so much joy!

    Reply
  1479. Bernie on

    Living in VT I always love the first flowering shrubs and flowers. Forsthia with Baptisia is a winning combination. Next comes Ninebark, Spirea, and peonies. Later in the season I love smoke bush with cone flowers. And in winter, having the structure of shrubs gives the gardens on-going interest. Shrubs and perennials are my jam!

    Reply
  1480. Mari Rodrigues on

    There are so many, but peonies top my list! They are very nostalgic for me. I had a peony tree moved from my parent’s house to mine three years ago after my mother died and before the house was sold. My father had planted it sometime in the 80s. Definitely a risk, but I am grateful that it seems happy in its new home. It is the thing that I look most forward to seeing in bloom every spring.

    Reply
  1481. Donna Jones on

    I love the idea of choosing shrubs to use as fillers! I can’t wait to tead her selections! Genius!

    Reply
  1482. Leah Malmgren on

    Lilacs are a favorite of mine. Part of the explosion of beauty in May here in Minnesota

    Reply
  1483. Sarah on

    Each spring I wait for my mock orange to bloom. The flowers smell divine, and the arching habit of the branches are so graceful.

    Reply
  1484. Kathleen Waugh on

    Second only to my peonies, our lilac bushes are a dusty lavender joy of scent & texture every year. Tidying the giant bushes by clipping these beauties to bring inside during the late spring & early summer in Colorado is such a joy!

    Reply
  1485. Anna Schmidtberger on

    Forsythia! It was always the first blooms of the season in our yard, and my father’s favorite.

    Reply
  1486. Angela P. on

    I’m a new home owner and a very new gardener so I’m still learning, but I really love the look of the wine-colored ninebark, especially this time of year where little clusters of white flowers dot against the deep purple foliage! I’m looking for a place to put it in our garden.

    Reply
  1487. Cayce on

    Hydrangeas, willow, forsythia are some of my favorites!

    Reply
  1488. Sarah West on

    Hellebore! I love hellebore, it so beautiful and underrated as a cut flower and perennial.

    Reply
  1489. Rose Jackson on

    Love perennial helianthus for their prolific sunflower happiness for longevity.

    Reply
  1490. Kathy J. on

    Rachel’s book sounds mind-opening, and I’m so eager to look inside. I’m enthralled with the idea of the 72 Japanese micro seasons—new to me! The coming to bloom of our spirea hedge might be one of mine. Some long branches—they arranged themselves—once went to a friend in the hospital, and years later he talks about the magical impression on him and everyone there.

    Reply
  1491. Polly on

    I love this interview. I live in Arizona, originally from Washington state. Gardening here is challenging but the secret is hand watering my small plot. I have shady corners where I stash my many pots of lavender in the summer. Shrubs of lavender grow under the mesquite trees. I’d love to visit UK gardens.

    Reply
  1492. Peter Jones on

    In Maine June is an explosion of color along the roads and in the fields as the lupine do their part to paint the world. I enjoy stopping on my way home and gathering bundles to mix with the Lilacs and Rhododendron.

    Reply
  1493. Nichola on

    Hellebores, narcissus, roses and hydrangeas are favorites in our garden.

    Reply
  1494. Lynda Hardwick on

    I love silene blushing lanterns. They are such a beautiful and delicate filler. They also make me giggle because the blooms remind me of old fashioned bloomers.

    Reply
  1495. Angela Codoni on

    I discovered peonies when I moved to Oregon about 7 years ago and they quickly became a favorite. My absolute favorite are calla lillies, as both my Grandma and Great Grandmother grew them.

    Reply
  1496. Trish on

    Many years ago I tore out a magazine article about Rachel and Green and Gorgeous and pinned it to my inspiration board about growing flowers!
    I am so excited that she has written The cut flower source book and cannot wait to read it.
    My Favorite perennial right now is the delphinium- it is so tall and regal looking in my garden, showing off perfect clusters of ethereal flowers!

    Reply
  1497. Mary on

    Lilacs! My mom had a lilac bush in our yard and I love the fragrance. I can’t wait until I have the space to plant my own.

    Reply
  1498. Jane Wilson on

    Lavender is my favorite perennial. Nothing matches that fragrance!

    Reply
  1499. Mary on

    Whatever perennials I haven’t grown yet but have started in the greenhouse. Every penstemon and campanula that will grow in my zone, etc.

    Reply
  1500. Jessica on

    I love virburnum and baptisia! Adding more colors of baptisia every year!

    Reply
  1501. Karen Conley on

    So many favorites! One is the glamorous peony. I got a bag of tubers from Costco many years ago to plant around a backyard gazebo. What a resilient plant. It gets stronger every year. Deer leave it alone. Fits into every design. A delight to find buds popping through in the spring and easy to cut for arrangements, no arranging skills necessary!

    Reply
  1502. Sharon on

    I’m in love with peonies! So many different kinds. My favorite right now is coral charm. Each day it changes color and each color is beautiful.
    I look forward to reading Rachel’s new book.

    Reply
  1503. Jan on

    The framework of shrubs and grasses defines the flowers and really makes them look like they are the “stars”of the arrangement.

    Reply
  1504. Emma Crippen on

    My favorite shrub this year has been California lilac. At one point this year all of them in the city were blooming at the same time and taking walks with the smell everywhere was incredible. Plus the bees love them!

    Reply
  1505. Mary Coleman on

    I love the American cranberry shrub with its beautiful red berries in the fall. Not only do the birds love them but I love the branches as a filler with my two favorite fall beauties: dahlias and zinnias

    Reply
  1506. Donna Crouch on

    A favorite of mine is the limelight hydrangea shrub. Here in central Alabama, its mounds of greenish white blossoms provide a gorgeous display of bright flower heads that don’t droop. I can use plenty of these blossoms in arrangements and still have dozens to enjoy in the garden. Later, when other flowers have faded with the onset of fall, these hardy favorites turn a beautiful pink. I can cut and dry these for lasting enjoyment throughout the winter!

    Reply
  1507. Carolina DuPont on

    I love forsythia! I am currently trying to figureout where to plant it in my garden

    Reply
  1508. Elvira Bechtold on

    Fabulous resource to encourage those of us that have “cut phobia” to bring some of the beauty of our gardens inside.

    Reply
  1509. Leann on

    Smoke bush! They look like cotton candy and both the foliage and plumes are so fun to work with in designs.

    Reply
  1510. Sue Bergstrom on

    My favorite perennial is the columbine! It comes in so many exquisite, pastel color combinations. Each little flower is cheerful and unique. My favorite this year is the pale pink and pale yellow combination. When the wind blows or there is a soft breeze, the flowers sway at the end of their long stems and bring great beauty to the garden.

    Reply
  1511. Denise on

    My favorite perennial is the Peony and Hydrangeas. Can’t wait to check out this book

    Reply
  1512. Ingrid owen on

    My favorite shrub is sambucus (any variety) as it grows it grows the changes are dramatic.
    Thank you

    Reply
  1513. Jen on

    I’ve always loved Hellebores ever since I discovered them in a PNW Garden Show! I’m in the research process of planning my front yard landscaping project and I definitely have a spot in mind for where to plant them. I love the idea of having flowering perennials during winter and can’t wait to learn more about them.

    Reply
  1514. Jennifer Poirier on

    Peonies, hellebores, hydrangea, pussy willow… just to name a few ;)

    Reply
  1515. Cécile on

    I love Hydrangeas , they are wonderful at every stage, with beautiful colors, from soft green to pink and blue, and still keep interest in the fall as dry flowers…

    Reply
  1516. Emily B on

    I haven’t given too much space to perennials and shrubs yet, but I’d love to dive into the topic now that we’ve been blessed with some more land. A hydrangea in full bloom has stopped me in my tracks more than once, and I’m intrigued by hellebores. Can’t wait to learn more, and I’m adding this book to my wish list! Thanks!

    Reply
  1517. elizabeth szamreta on

    My knowledge is small in this area but when we bought our house there was a weigelia planted in the yard, which caught my eye instantly in the spring when it started to bloom. It has a beautiful variegated leaf that holds it’s color all year. It has become a home to many a bird nest and the deer don’t seem to be attracted to it. Love it but if I had a more extensive knowledge I might change my mind.

    Reply
  1518. Rachel on

    My favorite perennial is purple coneflower! And I love forsythia and lilacs for shrubs!

    Reply
  1519. Karen Holland on

    Bowman’s Root, I think, is a forgotten perennial. It is so beautiful and airy and it looks beautiful in the garden among all my other flowers but it adds a special touch to bouquets giving them an old fashion feel. I share them whenever I can!

    Reply
  1520. Susan Rode on

    The butterfly bush is such a beauty and brings hummingbirds!

    Reply
  1521. Shalon on

    So many that are wonderful at different times of the year…. Alchemilla Mollis (Ladys Mantle) is a favorite right now and peonies.

    Reply
  1522. tererezka on

    From my childhood I really love marguerities (Leucanthemum vulgare) .

    Reply
  1523. Ellette on

    So many choices! I guess right at the moment since they are in bloom are honeysuckle’s.
    I just love their scent and color.

    Reply
  1524. Heidi on

    Hellebore for the wide range of colors , form, and leaf patterns.

    Reply
  1525. Ambra K on

    The book looks amazing. I had a volunteer of balsam show up one year and this gift from the birds has now become one of my favorite things to show up every spring. I also love my day lilies and am hoping to find more room in my garden for more.

    Reply
  1526. Claire on

    Roses, because my husband grows beautiful ones! We have so many of them for about 6-7 months every year. He mixes random cuttings from almost anything in our yard to make beautiful arrangements.

    Reply
  1527. Alexa on

    I’m in the very early stages of my florist/gardening career, and this post was so inspiring to me! The classics in the garden will always have my heart, but one I discovered while working in a plant nursery was Baptisia/False Indigo. I love its blooms, its bushiness, the variety of colors, and even the way it feels when I touch it. It’s a spike flower, which remind me a bit of Lupines, only less dense. It’s not fragrant from what I remember, but some people really like that in cut flowers. I’ve never seen it come through the flower shop I work in now, but I’d love to experiment with it in the future!

    Reply
  1528. Nikita on

    Baptisia has become my favorite, it’s native where I am and has such beautiful foliage.

    Reply
  1529. Roberta Bicking on

    One favorite? Impossible! When Covid hit, I decided to clean up our weed filled kettle and fill it with perennials, shrubs and more trees. No plan to follow. Hoping that it would look like a Monet painting. It makes me so happy to see ALL the different perennials. Old tried and true and new discoveries! Perennial Power!!!

    Reply
  1530. Kathy Stuart on

    I love my old fashioned hollyhocks.They come back year after year.The cheerful pink flowers make my heart sing.

    Reply
  1531. Beth on

    I am always so grateful for baptisia! No effort at all and it returns year after year full of blooms, beautiful foliage, and stunning seed pods. And the bumble bees love it!

    Reply
  1532. Marcie Pecor on

    I live lakeside in central Indiana in a one stop light town. Having been born and raised in California, perennials are a whole NEW discovery! I have been planting and sharing them for 30 years now. I have .25 acre that’s always evolving. I have just about everything that I love and I have to say the Heliopsis is such a carefree long performer. I have 2 different varieties and I cut them ALL summer long. Yellow and cheerful and lots of long petals. Anyone could grow this flower it’s so easy and makes my heart sing. My favorite summer day is toiling outside for a good portion of the day caring for my heart and soul = flowers. No time to travel because I don’t want to miss anything!

    Reply
  1533. Martha Boswell on

    I adore the perennials of my youth. Peonies and lilacs mostly. I was really grateful for your lilac rundown! I promptly ordered some to plant and am so happy I did. I need plantings that are deer resistant since they eat literally everything down to a teeny tiny stalk.

    Reply
  1534. Janice on

    I would love to learn more about hydrangeas. They are beautiful fresh cut & dried.

    Reply
  1535. Carissa Jones on

    I am learning all about perennials right now but my current favorites are mums! I want to have them grow lining the lane tomy house. It will be beautiful I think!

    Reply
  1536. Nancy Gage on

    What a delightful way to integrate color and form. Love to see more of that in arrangements. I’ve been adding more native plants into my yard and create a peaceful habitat for the wildlife.

    Reply
  1537. Susan Springer on

    The yellow flowers on the Forsythia shrub is always a bright moment in the Spring – proof that the Winter season is coming to an end and the beautiful colors and warmer weather of Spring is on the way!

    Reply
  1538. Josh McAllister on

    One of my favorites is a snowball viburnum. We grew up with one and I have fond memories of having spring snowball fights with my siblings.

    Reply
  1539. Tori on

    Favorite perennial? Daffodils of all shapes and colors. The “Extravaganza” variety has a special place in my heart ❤️

    Reply
  1540. Elisa on

    Two of my favorites are daffodils and tulips. It’s a joyful sight to watch them emerge and announce the beginning of spring with their bright colors.

