By Justine Guidry
In the spirit of keeping things low maintenance, adding plants that have more to offer than just good looks has become more common. Here are some ideas of what to look for when shopping for plants.
Scent. There’s nothing quite like walking through a beautiful garden and encountering plants with delightful fragrance-it’s a treat for the senses. Here are a few of our favorites: Roses and Lilacs. Payne’s sells many varieties and colors of Roses and they are perfect for the Santa Fe climate! We also have very fragrant Lilacs. They come in many colors and heights and these also do very well in Northern New Mexico. Here’s a tip: place plants with scents you love near spaces you hang out most in your garden, along pathways, or in spots where you get a light breeze-that way the wonderful smells can be enjoyed.
Food. Barbara Katz tells us that many of her clients are asking for blueberries, yezberries, thornless blackberries, and raspberries. We like the sound of that-easy access to delicious fruit! “These shrubs are fairly carefree and great fun to grow,” says Katz.
Cooling effects. Do you have a south-facing room in your house that gets unbearably hot? Plants can help! By installing a trellis on the wall directly outside of the room and planting a quick-growing vine such as passionflower at its base, the plant will eventually block the sun from heating the wall.
Mosquito repellent. If you have an issue with mosquitoes disturbing your time outdoors, take a look at these 12 mosquito-repellent plants. Plant them in or near the places where you spend the most time:
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Citronella Grass
- Catnip
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Scented Geraniums
- Bee Balm
- Mint
- Floss Flower
- Sage
- Allium
Check out Payne’s variety of Mosquito repelling plants at both stores!