    Reply
  1541. Ashley Laabs on

    I’m in love with our native shrubs! I have used many while foraging and plan to add native inspired hedges to my next home. Anything native gets bonus points in my book.

    Reply
  1542. Emily on

    One of my favorite woodies is button bush. I haven’t experimented with its vase life but I’m excited to try it out along with some other native shrubs I planted this spring

    Reply
  1543. Emily Jones on

    We have a few lilacs I love and just added clematis to my garden this year. Looking to add more hellebores, peonies, roses and shrubs over the next year or two. Great interview! Can’t wait to get this book.

    Reply
  1544. Reneé on

    It’s hard to decide! Hydrangeas are probably my favorite. Gardenias are also. I gave one to my mother years ago for Mothers Day and she loved it. I always think of her when I see one. Thank you for the chance to win one of these wonderful books!

    Reply
  1545. Linda on

    I found a lovely very old rose bush on our very old piece of farm land. Hoping to find what it is. Thank you.

    Reply
  1546. K on

    I can’t wait to read this! ‘Sun King’s aralia is one of my favorite perennials for its ability to light up the shade.

    Reply
  1547. Kelly on

    Peonies have a special place in my heart for multiple reasons. My grandmother had a row of them along the driveway at our family farm, I grew up watching my mother tend to hers, I did my senior research project on a peony farm in Alaska where my love for flowers truly grew, and I used the knowledge from that farm to gather peony buds to have for our wedding centerpieces. Such a beautiful flower that smells so heavenly.

    Reply
  1548. Lisa Hall on

    I especially love my crabapple branches (pink) mixed in with lilacs! (I just wish the lilacs lasted longer!!)

    Reply
  1549. Lyn McCullough on

    I love to use catkins in my arrangements, especially those of the contorted filbert. ( corylus avellana ‘contorta’). They look wonderful with their twisted stems placed against a plan wall. I use them to display Christmas and Easter decorations on their own in a vase, or mix them with greenery and flowers in season . The bare winter stems with the trembling catkins have such a special architectural quality and I find them so useful and would never be without this shrub.

    Reply
  1550. Jill Vallejo on

    My dream is to have a variety of lilacs. Hoping to add these soon!

    Reply
  1551. Stacey Robert on

    My favorite shrub is my Miss Kim lilac. The blooms are petit and so fragrant and the greenery is mildew resistant so I use it in flower arrangement all the time as a filler.

    Reply
  1552. Kathy DeForest on

    I am soon moving to new property and will be planting new trees, shrubs and perennials. I would love to have The Cut Flower Sourcebook as a guide and inspiration. My favorite perennials must be adaptable to my high elevation, short growing season climate plus have color and character. Therefore, yarrows are on top of my list.

    Reply
  1553. Jamie Sammons on

    This is exactly the book I’ve been looking for! Perennials and shrubs really pull us through the mid June lull and I’m always looking for more. How could I choose just one of my favorites?! Right now, roses, baptisa, mock orange and mint are really pulling their weight in gold here on the farm. I just laid the ground work for a whole new perennial patch and this book will give me all sorts of new ideas for additions to the land. Rachel, Thank you for this awesome resource!

    Reply
  1554. Stephanie P on

    I love astilbe and will always grow it! So romantic but eclectic too.

    Reply
  1555. Andrea on

    Hellebores! My absolute favorite!

    Reply
  1556. nancy on

    Forsythia. A sign of warmer weather and sunshine in the spring. Love seeing it flower earlier than many other things.

    Reply
  1557. Rachel Miller on

    Yarrow and lilacs are my favorites! Thanks for this wonderful interview

    Reply
  1558. Laurie Westerman on

    Roses and lilacs are my favorite perennial shrubs. The scents when they are in bloom are simply amazing. Looking forward to this beautiful and much needed book!

    Reply
  1559. ML Garcia on

    So looking forward to this book! love the natural arrangements. We grow Perennials and Edible flowers and herbs.

    Reply
  1560. cindy on

    I really love gardenia bushes. The leaves are naturally bright green and glossy and the flowers smell incredible.

    Reply
  1561. Jennifer Sonnhalter on

    My favorite is the whimsical Dappled Willow. I love the airy foliage, which is perfect in the garden, and in arrangements. It is dependable, low maintenance, and beautiful all year long.

    Reply
  1562. Emma on

    I love elderberry in all it’s forms from flower to berry to foliage. It’s a wonderful addition!

    Reply
  1563. Melissa on

    Excited to learn more about planting shrubs as hedges for the birds! My favorite perennial is the classic native purple coneflower & pale purple coneflower. My favorite shrub would be the native New Jersey Tea but the non-native Little Lime Light Hydrangea is also up there.

    Reply
  1564. L. Murphy on

    My favorite perennial is echinacea purpurea. I love it for not only it’s beautiful flower and seed head, but also for it’s medicinal properties.

    Reply
  1565. Laurie on

    Favorite for arrangements: gaura.

    Reply
  1566. Windee on

    I’m head over heels in love with all the forms of Baptisia right now.! Flowers, greenery that can be used as filler and deer and drought resistant. How could I not be!

    Reply
  1567. Steph on

    My favorite “perennial” (but really a biennial) is hollyhock. They remind me of my grandparents old gardens they had at the back of their house where they used to have a clothesline and remains of an old outhouse. I would love to learn how to incorporate them into arrangements.

    Reply
  1568. Collette Whitmer on

    Ninebark, there are soooo many different varieties! Peonies are my favorite perennial.

    Reply
  1569. Kimi Hardesty on

    I have three lilacs lining the side of my screened in porch and adore them during their season. One of my favorite flowers is gaura because of its delicate wispiness. As for climbers, roses and honeysuckle are my favorites.

    Reply
  1570. Pam de Ruiter on

    Lovely interview, I want to go to that garden!
    Love when the grapevine starts , it’s fun to work with and you can do so much with it .
    Over the years I’ve planted alot of different peonies and to me that’s spring 💕
    Must have been wonderful to visit a garden like that .

    Reply
  1571. Stephanie Finnegan on

    My partner gave me a hellebore plant for Valentine’s Day this year and I immediately fell in love with them – so much that I went out and bought two more plants in different varieties in the following weeks! Looking forward to planting more of these beauties!

    Reply
  1572. Traci Tenneson on

    Great interview – great topic. And great comments request; I am going to take notes of everyone’s favorites. Mine bark is a favorite for me for its landscaping and arranging properties and it comes in many shades. The lime green with buds that go from white to apricot is a particular favorite.

    Reply
  1573. Katie on

    I love hydrangeas because they remind me of my grandfather

    Reply
  1574. Teresa on

    This book looks wonderful! I have always preferred perennials to annuals and have struggled with how to have a cut flower garden.

    Reply
  1575. Katherine Horton on

    I love all things that come back every year and get more and more prettier each year. I love echinacea! All the super bright colors and variety!

    Reply
  1576. Clare on

    My favorite perennials are my astilbe – and they are about to bloom here in zone 4b!

    Reply
  1577. Cristina Banister on

    I love the interview. I’d have to say Hydrangeas are my most favorite, followed by Rose of Sharon.

    Reply
  1578. Sean on

    My favorite shrubs are definitely Witchhazels, and thankfully the deer that browse everything in the wintertime generally pass them by. When it comes to perennials there is a soft spot in my heart for Yarrows of any variety

    Reply
  1579. Val Colvin on

    My favorite perennial are the reliable and vibrant blue spikes of Salvia Blue Bedder or Victoria Blue.

    Reply
  1580. Dee on

    One of my FAVORITE is Kintzley ghost honeysuckle…so unique!

    Reply
  1581. Kristy Miller on

    My favorites are Peonies and Dahlias. But I’ve loved incorporating other perennials into our garden for the wildlife they bring. Coneflowers, Zinnias, Baptisia and Lavendar are at the top of my list! Beautiful in arrangements too.

    Reply
  1582. Megan Chute on

    My favourite shrub has to be ninebark, and irises, roses, peonies, daylillies have my heart. I am excited to learn about more perennials.

    Reply
  1583. Kirsten on

    I love beaked hazelnut – beautiful and delicious!

    Reply
  1584. Amber on

    Ten years ago when just starting to plant gardens around our home, I discovered Ninebark ‘Summer Wine’. It is the most amazing shrub every season of the year and tolerates our upstate NY winters like a champ. It looks as good in the garden as it does in the vase and it lasts forever when cut! I’ve since planted over a dozen more, all different varieties and I adore them in the garden (as does the wildlife!) and I use them in my arrangements throughout the year.

    Reply
  1585. Brandy Erazo on

    I fell in love with flowers and gardening as a little girl! My mother and grandmother were both avid gardeners and this love was such a joy to witness! One of my earliest memories is waiting, impatiently, for the peony buds to finally open and share their glorious layers and magnificent fragrance with us! We’ve been living in the southwest for several years where and recently returned to the Midwest; I was graciously greeted by the peonies in the yard sharing their beauty once again!!

    Reply
  1586. Marta Becerril on

    We have a smoke bush/cotinus and I love to see how it changes colors through the Spring and Summer. Right now it has three: green, purple and orange. It’s magical.

    Reply
  1587. Lindsy on

    Peonies are my favorite. My yellow peonies just bloomed for the first time and I am thrilled!

    Reply
  1588. jen on

    Yarrow has turned in to a new favorite for my cut flowers!

    Reply
  1589. Mindy Victor on

    I came to flower farming later in life at age 55. Now in my 4th year I’ve had a couple of setbacks in the form of hip replacements but they have not dimmed my goals for my farm and small business. I have come to realize that perennials and woodies are the way for me to go rather than focusing on annuals due to the physical requirements my lovely flowers demand. Rachel’s book would be a welcome addition to my resource collection giving me more insight into moving to perennials and taking a revered space next your Cut Flower book. Thank you for sharing your knowledge as well as that of other experts in our growing field. 💐

    Reply
  1590. Gale Fisher on

    Anything that returns each year with flower or interesting foliage is welcome in our Pennsylvania garden. Looking forward to this book!

    Reply
  1591. ChelleJ on

    Such a beautiful book! I really really love white coneflower, rudbeckia, and hydrangea to name a few..

    Reply
  1592. Brenda Ryan on

    I enjoyed your interview with Rachel. The photos are beautiful. Boxwood and hydrangeas are a couple of favorites.
    They remind me of my summer living on Cape Cod.

    Reply
  1593. Danielle on

    I have to say Lilacs because the scent brings me back to my childhood bedroom where wafts of its powdery floral notes would wake me with a smile. We are in the process of looking for a new house with a larger lot where I can plant all my favourites as well as explore enfleurage and aromatic tincturing. The garden is my happy place!

    Reply
  1594. chels on

    I have two favorite perennials, echinacea and eryngium yuccifolium. I love native plants and these two are some of my favorites!

    Reply
  1595. Barbara Galiunas on

    I live in the Houston Texas area and we have to deal with blistering heat in the summer to below freezing in the winter, so many perennials succumb to our weather, but roses of all types tend to prosper, and favorites are my huge ramblers especially one that it fifteen feet high and blooms repeatedly with four inch white pink tipped roses year after year for at least thirty years.

    Reply
  1596. Virginia Read on

    I love Clethra—but the deer around my house love it, too. So next would be Amsonia with its cheerful little blue star flowers, which the wildlife leaves in peace.

    Reply
  1597. MaryAnne Nestor on

    Oh my. I love any flower that comes back to see me every year. And this year, inspired by Phillipa Craddock’s open and airy designs, I’ve been buying woodies as beautiful fillers. I have one that has little pink berries that works beautifully in arrangements (snowberry (Symphoricarpos microphyllus?) . That would probably be my favorite. But I do love my woodie hydrangeas….

    Reply
  1598. Nicole on

    In a New England woodland garden, my two favorites are Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis) and Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)

    Reply
  1599. Kasha Morris on

    I think cone flowers are one of my favorites. The blooms are abundant, the centers Ali e add interest and they dry well too. They are native where I live and east to grow. Looking forward to reading this book!

    Reply
  1600. Evelyn on

    I grow a number of perennials for cutting but my favorite would have to be echinacea. There are so many colors and types of heads available that you can find a coneflower to suit any design style.

    Reply
  1601. Lauren on

    I have a very healthy Japanese maple tree that I can cut a little from every year. It’s especially special for fall weddings. My favorite perennial is Astrantia. I can’t get enough and every year I plant more!

    Reply
  1602. Raven Whitney on

    Peonies and Hydrangeas bring me so much joy. They remind me of my grandmother and the big, pillowy blooms add so much drama to the garden.

    Reply
  1603. KaraLee Monroe on

    Oh so hard to pick just one! But love Weigela, especially the variegated leaves variety.

    Reply
  1604. Megan Heathcote on

    Hydrangeas are my favorite! I’m still learning the balance of how much I can cut to use, but not taking too much to prevent future year’s blooms.

    Reply
  1605. Janelle Johnson on

    I’m starting to fall in love with growing hydrangeas! I remember my earliest memory of a hydrangea— my mom gifting one with blueish purple hues to a family member, I think I was about 6 years old.

    Ever since, they’re the flower I’m attracted to the most and now I finally get to grow my own. I just put Limelight & Strawberry Shake in the ground this last weekend! I can’t wait to see how they do.

    & I’m excited to read this book!

    Reply
  1606. Kristen on

    The book looks so beautiful. One of my very favorites is lavender!

    Reply
  1607. Christine S. Birnbaum on

    Spring ephemerals are a welcomed sight each year with bloodroot one of my favorites. Toad lilies are also a fav too; yet there are so, so many flowers and plants that I love.

    Reply
  1608. Lauren Dever on

    Mock Orange is my favorite shrub for cut flowers. I love the spindly shape of the stems which make for fun, natural arrangements. The smell of the mock orange is intoxicating, and I have placed them on my husband’s nightstand this past week. They are still looking fresh after six days.

    Reply
  1609. Jo on

    I love flowering shrubs and perennials! Lilacs, roses and peonies are probably my favorite. Looks like a lovely book!

    Reply
  1610. Elizabeth Thompson on

    Oh my oh my so for shrubs I must say panicle hydrangeas , You are guaranteed flowers regardless of cold snaps. As for perennials flowers there are a few lol but most certainly is delphiniums because I always receive multiple blooms also they rebloom for me as I dead head . There are so many perennials that rebloom with dead heading and pollinators love them as well . Perennials and shrubs are a great way to help out the bees and birds .

    Reply
  1611. Darcy on

    We just acquired 19 acres, this is my first blooming season at the property. So far for me it’s been the honeysuckle along the timber. I was so inspired by your series, Growing Floret, Preserving the Old, that I immediately put in rose bushes and a few of my favorite peonies. I’m looking forward to this winter when I can begin to make a grander plan for this land based on what I see during the growing season. This book would be a tremendous guide. Always inspired by your work.

    Reply
  1612. Laurie on

    I garden on the east coast in an area that is supposed to be zone 6–we had a relatively mild and snowless winter this year but then in February had a below zero temps. Wrecked havoc on some perennials and woody shrubs. What survived and flourished were the native shrubs we planted (mountain laurels in particular)–and peonies! The peonies were magnificent this year even as the roses and hydrangeas either limped along or gave up. If I have to pick a favorite spring flowering woody shrub it’s the mountain laurels. I’d love to see more of them in landscapes (and arrangements).

    Reply
  1613. Ann of Four Winds on

    Impossible to one favorite but David Austin’s Lady of Shallot, climbing hydrangeas and the blessedly simple to grow coneflowers are tops. Absolutely obsessed with perennials we can’t find easily- Jelitto seeds has been a great solution

    Reply
  1614. Pud Kearns on

    I live on mostly shady property which I love for the hot Texas summers, but it does mean it’s a challenge to grow things. I learned a lot from my failures. So the few sunny spots are filled with antique roses (Belinda’s Dream is my absolute favorite!), lillies, and reseeding perennials. A hedge of privet and nandina provides filler for my bouquets.

    Reply
  1615. Karen E. Murray Boston on

    The two “L’s” Lilacs and Lavender! On the little 1916 farm we purchased in Western Colorado (hot, dry, windy (why am I here?) ) all the land was dead except for one Lilac bush, lanky and lean, woody and half alive. As neglected as it was, it still bloomed with the bright purple color contrasting the knarled cracked wood. I lovingly, yet with ruthless abandon, cut it back to a spiny shadow of its past. I fertilized, chopped, yelled, fought weevils, and watered it with a promise of new life. That was three years ago. This Spring it finally had a few new blooms on its abundance of fresh green foliage. I know it’s just a hint of what is to come! It sits next to my new French Lavender plants (again something that will need extra care in our cold winter months) as I coax their growth, sitting next to an example of possibilities!

    Reply
  1616. Susan Schroeter on

    One of my favorites is honeysuckle. It draws hummingbirds to the yard, scents the garden air with a heady smell and looks great in natural flower arrangements.

    I am a “certified “Anglofile and long time gardener so I can’t wait to devour this lovely new book. I am relearning how to garden after moving from the PNW to Florida so any help I can get is greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  1617. Debbie Raggio on

    Peonies are probably my favorite flowers with roses running a close second! But every perennial that pops up during the growing season becomes my favorite!

    Reply
  1618. Cameron on

    First, thank you for your great interviews and sharing your knowledge! One of my favorite shrubs is Ninebark Diablo which looks beautiful year round. I love the chocolate/purple foliage, soft white blooms, interesting bark, and that it is a good resource for wildlife.

    Reply
  1619. Shannon Risden on

    My favorite hands down has been mock orange, I was extremely lucky that the previous owners of my farm out in fifty foot hedge of them. The amount of pollinators that swarm them when they are in bloom is just magical.

    Reply
  1620. Kathleen Okon on

    I am going to buy the book for my daughter. She has 4 acres with lots of trees, shrubs and flowers. I hope I win a book for myself.

    Reply
  1621. Brooke Rodgers on

    Abelia is one of my favorite shrubs, a member of the honey suckle family, it provides structure to my arrangements while overflowing with tiny delicate pink pastel flowers…. The wide range of butterflies and pollinators find it enticing through out the summer months…. Adding another layer of beauty to the garden and yard.

    Reply
  1622. Christine Holsey on

    I love the old cottage flowers. English Roses are a must, delphinium, Foxglove, Hollyhock, Sweet Rocket, Queen Ann’s Lace, Lady’s Mantle, pansies,Lavender,Phlox, Stock, Regal lilies,Lupine, and columbine. Add climbing plants like Clematis, and Honeysuckle. Heaven on Earth is a garden

    Reply
  1623. Ruth on

    Lilacs. They smell like hope.

    Reply
  1624. Kris Vasser on

    My garden is in summer bloom. Looking forward to expanding the use of various flowers, shrubs and trees in my bouquets. Erin has been an inspiration for what to grow and how to create arrangements of beauty.

    Reply
  1625. Nicole H. on

    I love Baptisia – the native blue or purple/yellow cultivar are two faves. This book looks lovely!

    Reply
  1626. Melissa Little on

    Fresh mint, in all the varieties, are a favorite of mine to mix in with cut flowers in an arrangement. There is always an abundance of mint, and it makes my arrangements smell lovely.

    Reply
  1627. Jaime on

    The first year we had our property it was a lovely surprise to see the varieties that emerged each season. My favorite has been the lilac. Although, it only briefly bloomed that first year, I found myself longing to see and smell it again, and find ways to make it flourish.

    Reply
  1628. Jessica Lane on

    I’m just starting, but I was very inspired by the beautiful peonies I saw someone growing. Hoping to start a cut garden soon!

    Reply
  1629. Geri Vizza on

    I just love the books. It is like taking a day’s vacation sitting and reading and planning to add to my own garden.

    Reply
  1630. Cheryl Mandler on

    I am in love with penstemon digitalis which is native and blooming right now in Massachusetts. In addition to endangered bumblebees, hummingbirds love this flower.

    Reply
  1631. Emily on

    Yay!! This is so timely – we are just planning out the hedges and crops of shrubs and perennials we are going to put in this fall. I’m leaning toward laurel, mock orange, forsythia so far, but maybe that will change (or expand!) after I check out the book – can’t wait to read it!

    Reply
  1632. Jacky on

    I love perennials and shrubs for cutting, this spring the Mock orange was one I looked forward to most. It’s citrus blossom scent takes me back to my childhood.

    Reply
  1633. Josh Nason on

    As a child visiting my grandparents in East Tennessee during June I can still smell the gardenias on grandmothers back porch. Buttery and cream sweet, it’s a nostalgic aroma and brings back their swing set, reading children’s books by firefly light , and counting grandads smoke rings from his pipe.

    Gardenias!

    Reply
  1634. Nadia Kessler on

    My favorite shrub for flower bouquets/ arrangements would have to be Physocarpus ‘Diabolo’.
    I love the dark leaves and white flowers which add an element of contrast into my bouquets.

    Reply
  1635. Robin on

    I am so excited to read this book. I love adding any woodie to my floral arrangements. I think they add such character and all season interest. I don’t have a favorite, but I love hydrangea, mock orange, ninebark and crabapple.

    Reply
  1636. A Thompson on

    Just this year I began using Ajuga flowers in bud vases around the house, particularly bedside. I also love Hellebores in winter and Anise year round for large table arrangements. Im new to the concept of sustainable floral farming and can’t wait to learn more!

    Reply
  1637. Lori Krause on

    I would love a copy of this book. I love growing flowers! My favorite is probably peonies and echinacea. It’s so difficult to pick a favorite because I love them all.

    Reply
  1638. Amber on

    Peonies! I also have a bush that I adore in almost all arrangements but there are differing opinions on what it actually is.

    Reply
  1639. Kate on

    We have what I assume is a large tea olive tree in the backyard. My kids loved climbing it when they were little and it smells amazing when it blooms. The whole backyard carries the scent for a full week. Now my favorite catbird nests in it every year.

    Reply
  1640. Mickie Murphy on

    I love a garden of English roses, agastache, Russian sage. All the smells and colors.

    Reply
  1641. Trish Turner on

    Like so many, I started obsessing over gardening during the pandemic. I discovered Gardeners World and the rest was history. The Brits and their passion for gardening and concern for the planet just really speaks to me. I am learning more about growing from seed as a result, and that’s what led me to Erin at Floret, her amazingly accessible website with hugely helpful videos. I can hardly wait to visit Rachel Siegfried’s farm now; my husband and I adore Oxfordshire! My current plant obsession is with Penstan men. I love the variations in color in the tiny little micro planet that seems to exist in their little mini bearded tongue iris heads. A close second would have to go to Heuchera. I find their crinkly leaves in such a variety of color and their little delicate sprays of flowers so beautiful. I can hardly wait to read and learn more in Rachel’s book!

    Reply
  1642. Yvonne Shenton on

    The Hydrangea is my favorite perennial! I love the broadleaf variety that grows on old wood. I moved into my house six years ago and there is a very established hydrangea. I check it everyday starting early June waiting to be able to cut the first billowy blooms of color.

    Reply
  1643. Lindsey Hall on

    Too many favorites for many reasons…lilacs take me back to my childhood and waking up to spring breezes with that amazing smell coming into my bedroom window, I love a beautiful honeysuckle climbing an arch (just gorgeous…my sister has one that is incredible and I’m trying hard to replicate), and peonies and roses will always have my heart.

    Reply
  1644. Darla Dooms on

    I love learning about shrubs and perennials that I can grow in my garden. I am preparing to retire and hope to spend much more time trying new varieties and continuing to create a garden space I love!

    Reply
  1645. Holly on

    This book looks absolutely beautiful. My favorite shrub will always be lilacs!

    Reply
  1646. Katie Guelzow on

    Oh, boy-I’m going to go with forsythia. It reminds me of my mom and home and I love when I spot their happy yellow blooms announcing the end of winter.

    Reply
  1647. Trisha on

    I am so excited to read this book. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, but bearded iris are a new love. Along with so many others ❤️

    Reply
  1648. Amanda Langley on

    I have recently been introduced to Columbine and am loving how stroking the flowers and collies are!

    Reply
  1649. liz dickens on

    Absolutely love hellebores. Though I don’t own one. This is just what I needed to change that.

    Reply
  1650. Hannah on

    Bridal wreath spirea is one of my favorites and I am trying to figure out where to incorporate it on our property!

    Reply
  1651. Kelly Burleson on

    I’m currently in the planning phase of planting a perennial border as a natural fence. I’ve just learned of Itoh peonies having woody stems and I have to say that is currently my favorite. This book is right on time for me.

    Reply
  1652. Sofia on

    So excited about this book! I’ve been practicing growing different flowers in my garden for the last 6 years and have been wanting to branch out (forgive the pun) into shrubs. My favorite perennials are Salvia and Nepeta, which sometimes surprises me given that I usually prefer radial shapes to spikes.

    Reply
  1653. Sarah on

    One of my most favorite shrubs is Witch Hazel. I love that is the earliest bloomer in most gardens, with those eccentric crazy flowers. Then the green robust stems help form the base to arrangements. Finally in the fall the color is just so beautiful. Over-all and great doer!

    Reply
  1654. Anna Reynolds on

    I’m growing a newfound love for roses. We had a couple spring up as a surprise on our new property and have fallen in love! There is some amazing truth in the phrase “stop and smell the roses”. The fragrance stuns me every time. I will now always have a fragrant rose on my property.

    Reply
  1655. Nelly on

    My Deutzia Raspberry Sunday is just starting to bloom right now, and it may very well make it to my top list !

    Reply
  1656. Kimberly Meyer on

    In Texas and in the midst of a brutal heat wave that reminds me of the necessity of adaptation in our changing climate, I am grateful for old, antique roses that somehow return every year down here.

    Reply
  1657. Victoria on

    Mock orange is my favorite because fragrance is one of my top priorities in flowers for cutting. Our shrub got decimated by rabbits a few years ago and has had a miraculous rebirth, but it’s still small enough that I only harvested a few precious branches this year. Looking forward to learning more about how to maximize those in arrangements!

    Reply
  1658. barb webley on

    I love them all and instead of 400ft, to plant 400 acres would be more like it .

    Reply
  1659. Courtney Savage on

    An impossible question!! Two of my favorite flowering perennials are verbascum and sanguisorba. The verbascum is so hearty and gives such a long show, the sanguisorba is so dainty and fun to to watch when the breeze catches it. And for shrubs I love all kinds of spirea!!

    Reply
  1660. Meg Nisbet on

    One favorite is hard, but this year, after planting a root or two year after year from a single plant there is a row of white peonies with a pink center all along my driveway that are lush and glorious. I have a hedgerow in progress with one side full of Rosa Rugosa and another side full of forsythia and dogwood. The richness of these over the last 5 years have been so rewarding.

    Reply
  1661. Taroh Alexandra Strong on

    Being in a drought here in the Midwest, I’ve realized how much strength are native flowers have that for my favorite at this moment is the wild delphinium. It’s gorgeous and is doing well even though the conditions are not the best… The tall white, two deep purple, and everything in between hues are mesmerizing.!

    Reply
  1662. Alexia Austen Wishart on

    I love spring blossom – though not technically a shrub? But perhaps flowering quince and dogwood?
    That said my love of gardening started with a good old rose………

    Reply
  1663. Jen on

    Hellebores enchant me!

    Reply
  1664. Amanda Leichman on

    I absolutely love my giant butterfly bush. It’s huge now, probably around 6 ft tall and the blooms are sunset colored, in pink, orange, and yellow. The pollinators love it and I am always so excited to see so much activity and life around it every summer 🩷

    Reply
  1665. Lauren on

    Love Solomon’s Seal. It’s the perfect elegant touch in spring and early summer arrangements. Shade tolerant and spreads into beautiful drifts- such a perennial gem.

    Reply
  1666. Stacey Peterson on

    Ferns are my favorite to include in my floral arrangements. I would love a copy of Rachel’s book.

    Reply
  1667. Jane on

    I love the use of hellebores in an arrangement. Such an informative and inspiring interview. Thank you

    Reply
  1668. Jennifer Gray on

    I love forcing redbud and Crabapple in the early spring! I’m so excited about this book that I already requested that my local library procure a copy!

    Reply
  1669. Ann Levan on

    This sounds like an amazing book. I love gardening and can spend whole days outside working in my flower beds. I just discovered that cranesbill add a touch of whimsy to flower arrangement that I really enjoy. I’m just starting to use woody shrubs in my arrangements and loving how it adds another level of interest. 🌸🪴🌺.

    Reply
  1670. Kathi Graves on

    I have many favorites but a NEW favorite this year is my yellow butterfly bush in one of my raised vegetable beds. I’m keeping it manageable by cutting some of the long stemmed flowers back each day and keeping them in a vase on the windowsill above my sink.

    And I just finished episode 4 of season 2. We want MORE!!!

    Reply
  1671. Laura on

    I’m a big fan of my lilacs!

    Reply
  1672. Erin on

    This week is all about the peonies. They are absolutely stunning. I added some Japanese willow in the center, it’s a stunning blend of pinks and whites and greens.

    Reply
  1673. Sarah C on

    Lilacs and trumpet vine as they will forever remind me of my grandmothers incredible flower garden that I spent a lot of time in as a child. Can’t wait to begin my own garden when we have a home with a yard!

    Reply
  1674. Karen Bechtel Perkins on

    Royal Azalea (Rhododendron schlippenbachii) is a favorite with those light pink flowers that bloom before the leaves come out. A delight!

    Reply
  1675. Caroline Martineau on

    Choosing one? Oh! If I had to live alone on a desert island, the lilac would be my best friend. It is already in this low world. What generosity this shrub is able to offer, as much by the beauty of the tones of colors, the quantity of flowers and of course, the perfume of the sky!

    Reply
  1676. B Harvey on

    If I had to choose one , VINTAGE ROSES would have to top my list of favorites. My favorite ornamental tree would be DOGWOOD, and a favorite flower would be HELLEBORES. But who can choose, there are so very many beauties depending on the season. Hooray for this book. It sounds fabulous.

    Reply
  1677. Whit on

    Peonies and lilac shrubs are my favorites

    Reply
  1678. Julie on

    I love baptisia it is a lovely native here in the midwest.

    Reply
  1679. Marjolaine Gagnon-Dufort on

    As a beginner flower farm, I’m more interested about perenials and shrubs, but the references about them are verry hard to find and I’m verry glad to know the existence of this book!!!!

    Reply
  1680. Renee on

    I am very much looking forward to this book! Having a comprehensive guide to perennials and shrubs has been long awaited. My person favorite shrub is Ninebark. It offers interest all year round and it’s purple leaves are a beautiful accent in the border

    Reply
  1681. Laura Hale on

    Thank you for sharing about this wonderful book. I enjoy roses and hydrangeas the most, but it’s hard to pick a favorite.

    Reply
  1682. Sarah on

    I love to use Nandina in my designs. It changes color seasonally throughout the year, which I love!

    Reply
  1683. Connie on

    The evening primrose is my favorite. I love the simple pink blooms. They grow easily. And come back every year. I really appreciate that! Their blooming season is long too. They hang in there during New Mexico’s long, hot summer. It was a challenge moving to New Mexico and learning how to garden here. I’m still learning after six years. The evening primrose has helped me not to give up.

    Reply
  1684. Roberta on

    I love incorporating aucuba japonica stems into my flower arrangements. The large and lovely green and yellow shiny foliage from this shrub is a long lasting filler for more delicate flower stems. An added advantage is that the aucuba cuttings easily root in water, so I am making a new plant to put back into the garden or gift to a friend.

    Reply
  1685. Sandi on

    Who can pick just one favorite! There are just so many that are my favorites. The popular favorites such as peonies, lilacs, hydrangeas, etc. For some reason one bush that I’ve always treasured is the pink flowering almond. We had one when I was growing up and it was actually started by my grandmother when they lived on the farm. Maybe it’s the heritage and other memories that go along with it, that make me love that bush! I am sure I would spend lots of time loving Rachel’s book!

    Reply
  1686. Elley on

    One of my favorites is Astilbe. I wasn’t able to grow it for years because I was living in a climate zone that was much too warm, but now I’m back in zone 6 and excited to start planting!

    Reply
  1687. Diamond Burnett on

    My favorite perennial is peonies and I also love the short lived perennials holy basil.

    Reply
  1688. J. Manson on

    Growing flowers has taught me that there are some plants that personify generosity. The queen of these are Peonies.
    Their flowers are varied in both colour and petal structure, their bloom can be extended by controlling temperature and once done the blooming period the foliage creates balance and visual interest in the garden until frost.
    Most remarkably, with very little care they continue to create this beauty for generations. Beauty all around.

    Reply
  1689. Emily on

    Beautiful book! My favorite perennials are roses – especially Noisette roses.

    Reply
  1690. Laura Gabriele on

    I just bought a small Baptista for its foliage but the seed pods are interesting too! All the best for a great book launch for Rachel.

    Reply
  1691. Rebecca on

    It’s a toss up between camellia and azalea. One giving winter blooms when everything else is dormant and the other a harbinger of spring!

    Reply
  1692. Dana on

    Today my favorite is my ‘Buzz Midnight’ butterfly bush. The book sounds amazing!

    Reply
  1693. Lauri Leeper on

    I can’t wait to have the book – either gifted or purchased, it will be in my collection.

    Reply
  1694. Beth on

    I never gave a thought about coneflowers before until my husband said they are his favorite flower. I planted a few near the house and now I cannot stop buying different varieties and colors. They have become my new favorite perennial!

    Reply
  1695. Kendal on

    One of my favorite perennials is Hellebore. In TX, zone 8b, these flowers are always thriving and put on an amazing show of color in the winter when a lot of my landscape is dormant. So many colors and varieties to grow!

    Reply
  1696. Betsy Schaechterle on

    My favorite perennial is the pink peony. The plant in my garden was just gorgeous this year! The queen of the flowers so far!🌸🌸

    Reply
  1697. Nena Williams on

    Golden Currant, Nepeta, Lavender, Willow, Red Twigged Dogwood, Golden Alexander, Quince, Spirea…the list is endless for me!!!

    Reply
  1698. Leona Rogers on

    Hydrangeas are my favorite. I live in west/central Minnesota and our climate is challenging for some flowers. But we treasure our beautiful short growing season

    Reply
  1699. Rachel on

    I’m from the south and tea olive is my favorite shrub. The smell is absolutely amazing! And perennial salvia and aster.

    Reply
  1700. Marie-Hélène on

    I moed into my new housse a year ago. I had doutes about somthing growing in a suny spot of the unmaintained part of the backyard. This sping I decided to cut the tall grass aroud that plant. I was right about the leafs… they turned ou to be Lupinus of orangy shades.

    They are about only 14″ high with the flowers out. But they seams to have been neglected for some times. I plan on moving them to some other spot next year! Can’t waite to see how they will evolve!

    Reply
  1701. Julie on

    Lilacs are my favorite. They bring back many good memories as a child in my grandmother’s garden.

    Reply
  1702. Karla Santoro on

    I need to pick a favorite? Lol. Lilacs, peonies, delphiniums, astilbe, flowering almond. Hmm, love lilacs and flowering almond are my top two! I’d love to learn more.

    Reply
  1703. Hannah Wilhelm on

    One of my favorites are lilac bushes 💜 the smell is enchanting!!

    Reply
  1704. Patty on

    My favorite perennials are Peonies! I’ve had difficulty growing them at a few of my homes over the years so am so excited that they bloom where I, currently Planted! Love your blog

    Reply
  1705. Staci Freese on

    Hydrangeas and peonies are my favorites. Rachael is so talented and her art is beautiful!

    Reply
  1706. BECKY on

    Hydrangeas have always been a favorite! I planted 3 small ones this year and am excited for blooms in the seasons ahead

    Reply
  1707. Sonja on

    My favourite shrub is Philadelphus coronarius because it smell as well as Lonicera and old roses. Favourite perennial is definitely Alchemilla mollies because it’s a beautiful, lush and long lasting filler that makes effect although it’s very airy and subtle.

    Reply
  1708. Darcy on

    Thistle is my favorite. I love the texture and color. Plus they remind me of my mother as she loved thistles, had numerous pins and related them back to her Scottish roots.

    Reply
  1709. Kathy Starnes on

    There are so many wonderful shrubs! I do love viburnums and elderberry bushes. The leaf structures are so pretty and the blooms unique.

    Reply
  1710. Susan Newman on

    Just finished blooming here on eastern Long Island, which is zone 7a but a very late Spring, are ordinary chives with prolific purple flowers. They come back cheerfully every year, the deer and rabbits hate them and they’re long lasting in a vase, mixing beautifully with achillea, spirea and other interesting shapes.

    Reply
  1711. Jayne Tauscher on

    Oh there are so many to choose from but the Peony can take your breath away. The many different colors and blooms that last a long time and fill the house with their perfume!!

    Reply
  1712. Florence Holmes on

    Thank you so much for sharing! You are both an inspiration-

    Reply
  1713. Janea McDonald on

    I’m in a quest to figure out what woody perennials would grow well here in Arizona. I finally gave some property that isn’t in an HOA and a blank canvas. I am partial to Yellow Bells and Orange Jubilee since they grow so fast and are cheerful.

    Reply
  1714. Kari Mulderink on

    I always have a difficult time picking favorites…but peonies would have to be one of my very favorite perennials. It hard to beat the gorgeous colors, fragrances, and soft creamy petals in early spring.

    Reply
  1715. Mariagrazia on

    I live in the wonderful land of Monferrato in north west Italy. I’m here from 2 years. I went away from my city Turin for search nature, tranquility, silence and a slow life. I love flowers, every flower, but my first love is the “Ortensia” (Hydrangea). Thank you. You are a sourse of inspiration!

    Reply
  1716. Karen on

    I’m a big fan of ninebark! I have a collection of 7 different cultivars and make heavy use of them throughout the season.

    Reply
  1717. Cindi Lubarsky on

    I Love Cats Whiskers (Orthosiphon stamineus) They add beautiful texture and movement. And they do look exactly like a cat’s whiskers!

    Reply
  1718. Camille on

    The lilac bushes lining our driveway have got to be my favorite. There is something magical about catching their scent in the wind when I’m walking to the mailbox or coming home from work. I also can’t help but feel like Alice in Wonderland whenever I squeeze through them to get to the other side!

    Reply
  1719. Jan Fritz on

    I jump for joy when the flowering quince show their beautiful red flowers! There is something that fascinates me about just flowers on branches before the leaves start to show. It’s easy and simple artistry in a vase. Elegance personified.

    Reply
  1720. Jessa on

    My favorites will always be the showy cottage style flowers like Delphinium, Peony, Lilac, and Hydrangea. I can’t wait to read this book! I’ve been planning my gardens for next year already with a focus on perennials that can be used in arrangements.

    Reply
  1721. Nan on

    Hellebores. Lots of beautiful varieties to enjoy in the garden year round – plus the deer and bunnies leave them alone. I love seeing them in arrangements too. Thanks for an insightful interview. Love the idea of micro seasons. Looking forward to seeing a great book.

    Reply
  1722. Greta on

    Lilacs :) and crabapple!

    Reply
  1723. Lynnae Raber on

    A favorite of mine is hydrangeas. A hedge of them is such a beautiful sight.

    Reply
  1724. Robin Parsons on

    I was fortune to move into a home with some established shrubs. The rhododendrons are my favorite and they are massive. The property also had some lovely astilbe, and a few years ago I moved several, and some hostas, in a shady area at the back of the yard. When they bloomed the following spring, the bed looked exactly as I envisioned it. That was very rewarding.

    Reply
  1725. Cathy H on

    I think I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift for a few of my favorite gardeners! So hard to choose a favorite but two I’m really enjoying this year are Rose of Sharon and cranberry hibiscus (and False Roselle). The deep crimson color of the foliage and flowers is striking! And such an easy grower in my climate (9B).

    Reply
  1726. Rebecca Adams on

    My favorite perennial – besides dahlias of course- are perennial sweet peas! The flowers are like tiny orchids and the greenery is beautiful in bouquets with the tendrils curling and the interesting shapes of the vines themselves.

    Reply
  1727. Tisha on

    My favorite is hydrangea. Hands dow hydrangeas!

    Reply
  1728. Loretta on

    I’m slowly becoming more obsessed with perennials, so it’s so hard to choose a favorite, but at this second, I’d have to go with salvias.

    Reply
  1729. Laura on

    Peonies are my favorite!!

    Reply
  1730. Adelia on

    I have so many favorites, but right now I am in love with my peonies. Sitting on my screen porch with my morning cup of coffee, and their gentle fragrance surrounding me is pure heaven. Thank you for the interview. It was fantastic.!

    Reply
  1731. Aylwen Gardiner-Garden on

    One of my favourite shrubs is the rose. The anticipation of an opening bud, followed by flowers I can enjoy on the bush or in a vase, the petals I can dry for confetti or turn into jelly, and the bright autumn hips heralding the first frost and chill in the air. The hips make lovely fresh or dried floral displays, and can be dried for teas or cooked into a delicious sweet syrup.

    Reply
  1732. Pamela Lutz on

    Witch hazel is one of my top shrubs (small trees). The fragrance is wonderful, it blooms at a time when blossom is scarce and has an interesting shape. I have one outside the front door and love stepping out of the house to be greeted by that brisk fragrance.

    Reply
  1733. Geralyn on

    Hydragea. In my area wirh heavy clay soil they don’t seem to mind.

    Reply
  1734. Claudia on

    Ein zauberhafter Zierstrauch für den Garten und auch florale Saisonale Arrangements ist die Blutpflaume. Er ist sehr anspruchslos und überrascht jedes Jahr aufs neue mit seinen einmalig schönen filigranen Blüten, die aussehen, wie aus feinem Stoff. Sie blühen nur kurz, vor allem in der Vase, und machen sich so besonders reizvoll und unabkömmlich! Ich habe die Blutpflaume zu meinem Lieblingsgehölz auserkoren und verschenke sie gern als Strauß oder Komposition mit anderen Frühblühern.🌸

    Reply
  1735. Donna on

    My favourite perennial is the Jack Frost Brunnera. Each spring, I enjoy their delicate blue flowers – a beautiful addition to the garden. Their variegated leaves are unique.

    Reply
  1736. Kara on

    Perennials have long been some of my favorites, and I can’t wait for our tulip collection to bloom in the spring! Our lilacs are also quite nostalgic for me as my mom had some growing outside our kitchen window when I was growing up.

    Reply
  1737. Kaitlin on

    Honeysuckle is my favorite! Most people around here consider it a nuisance bush, but I absolutely love the smell and small variations in the flower colors. The honeysuckle bloom time is what I look forward to most in spring!

    Reply
  1738. Sabina K on

    Hellebores! Hellebores are my absolute favourite perennial. The pinks, mauves, dirty purples, bright greens are colours that speak to me. I love how hellebores bring these colours into the winter garden.

    Reply
  1739. Jessica W on

    I’m so looking forward to being inspired by this book! It’s impossible to choose a favorite woody perennial, but right now white current bushes, lilacs, and roses are near the top.

    Reply
  1740. Melinda on

    I especially love autumn and have begun a collection of Japanese maples. Obviously, this is a tree but many stay quite small and shrub-like. With so many leaf colors and sizes, I find them most useful to place in with flower arrangements.

    Reply
  1741. Mary Dorcey on

    This is so inspiring! Wish I could visit her gardens! Sounds like an awesome book!

    Reply
  1742. Sherri Simpson on

    It’s hard to choose a favorite, but the one that gives all year long is Nandina. The leaves are beautiful in arrangements. During the holidays and in the dead of winter, the red berries bring that pop of color I crave in those gray overcast months. The color of the berries slightly fades as spring comes in. But if left undisturbed, they continue to bring cheer amongst my basket of large pine cones.

    Reply
  1743. Crystal Bailey on

    The beautiful gardens in England, thats what drove my husband and I to plant and grow with a purpose. The show, “Gardeners World” is still a favorite of ours. We absolutely would love to visit one day, but we may not return if we did…♡♡ thank you for all you do for all of us Erin.♡

    Reply
  1744. Debbie on

    Favorites are a hard thing! My tried and true, everlasting, hydrangeas, are probably the favorite. I’m finding a new delight in the alum too. They both make beautiful dried flowers also.

    Reply
  1745. DeeDee Jones on

    While I am fairly new to floral gardening and am not familiar with many of the plant names, I can confidently say that Forsythia is my favorite perennial bush. To me it is the curtain on the floral that opens and announces to its fellow Spring perennials “wake up, it’s show time friends!” Thank you for sharing your experiences, the good, bad and ugly, with us all.

    Reply
  1746. Beth Ritzert on

    I absolutely love the hellebore perennial. Their bright, cheery flowers popping up in February in Ohio are such a welcome site. I love cutting them to place in small crystal vases throughout the home.

    Reply
  1747. Kiley Brianna on

    I have a lot of favorites, but one I’m loving right now are my dark deep purple, almost black hollyhocks. There are so many long and thin flower branches coming off the main stalk. They’re great for flower arrangements! It’s a nice POP when mixed with lighter colors too.

    Reply
  1748. Charles Ratt on

    While I always will have a soft spot for peonies, growing up playing among massive bushes that had been planted by my grandmother on the border of my parent’s property, I’ve become very fond of an ornamental quince that I believe she also planted. It’s become a rite of late winter to cut an armload of their angular branches to force blossoms for Easter. As an added bonus, and for better or worse possibly due to climate change, it began setting fruit for the first time around 10 years ago. They’ve made a welcome addition to apple pies, jellies, and my first attempt at membrillo last fall.

    Reply
  1749. Dorothy H on

    My favorite shrub in my garden is my mock orange when its blooms fill the air with the most delicious scent. Always sad when its flowers fade!

    Reply
  1750. Bayleigh Winzenburg on

    Peonies are so beautiful! I planted my first 2 this year, the Paula Fay bloomed, it was thrilling. Looking forward to seeing what the other is next year. I also love when the large hibiscus start bloomer later in the summer.

    Reply
  1751. Jody Arnold on

    The Shrub I Love most is the Viburnum Carlesi which perfumes the air around the house each spring and adds wonderful scent to arrangements indoors. Lilacs and Ninebark are close seconds.

    Reply
  1752. Kay Sims on

    Peonies! Hands down. When I was young most of the women in my family had a row of them in their yard. My sister is carrying on that tradition. They always make me think of our family history and the strong women who built it.

    Reply
  1753. Jules on

    My new favorite perenial is wandflower. The deep pink of the flowers, tethered at different places on the stem, dance and wave with every breeze.

    Reply
  1754. Dianna F on

    My favorite perennial would have to be lilac. To lie in bed and have it’s heavenly scent wafting through the bedroom window. (Contented sigh)

    Reply
  1755. Alex on

    Philadelphus /mock orange. It has such a short season but it’s such a magical time in the spring when it is bloom! Also the scent is so delicious!

    Reply
  1756. Lindsay on

    I love using cut leaf cone flower (rudbeckia lancinata) in mid-late summer. It get so tall and I just love having a four foot tall vase of them taking up space!

    Reply
  1757. Carissa Bakker on

    I just discovered baptisia. I love the light green foliage and the soft oval shape of the leaves. And the flowers are a perfect addition to any bouquet. It’s fun to watch Sunflower Steve create new varieties too!

    Reply
  1758. Kelley on

    I love using physocarpus or ninebark, preferably one with a darker foliage like center glow!

    Reply
  1759. Heather Andrews on

    My grandmothers heirloom peonies festiva maxima grow in my yard. Many pieces of the tuber have been shared with friends and family all over the country. The fragrance is devine and it makes me smile to remember her. She wouls be 100 today.

    Reply
  1760. Jude Townsan on

    Thank you Rachel for sharing and creating such a beautiful and inspiring book. Your journey using mostly natural resources as well as your thoughtful placement of flowers, branches and vines in your arrangements are truly breathtaking. I live in North Carolina and I’m doing my best to be mindful as I plant bushes, flowers and trees in my Serenity Park, as I have named my serene and quiet place behind my home. I’m working now on a Butterfly and Hummingbird garden to inspire these lovely creatures who are always welcomed. I look forward holding your book in my hands to guide me in my dream. Peace, Blessings and Joy!
    Jude🌻

    Reply
  1761. Catherine on

    I learned a lot from the comments! I love the “sunset” colors of yarrow and sprightly pinks of coneflower. Thank you for all the information and inspiration!

    Reply
  1762. Barb Haberkorn on

    As an artist I am very excited to see the gorgeous photography in Rachael’s new book, The Cut Flower Sourcebook! I have been inspired by Erin and Finding Floret to try planting flowers that are new to me, and can be enjoyed inside as well as outside of my home. I look forward to learning about new ways of arranging perrennials and how to expand my garden with this wonderful resource. Thank you Erin for bringing it to our attention and the opportunity to possibly win a copy of this wonderful book!

    Reply
  1763. Christien Conniff on

    So exciting to see such beautiful artwork in the planting of her garden. True artwork in itself. Can’t wait to read her book..

    Reply
  1764. Kate on

    Forsythia! I’m normally not a yellow lover but when I see that bright burst in the spring, I feel an intense stir of hope and excitement every single time.

    Reply
  1765. Brenda Zanola on

    Gardening in heavy deer country has led me toward hellebores. They’re long lasting in my borders with beautiful flowers and untouched by the deer.

    Reply
  1766. Nancy Hampton-Thompson on

    I love my irises. They are all grown from gifted rhizomes,
    And it’s a bit like having a dinner party with old friends. I reminisce and share stories with them as I arrange them.

    Reply
  1767. Emilie Timmermans on

    Ik heb eigenlijk heel erg veel lievelingen!
    Mijn nieuwste is Silene flos-cuculi, in het wild voorkomend in Nederland, maar nu ook in mijn tuin. Op de vaas is ze ook erg interessant!

    Reply
  1768. Amy Shearer on

    Lilacs. Is there really anything better than lilacs?

    Reply
  1769. Carol Castellan on

    Peonies make me swoon! They’re so lush and weighty… every year I wait excitedly until they push up out of the cold mud here in Maine. They ‘re a wonderous plant I dearly love.

    Reply
  1770. Stacey Diehl on

    Lilac is my favorite. It was my grandmother’s favorite and I have several I hope to form into a hedge. Loved the info about the book, sounds like a winner!

    Reply
  1771. Tammy on

    Like the micro seasons, my favorite changes about every five days, but today I’m particularly loving heuchera for it’s colorful foliage and tall wispy bloom spikes.

    Reply
  1772. Sarah Geraghty on

    So many favourites! Alchemilla mollis for foliage, solomon’s seal for Spring arches, Knautia macedonica for floatiness, hydrangea paniculata and lots of dahlias, roses and peonies. This book sounds amazing so will keep my fingers crossed.

    Reply
  1773. Lorna Corso on

    I live in the midst of orchards and farms in Northern Michigan. We live on and maintain a bit less than two acres. Half is wooded. It is still a work in progress. Over the years what I have planted as part of my vision and what grows successfully on this land don’t always match up. The deer believe I am offering them a buffet and when the winters are particularly harsh, they look to all that is growing on this property to sustain them. My favorites (in the order they bloom) begin with a Forsythia shrub which heralds Spring. Then the Lilac bushes, an explosion of purple that fills the air with their beautiful scent followed by Lavender bushes. My favorite color combination is the Sunshine Ligustrum Shrub and Purple Saliva.

    Reply
  1774. Gwendolyn on

    I love lavender … so beautiful… so fragrant … I always manage to come home with some when I’m out at the garden center!

    Reply
  1775. Amy Joliet on

    I love using penstemon (beardtongue) in arrangements – holds up well and provides good upright structure.

    Reply
  1776. Melissa on

    So hard to choose, but Hellebore is definitely a favorite. As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring they’re always so exciting to see. It’s nearly the summer solstice now, and I’m still cutting from them.

    Reply
  1777. Angie Bittel on

    What a lovely interview!! Peonies are probably one of my favorite perennials! So many gorgeous colors…

    Reply
  1778. Sarah on

    Weigela! I love the color of the leaves and how they fan out! So pretty!

    Reply
  1779. Elizabeth England on

    Hi Erin – thanks for another wonder-filled post. Books, like those you, Rachel and (I’d also include English floral designer Willow Crossly) have written are my “bibles” — So much wisdom, expertise and inspiration to be had! (Insert “pounding heart” emoji here :) My all time favorite woody is lilac. Although top-heavy and sometimes tricky to arrange, the scent is intoxicating and never fails to remind me of my master gardener grandmother, Fanny. The seed pods of Ninebark and the billowy fronds of Smokebush are also brilliant to work with. Finally, our Quince shrubs are true harbingers of Spring here in Zone 7 and they inspire Ikebana-like arrangements, while the fruit is a bonus, making for a lovely paste/membrillo to accompany cheese. With appreciation for all the beauty you bring to us Erin!

    Reply
  1780. Linda on

    One of my favorite shrubs is Abelia . It’s beautiful in the landscape but equally beautiful in flower arrangements. Its graceful arching branches are perfect for adding movement to your bouquets.

    Reply
  1781. Ashley Crowe on

    This is perfect! I just moved to a new property and am working on putting in perennials and woodies and feel a little overwhelmed.

    My favorite garden roses. ❤️

    Reply
  1782. Amy C on

    I would love to encircle my home in hydrangeas 💖

    Reply
  1783. Kelsey on

    My favorite Is baptesia. It’s native to where I live and I love that it blooms after the bulbs but before hardy annuals. It has a rich history for the United States and I love that it comes in so many colors.

    Reply
  1784. Stacy Clore on

    I love many types of hydrangeas.. I wish I had rows and rows of each variety in the farm. The colors are so divine and different on each type❤️

    Reply
  1785. Deborah Broughton on

    My favorite is tricolor ginger. As the sun is setting if you catch the garden at just the right time, these plants seem to be glowing. It’s a beautiful sight!

    Reply
  1786. Nancy Oczkowski on

    Peonies are my favourites! I just love watching the transition from that tight little ant covered bud to bursting into gorgeous bloom!

    Reply
  1787. Varetta on

    As a newbie flower farmer, I have fallen in love with helloborus,. The different stages of their growth that can be used are awesome. I have always loved growing perennials and shrubs. My desire is to have more of them on the property that will made great bouquets and arrangements. Rachel’s new book sounds like what I need in my library.
    Have a great day on purpose!

    Reply
  1788. Diane Pilon on

    My favorite perenial shrub has been the Hydrangea shrub which produces beautiful flowers throughout the summer and fall.

    Reply
  1789. Cassandra Atwood on

    I love hydrangeas! So many beautiful varieties, but I especially love the lace and limelights!

    Reply
  1790. Lisa Rauh on

    Peonies! They hold my best memories at my mothers farm and my dad yelling at me to get my face out of them before I got stung by bees .I just wanted to inhale all of the wonderful fragrance and fill my lungs . I’m excited to move back to the farm and plant as many as I can get my hands on !!!

    Reply
  1791. Marti Hood on

    Looking forward to my own copy of this book. It looks like a wonderful reference.

    Reply
  1792. Jeanne Wilson on

    I don’t live in a rural area but I do my best to grow a variety of perennials to use for cut flowers. I was lucky to inherit a bed full of peonies that I like to add to a vase with my expanding lupine. I also like using boxwood as filler. I don’t have many flowers on my property yet but my goal is to grow enough to have a small street-side floral giveaway to raise money for mental health.

    Reply
  1793. Erika Nelaon on

    My latest favorite is false indigo or Baptist’s. I adore the foliage and the strength of the flower.

    Reply
  1794. Kathryn Hinton on

    My first perennial love is peonies, and I have collected many varieties over the years. However, in the recent years, woody shrub varieties such as ninebarks and weigela varieties have captured my heart. I am very excited to read this book to learn about more unknown to me perennials for flower arranging.

    Reply
  1795. Michelle on

    Forsythia. My husband hates it because it gets so large. I love it because it is the backbone to ALL of my bouquets and arrangements. That being said, peonies, roses, lilacs, coneflowers… all have a special place just because they’re minimal work packed with beauty.

    Reply
  1796. Melissa Deseve on

    Delphiniums are one of my favourite perennials to grow because they are such a delight for the eyes!

    Reply
  1797. Shauna Ramos on

    It’s got to be hydrangeas… I find myself planting them where ever I find an open spot in my garden. It doesn’t matter which type : paniculata, arboresens, macrophylla, or serrata I love them all and have full shade and full sun areas here in Texas to plant them all. Rachel’s book sounds lovely! Can’t wait to read it!!

    Reply
  1798. Karen on

    I have a huge shrub called variegated privet. It doesn’t seem to be invasive, because I’ve never seen another one! I love using it!

    Reply
  1799. Rochelle Buckley on

    I love boxwoods! The dense structure and beautiful green leaves are attractive features and make them the perfect shrub!

    Reply
  1800. Lise couture on

    Peonies. And anything with colour!!!! It’s so hard to choose one perennial as I sit on my porch looking out at nature!!! And listen to the songs around me

    Reply
  1801. Laura Nowlin on

    Can’t wait to read this book! I’m drawn to ninebarks for cutting, and the chartreuse foliage of ‘Golden Spirit’ Smokebush is perfection.

    Reply
  1802. Anna on

    This looks like such a great book! I’m loving my spirea and my ornamental plum tree for its foliage right now. But my favorite perennials change all the time!

    Reply
  1803. Ashley on

    Peonies, hydrangeas, and roses are my favorite. I don’t have any experience growing them (yet), but look forward to learning how to grow and help them thrive.

    Reply
  1804. Laura Roy on

    I love false indigo for the flowers and the foliage!

    Reply
  1805. Heather Brunelle on

    My favorite shrub is Cornus sericea (commonly known as red twig dogwood or red osier dogwood), a native species to the United States. The bright red stems provide wonderful color to the garden during the darker months. Fresh cut stems are nice for arrangements and for crafring.

    Reply
  1806. Lisa Lynk on

    The bleeding heart is the first plant that made me believe in God. Something so unique and beautiful had to have a designer! I never could get them to grow so I made my mom promise me that when she got to heaven it would be her job to keep my bleeding hearts alive. It’s been seven years now and I’ve had gorgeous bleeding hearts every year.

    Reply
  1807. Lorraine Ballato on

    Love hydrangeas. The flowers are long lasting and chameleon-like as they morph into other colors while they age. And then you get to use the dried version (as well as when they are fresh) for home decor. Fabulous shrub!

    Reply
  1808. Lincy on

    I’m so new at this but been learning by observing for years. We’ve just bought our first home a year ago and I have a clean blank slate with near empty garden beds that have caked up hard with neglect. I walk around my neighborhood taking notes and slowly creating a a mental list of what is attractive to my eye – Irises, tulips, English roses, snowball viburnum, lilacs, ranunculus and anemones have made it so far!!

    Reply
  1809. Courtney on

    I’m in love with my hydrangeas, with different colors showing out sometimes right beside each other, sharing what I thought was the same soil conditions! Thanks for the interview and opportunity to win a copy of the book!

    Reply
  1810. Eliza on

    At the moment, a favorite is high bush cranberry for flowers and heartiness

    Reply
  1811. Ellie on

    I love using small branches of the new spring growth of my weeping birch in arrangements. I am definitely ordering this book!

    Reply
  1812. Anne Branco on

    One of my favorite perennials is purple coneflower. Not only is it beautiful in arrangements and in the garden, but it is a wonderful herb to treat colds. A real win-win!

    Reply
  1813. Rebecca Yan on

    What a lovely interview!This is a hard choice, but I will go with peonies…gorgeous flowers, the plants are so easy and no disease or pests bother them, and they stick around for decades!

    Reply
  1814. Denise on

    My very first outdoor gardening adventure was a small perennial garden on the side of my first house. I completely fell in love with the organized chaos, planting any perennials and herbs my generous friends offered when they were dividing their overgrown plants and adding what I found in nurseries and catalogs. It’s almost impossible to name a favorite of these lovelies, but I did love the Moonbeam Coreopsis. Sadly, I have no pictures of this garden as this time immediately preceded the time when we could not live without our cellphone!

    Reply
  1815. Amy Clements on

    Mock orange – a wonderfully fragrant and fleeting flowering shrub

    Reply
  1816. Lois on

    I live in the south and live camelias and gardenias. Inspiring to think of ways to use them in an arrangement.

    Reply
  1817. Tammy on

    This resource has come along at the perfect time as I’m planning to add woodies this fall!

    Reply
  1818. Pam Watson on

    Camellias are my favourite shrub. They produce their beautiful flowers in whites, pinks and reds, and a few yellows, all through Autumn, Winter and Spring when few other plants have flowers. Some have small sprays of small flowers, like ‘Our Melissa’ and others have large blooms. Branches can be the background, or the starring feature. An individual bloom can fit in a tiny vase or several can float in a bowl of water.

    Reply
  1819. Risë H on

    Hellebores are my passion lately! Love how they will pop through the snow in late winter…a sign that spring won’t be far off! My favorite time of the year.

    Reply
  1820. Jennie Broyles on

    Forsythia is on my favorites list because it is my official Winter to Spring transition. I am able to use the beautiful yellow blooms when nothing else is blooming. Then it provides long lasting greenery through the last Autumn blooms.

    Reply
  1821. Robin on

    Would love to sit in the garden under the shade and spend the day turning pages and dreaming.

    Reply
  1822. isabellagarden on

    Lady’s Mantle is one of my favorites, especially after a rain when the water collects in the leaves. The bloom color seems to go with anything I put together in an arrangement. Every June my favorite cut flower arrangement is peonies, catmint, and Lady’s Mantle. Beautiful!

    Reply
  1823. Elizabeth Haller on

    My favorite perennial is Scabiosa ‘Blue Fama.” It adds a blue/lavender color while blooming from peony season to frost.

    Reply
  1824. Debbie on

    Lilacs are a favorite for their color and scent, but also because they remind me of my Grandmother and the fifth-generation farmhouse where I grew up.

    Reply
  1825. Sandy Irvin on

    I discovered lupins this spring and I cannot get over how lovely they are in an arrangement. The scent is spicy, almost peppery, but like in perfume, in a bouquet with other scents, it works. The colours shift as the blooms age. They are vibrant like watercolour.

    Reply
  1826. megan williams on

    Appreciate the sharing of this resource. Looks great! I am in NE US and adore yarrow. We’ve had periods of drought in the last few years and this beautiful medicinal plant does well. Many colors for a variety of palettes too!

    Reply
  1827. Valerie McCarthy on

    Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’, white bleeding heart is one of my favorite perennials. This book looks lovely. I am redoing my garden this year and cannot wait to have a cutting garden again next year. This book would be great for planning!

    Reply
  1828. Debbie Hearn on

    Rachel’s book is on a wish-list for my 60th birthday, which is coming up. Since moving to Devon, England, one of my favourite shrubs for cutting is the wild tutsan, Hypericum androsaemum. It pops up all over my garden. The flowers are bright, but small and discreet. The berries are a warm orange hue and the leaves are also tinged with colour. It is an excellent filler and I cut from it, for several months of the year. There is always plenty and the bees and birds enjoy their share, too.

    Reply
  1829. Megan on

    Peonies of course! I also love the delicate blooms of lily of the valley.

    Reply
  1830. Leslie Messersmith on

    I’m so excited to hear about this new book and Rachel’s approach to growing and arranging flowers. It is so similar to how I do flowers and after nine years at my current location, I finally have quite a variety of blooms and shrubs to choose from. I have been building my perennial gardens and at the moment my favorite flower is a wide variety of echinaceas. I have quite a few plants in a color palette from white and pink to shades of yellow, orange and red. I’ll add in ranunculus, which just finished blooming, daisies, coral bells, foxglove and ferns. I also use baptisia leaves- they have so many soft shades of green and a nice, almost round shape. One oak leaf hydrangea bloom is also a great addition to an arrangement. If I don’t win this book, I’ll definitely be purchasing it!

    Reply
  1831. Rhon Gebauer on

    Peonies are by far my favorite. Their beauty and fragrance are so lovely.

    Reply
  1832. Gaby on

    I love my hibiscus. They come back beautifully every year and I’ve now been able to split a couple. I think they’re technically bulbs, but I also love swatching gladiolus grow every year. The bees love them!

    Reply
  1833. Amanda on

    The smell of Lilacs in the spring just make you want to search of those lavender beauties!

    Reply
  1834. Sally Hilfiger on

    I love our hydrangeas! They had a hard winter but are coming back and look so beautiful with their large heads of beautiful blue to purple to pink and white flowers all through our shady yard. Some have been purchased and some have been started from cuttings. When they are in bloom, they are stunning!

    Reply
  1835. Susanna on

    I have always love hydrangeas, but lately I have been loving hellebores.

    Reply
  1836. Melanie on

    I would love to learn more about basing my growing with perennials that exist in my area; and the idea of letting the flowers speak to her to inspire her creations is enchanting.

    Reply
  1837. Elizabeth Cryderman on

    I love using birch branches in my arrangements especially in the early spring when there is not a lot of greenery available. It can make a straight bunch of tulips or daffodils look so much more cottagey and whimsical.

    Reply
  1838. Sara on

    Hydrangeas are one of my favs but I am finding that hellebores are too. I love to see them blooming when nothing else has even broken ground and then there are perennial ferns some even stay green all winter. As you can see I have lots of favorites!

    Reply
  1839. Tamara on

    Forsythia . They bring me back to my childhood. Lilacs as well. There was a huge lilac bush on my great grandfather’s farm. Every year we looked forward to cutting some to bring in the house. Love the scent!

    Reply
  1840. Heidi Hays on

    Peonies from my dear friend’s peony farm have inspired me to plant many varieties in my own small yard. Learning how to harvest them to extend the season and enjoying all the many beautiful colors have become my passion. Such an old fashioned flower with childhood memories now make such new beautiful memories every spring!

    Reply
  1841. Jen on

    Hydrangeas are super easy and reliable. I love how easy they are to propagate, but deer love them as much it seems.

    I love foxglove and that I can start them from seed. They are so fun and tall.

    Daisies and sweet peas make me happy.

    I love the smell of lilacs.

    I wish lupines would work for me. I haven’t figured them out.

    Reply
  1842. Helen Hartman on

    I enjoy using stems with rose hips in early autumn bouquets. They add structure and I take advantage of their horizontal thrust. Thank you for sharing this inspiring post!

    Reply
  1843. Zoe on

    As spring gives way to the heat of summer, I will miss Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts). Their delicate flowers and lacy foliage dance and add movement to any spring floral arrangement. I started growing them because they were my grandmother’s favorite and soon discovered their beauty in a vase. Lines from Mary Oliver’s poem say it all for me…..“ More delicious, anyway is to remember my grandmother’s pleasure when the dissolve of winter was over and the green knobs appeared and began to rise, and to create their many hearts.…”

    Reply
  1844. Diane on

    I have coneflowers and hydrangeas in my gardens. I love the structure and fullness of the hydrangeas.

    Reply
  1845. Victoria Way on

    As I was born in the desert Southwest, I have a soft spot for Yuccas! The juxtaposition of the fuffy flowers with the lower spiky foliage… it’s so beautiful to me.

    However! I’d never dream of cutting the bloom though, so I’d have to say that Lilacs would be my favorite cut flower shrub.

    Reply
  1846. Cindy Todoroff on

    I love fothergilla for its beautiful airy flowers that shows up in early spring (before most things have perked up)! Fothergilla also provides a lovely fall show with the most colorful leaves. I love the beauty this plant provides throughout the seasons!

    Reply
  1847. Patricia Scolnik on

    Even though I have gardened for many years and grown wonderful hellebores, peonies, irises, alliums and grasses, I have struggled to find suitable shrubs for arrangements. Flowering trees in spring are obvious choices and hydrangeas but beyond that, in the woody category, I could use some help! I do love adding Japanese Maple branches to the mix. There are so many gorgeous leaf colors and shapes.

    Reply
  1848. Julie Pauken on

    I haven’t done a lot with shrubs, so when Ninebark got on my radar I was absolutely thrilled. I would call that my favorite right now, but also, while at the local plant nursery, I got ahold of a shrub I hadn’t even thought of since childhood: Pussywillow! I’ll be curious to see how I can use it in flower arranging as well as the Ninebark.

    Reply
  1849. Marla on

    Baptisia for the flower and foliage. Love the Limelight hydrangeas for fresh and dried designs. Never enough ninebark and viburnums and would love to sneak in some willows sometime for wreath making bases. Give me all the perennials and woodies! So dependable and not as finicky as some annuals can be.

    Reply
  1850. Rosie on

    I think baptisia is one of my current favorites, the flowers come in such lovely colors and the foliage is wonderful?

    Reply
  1851. Sarah on

    The magnolia tree in my back yard is particularly beautiful and inspiring.

    Reply
  1852. Amy Kaufman on

    Wine colored ninebark, especially when in bloom, enhances most arrangements with its tonality and form

    Reply
  1853. Kristina on

    Hellebores 🤍 I first discovered them 12 years ago when I was a food editor at Martha Stewart Living and working on a baking show filmed on her farm. There was a shaded stone path near our cottage that was just full of them and, though I already had a bit of a green thumb at this ripe young age, I had never seen or even heard of them before. I was instantly enchanted by their whimsical beauty…as lovely as they are there is something ever so slightly melancholy about them – perhaps their muted color palette, or their downward pointing faces. I have since been drawn to them and I would love to read and learn about Rachel’s experiences with them :)

    Reply
  1854. Kim Goodling on

    Lupines! No New England farmhouse is complete without Lupines in the garden!

    Reply
  1855. Catherine on

    My favorite shrub is Eastern Snowball Viburnum. Some years we are very lucky and the viburnum, peonies and iris are all blooming at the same time and we have stunning arrangements. But even by itself, the snowball viburnum is wonderful.

    Reply
  1856. Monica on

    I love Ranunculus, unfortunately this is my second failed season, as the deers found a way to mine and ate it… Also Hydrangea!

    Reply
  1857. Sarah on

    I love lilacs. ❤️ So beautiful. Can’t wait to grow one of my own.

    Reply
  1858. Debra Pryor on

    Daisy’s are always so lovely and dainty to put in a vase

    Reply
  1859. Lyndsay Hemmick on

    It has to be peonies for me. They have become a collection. I was gifted my first peony plant on my first Mother’s Day and have since collected other plants from my best friend’s house when she moved away and as other thoughtful gifts from friends and family. When we moved I had to dig them up and take them with me. I think of these experiences and people every time I see the new blooms pop up.

    Reply
  1860. Jennifer on

    Mine has to be any Hydrangea. The smaller varieties i have ticked into my landscape, around my patio and in pots. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book.

    Reply
  1861. Anne Medsger on

    Baptisia (False indigo) is a wonderful plant with beautifully colored grey- green foliage and brilliant blue blossom sprays that are attractive additions to arrangements. It dependably appears in the spring and is attractive through the growing season finishing with dramatic seed pods that are also great in arrangements. It is a hardy, attractive and dependable plant and one of my favorites.

    Reply
  1862. Jessie Chapman on

    I’ve added hellebores to my perennial garden, to use as cut flowers in the cold months. Lovely interview!

    Reply
  1863. Sarah on

    I just stumbled upon some Mockorange “Blizzard”, in bloom in Vermont in zone 3 and was gobsmacked by their beauty.

    Reply
  1864. Lisa on

    Lilacs are a favorite. Their wonderful scent fills a room.

    Reply
  1865. Talya on

    Ceonothus. Evergreen (usually), waxy shiny leaves, disease free, sweet smelling purple flowers.

    Reply
  1866. Sofi on

    Astilbe is one of my top favorites. It is deer resistant, which is important where I live, airy and beautiful, and can live in shade and clay soil, making it accessible to many! Thank you for this interview – I really enjoyed reading it!

    Reply
  1867. Joan on

    So many choices, I love my ninebark shrub and so do the deer, but it still manages to bloom. Lenten roses last bloom for a king time and are wonderful to see in the spring

    Reply
  1868. Linda on

    I have a double bloom red quince shrub that is a showstopper in the spring. It’s a little close to the house as it grows in leaps and bounds every year. My husband wants to take it out but I keep pruning it to an acceptable size as I refuse to lose it. This spring I experimented with forcing some branches for a spring bouquet and they responded beautifully! I love my lavender and lilacs as well..not to mention all that grows wild in my fields. One only has to look to see the beauty all around us!

    Reply
  1869. Marsha Randazzo on

    I fell in love with Hellebores/Lenten Roses a few years ago. The flowers are unique and the leaves add something to the winter landscape.

    Reply
  1870. Wendy on

    What a wonderful resource!

    Reply
  1871. Robin on

    Oh, and I love branches of crabapple added to arrangements, and Baptisia greens is one of my favorite fillers. Common white cedar is another greenery added to my summer bud vases.
    ( I forgot to comment about favorite plants the first time!)

    Reply
  1872. Alyssa on

    Lilacs, their smell always feels like home to me because we had them along the driveway where I grew up. As an adult I appreciate both their smell and how beautiful they are.

    Reply
  1873. Jeanne DeCosmo on

    I love seeing the rhododendron bloom in the spring, They are easy and reliable

    Reply
  1874. Candi Calcandy on

    I love poppies and sunflowers and some bark and make an arrangement.

    Reply
  1875. Sheila on

    Woodland Viburnium in the spring.

    Reply
  1876. Kelly Spell on

    I’ve always been obsessed with peonies because they grow so willingly with little fuss ❤️

    Reply
  1877. Stefanie on

    Thank you for this interview. Very inspirational. Lilacs are a favorite of mine. They are so quintessentially spring and their scent can bring back memories of springs long ago.

    Reply
  1878. Sharon DeBacco on

    I eagerly await our Kousa Dogwood blooms – they signal the start of summer in arrangements throughout our home. As blooms get scarce when winter rolls in, a snip or two of our Japanese Umbrella Pine brings warmth and texture with a few spots of color from various fall or winter berries. Very much looking forward to reading the book.

    Reply
  1879. Lauren on

    Has to be hydrangeas for me! Looking forward to reading and learning more from Rachel!

    Reply
  1880. Melissa Foster on

    My two favorites I use consistently are yarrow and coneflower. They always bring me so much joy.

    Reply
  1881. Tina on

    Hydrangea! My daughters loved clipping and arranging from our hydrangea bush at our old home. (It was an outstanding, existing landscape from the previous owners!) We’ve since moved (own a greenhouse – grow annual hanging baskets), and are eager to create a new perennial landscape to draw from. We homeschool, and my girls want to start selling arrangements (and honey!) at the farmers markets one day. :)

    Reply
  1882. M A Cramer on

    Common Ninebark is my favorite. Color transition thru the seasons and the textures offer great foundation to any garden and its tribute to growing.

    Reply
  1883. Gail Hollis on

    I love my beautiful lavender Rose of Sharon. I received a cutting 4 years ago from a coworker and babied my new sprout probably more than I needed. Last year I had a tenacious bunny that kept mowing down my new growth so I placed a ring of hardware cloth around it the whole summer. This summer it is flourishing with buds and blooms and is almost 3 ft tall. She’s lovely.

    Reply
  1884. Becky scheller on

    Love hydrangeas also. I have several and especially like oak leaf and a have one called Bobo .

    Reply
  1885. Bev Ferguson on

    I have to say I just love peonies and hellebores!!! Thanks so much for giving us a chance to win one of your books!!!

    Reply
  1886. Linda Elliott on

    Rosemary! We have so many deer in our area that it’s a must! After that…Peonies!

    Reply
  1887. Corinne Charpentier on

    Hello! Corinne from RI here and one of my favorite perennials for cutting is solidago. I love all of the many varieties that grow in my ecoregion. They remind me of summer at my family vacation home and the deep yellows make me happy!

    I love the idea of this book and can’t wait to dig into it!
    Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  1888. Christina L. on

    I just planted Ginger wine nine bark for the first time. Leaves of deep red and bronze stand out among the traditional (and lovely) green nine bark. I am just discovering the potential of woodies and shrubs in both floral work and stream restoration. A win-win for our land.

    Reply
  1889. Sue Leach on

    My favourite perennial is Salvia nemerosa Caradonna – it looks fabulous in the garden , flowers FOREVER, is adored by bees and can add real drama to every arrangement from a simple posy to hand tied bouquet . It works with a huge array of shapes and colours and also has medicinal qualities .. I have hundreds of plants as super easy to propagate and lifts every bed or arrangement I put it in …..

    Reply
  1890. Genoa Clark on

    Right now my favorite perennial to cut is summer yarrow/achillea… the gift that keeps on giving. Can’t wait to read this book!!!

    Reply
  1891. Megan Z on

    Hydrangeas! For me they herald summer and all the associated memories of my childhood spent at my grandparents. I love all the colors/shapes and how long they keep.

    Reply
  1892. Joanne Hass on

    I am hard pressed to pick a favorite but I look forward each year to the blooming of my Sensation Lilac. The flower is so unusual and the scent lovely.

    Reply
  1893. Jessica on

    Hard to choose just one perennial favorite but I love Yarrow as a filler with lots of beautiful color options.

    Reply
  1894. Robin on

    Sounds like a wonderful book!

    Reply
  1895. Jessy on

    Bridal Wreath Spirea- absolutely stunning In the landscape and cut in bouquets or large installs!

    Reply
  1896. Megan on

    Peonies for me! Nothing heralds summer like an explosion of big fluffy peony blooms.

    Reply
  1897. Heather on

    I love perennials, especially for their winter interest as well. In regards to blooms, penstemon are my favorite in the spring and then black eyed susans in the summer.

    Reply
  1898. Pat Helmrichs on

    Erin thank you so much for sharing so much information with us all! I love using woody stems like forsythia or apple blossoms in arrangements and would love to learn more. Their fleeting nature is a part of their beauty and a good reminder to me to savor the day.

    Reply
  1899. Anita Chastain on

    I love day lilies. I love their airiness and simplicity. I also love that they thrive in the hot and sandy conditions in my area. Just beautiful!

    Reply
  1900. Carole Winterhalter on

    I love my Japanese Anemones, especially the pink version. They flower for a long time, are a vigorous grower and spread through out the garden.

    Reply
  1901. Jennifer Cummings on

    Kolkwitzia and Physocarpus are two of my favorite shrubs for arrangements! And one can’t beat Mock Orange for fragrance!

    Reply
  1902. Ashley Williams on

    I have to pick just one! I would have to pick roses then, they are so prolific and beautiful and I just love them, peonies and hydrangeas are at the top of my list also.

    Reply
  1903. Rachel on

    Peonies!!! I have 6 varieties and love every single one!

    Reply
  1904. Michael on

    I love my dinner plate hibiscus. All summer long it has these burgundy and unique shaped foliage and by August I get these gorgeous red, white, and pink dinner sized blooms that continue to flower everyday until a heavy frost!

    Reply
  1905. Maria on

    Peonies & Clematis!

    Reply
  1906. Shaina Arb on

    My favorite perennials right now are coneflowers and coreopsis! I just love how they’re first to bloom and seeing their greenery coming in in early spring is such a huge joy to me after winter. I love seeing how much the bees love them too and they get fuller every year so I don’t feel bad cutting a ton too 😊

    Reply
  1907. Deb Webber on

    My most favorite perennial is the allium. The beautiful globe-like flowers last right into the winter reminding me of what to look forward to in the spring. Thank you for sharing your passion with everyone!

    Reply
  1908. Rebecca Rubin on

    Glamour Girl tall garden phlox is the bright light of my perennial garden. Just like her name suggests, she’s the image of sophistication and beauty, and she glows all summer long.

    Reply
  1909. CeCe Dodd on

    Peonies! I have lined my walled garden with different varieties to maximize bloom time. From the first marshmallow bud to the last, my garden and home are filled with these beauties every spring! I have heirloom plants divided from family gardens of the past, new ones sought out after recommendations, and an entire bed of plants I saved from a neighbors garden when the new owners moved in and dug them up. I will never say no to a peony!

    Reply
  1910. Elena Tonna on

    I love lavender, especially the way it smells as your brush past it. And those purple flowers are gorgeous!

    Reply
  1911. Bonnie Preissler on

    I am in zone 9a and I love my Oakleaf hydrangea, I love their blooms and their leaves, plus they are a native here! I also love growing pitosporum they are a gorgeous plant for flower arranging.

    Reply
  1912. Jasmine Roberts on

    Nishiki Willow❤️. We used shrubs instead of annuals for our wedding and now every year we watch our plants and our love mature.

    Reply
  1913. Cathy on

    I never thought to use my honeysuckle vine for cut arrangements, but after reading and watching Floret I was inspired! Now I look at everything in my yard having potential!!! So much fun…

    Reply
  1914. Kim on

    Adding perennial flowers, shrubs, and trees is essential for sustainable development of a garden. Native plants and naturalizing helps wildlife as well. Thank you for sharing this new resource and the interview.

    Reply
  1915. Janice on

    Lilacs and hydrangeas for me. They are reliable and full. I also like ladies mantle for those lovely round leaves to add to the arrangements.

    Reply
  1916. Nancy Heskett on

    I love peonies. They mark the beginning of our u-pick season.

    Reply
  1917. Emily Boyce on

    I love gladiolus; I just planted some earlier this spring and check on them every morning with great anticipation. It’s become my favorite part of my morning routine before my baby wakes up and my time isn’t my own. Also my grandmother always had gladiolus in her yard and used them for her wedding bouquet.

    Reply
  1918. Breana E on

    Peonies and roses are my favorites!

    Reply
  1919. Kimberly Huseman on

    Always looking for ways to incorporate my perennial bushes into cut flower arrangements. Cannot wait to learn more. My favorite (right now) is butterfly bush.

    Reply
  1920. Lindsey Stanton on

    This year I have been loving my snapdragons and hydrangeas! Just planted new perennial daisies as well. Of course the peony love is always strong.

    Reply
  1921. Debra Oster on

    I have a hard time cutting flowers from my flower beds for floral arrangements so this year I revamped one flower bed into a cutting flower bed. I am hoping that as the plants in this bed bloom, I will use them to create bouquets.

    Reply
  1922. Rachel Detweiler on

    I love weigela for it’s early-mid spring foliage and flowers. As well as physocarpus. It’s hard to pick a favorite; it changes every time a new micro season begins 😉

    Reply
  1923. Cherie Hallock on

    I really love my mini limelight hydrangea. I have only one, but it produces tons of flowers throughout the summer and into fall. I use the blooms in all my arrangements and it is truly a wonderful shrub to grow! I also just added several peonies to my flower garden and I’m looking forward to wonderful spring flowers.

    Reply
  1924. Aly Herrick on

    I am a new gardener, so the only flowering perennials I have are daffodils and hydrangeas. I definitely need to do some research for what/how to add for the coming year. Love the look of foxglove, hellebores, and peonies!

    Reply
  1925. Elizabeth Berry on

    Peonies are definitely my favorite perennial, such a beauty!

    Reply
  1926. Bianca on

    Peonies are definitely some of my favorite!!

    Reply
  1927. Heather on

    I enjoy peonies and I am starting to experiment with roses. I look forward to your posts and recommendations for learning more!

    Reply
  1928. Hannah Wolfe on

    I bought my house in summer and liked the burgundy-purple leaves of the two big loropetalum out front but I wasn’t wild about them – I didn’t know what they were yet, and they weren’t blooming like everything else around them. By winter, all else had faded and the loropetalum exploded with its airy pink fringe-like blossoms, and I have been obsessed since. The colder it gets, the more they bloom – even on sporadic cold days in spring, the loropetalum found the energy to throw out more pompoms to celebrate. It is definitely a woody shrub but mine at least grow like a weed – they’d be taller than the house if I let them have their way. By far my favorites!

    Reply
  1929. Christina on

    Cone flowers!!! I love them! They are by far and away the most predominant flower on our farm. They’re so reliable and once established just return every year bigger and bigger and require little to no work.

    Reply
  1930. Kristy on

    Hydrangeas are one of my favorites, I’m really looking forward to them blooming this year.

    Reply
  1931. Barb on

    My favorite shrubs are the Spring bloomers: Forsythia, Lilac, Snowball Viburnum. After a long winter there’s nothing better than a big bouquet to herald Spring! Then come the roses! Lots of roses!! Love them all 🩷🩷🩷

    Reply
  1932. Evelyn on

    I’m a fan of the mock orange. Nice foliage and clusters of springtime white flowers with subtle fragrance. Easy to propagate. Adds volume to floral designs.

    Reply
  1933. Jean C. on

    My favorite shrub is lilac, the herald of spring. And my favorite perennial is the coneflower a stalwart of summer.

    Reply
  1934. Ruth on

    My Lenten roses. Nothing like seeing them in February. Heaven!

    Reply
  1935. Erika R on

    I love lilacs. The smell can instantly take me back to my childhood and visiting my great grandmother who had a huge lilac by her front walk.

    Reply
  1936. Stacey Allison on

    I love fragrant flowers so I am going to say peonies are one of my favorite perennials. Mine always seem to hit the ground after a heavy rain so I need to fix that but they smell so good and are so big and vibrant.

    Rachel’s book sounds wonderful. I have all of the Floret books and love them. I know I would love hers too.

    Reply
  1937. Daksha Baumann on

    I have a love/hate relationship with a Campanula that I grow. In my garden it is borderline thuggishly invasive…too, too generous. So I edit its spread and weed out seedlings and try to keep it contained. At times I’ve wondered if I should get rid of it all. BUT I do love it as a cut. It offers long stems, long vase life, and huge dangling bells nicely spaced out on the stem and a soft, nondescript white with speckles that blends with everything else.

    Reply
  1938. Dana Russell on

    I love my lilac bushes! The scent that wafts through the house when I open the windows takes me back to my childhood.

    Reply
  1939. Amanda Gervais on

    Peonies are my current favorite because they are currently in season! Soon Globe thistles will be my favorite and the bees love them too!

    Reply
  1940. Maggy Watkins on

    This sounds a fascinating book and one I would love to own. I live in North Nottinghamshire and weather conditions this year have been challenging with frosts, heat and drought. Now lots of rain I would really like to know what grows best in this area. I love dahlias, peonies. Roses and wild flowers such as campion and Queen Anne,’s Lace would love to know what to put with these and what to grow from seed

    Reply
  1941. Caroline on

    I love my grape vines. They add a textural element that pleases me.

    Reply
  1942. Christa on

    Hydrangeas, both for their foliage and beautiful blooms.

    Reply
  1943. Ana F on

    Reading this interview reminded me of how I i love Bridal Spirea and need to plant some in my newest garden.

    Reply
  1944. Teresa Beamish on

    I love lilacs and peonies for cutting. I’m looking to learn more about growing other perennials and shrubs for adding to my arrangements. I’m still new to growing a cutting garden, mostly annuals, so I’m excited to start adding in some other materials that I have growing year after year. I love your blog. Thank you for introducing us to great information and growers from around the world!

    Reply
  1945. Courtney on

    I live in Brazil. One of my favorites is a red-leafed one, technically herbaceous but it doesn’t die back and grows huge. It’s called penicilina – Alternanthera brasiliana. It’s gorgeous and so vigorous that it often roots in the vase!

    Reply
  1946. Liz on

    My limelight hydrangeas are the workhorse of my cutting gardens!

    Reply
  1947. Sandy Leroy on

    I’m a big fan of Physocarpus in all its forms and especially Leycesteria formosa ‘Golden Lanterns’. Great supporting players.

    Reply
  1948. Jessica Gates on

    My favorite shrub so far has been Ninebark Coppertina. Would love a book like this to help me decide which others to start planting on the farm! We did put in hellebores Soloman’s Seal and lots of peonies of course!

    Reply
  1949. Nancy Stewart on

    This sounds intriguing. I have had the opportunity to visit England and many of the beautiful gardens on three occasions. I would love to see the flowers and shrubs this book includes!

    Reply
  1950. Alli on

    Feverfew currently is my fav! Daisies were the first flowers I planted 15 years ago, so a miniature daisy was sure to steal my heart. ❤️

    Reply
  1951. Cheryl on

    I love the ornamental elderberry shrubs.

    Reply
  1952. Andrea Steele on

    I am trying to add more perennials to my yard. I love hellebores. I would also like to add ninebark and other shrubs with unique foliage.

    Reply

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