New gardeners often ask about easy perennials for their new gardens. My favorite easy perennial is the daylily. It has almost no pest problems, dies back to the ground in autumn and then returns in spring. The daylilies come in many colors, some bloom in spring, some in summer and some in fall. There are many cultivars of daylilies that now even have a second bloom. Plant in well-draining soil, water until the daylily gets established and make sure the crown (where the leaves meet the root) is just above the soil line. I love my daylilies. There is always a new color to add to my collection.

Another easy perennial is the peony, a real garden survivor. Some of them have been known to live and bloom happily for 100 years. Plant in a sunny spot with well drained soil. Often the problem with peonies not blooming is they are planted too deeply. They need to be placed in the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. As the peony starts to bloom the bud has a sweet sugary coating. This will attract ants which do not hurt the peony at all. As soon as the plant blooms the ants disappear.

My favorite shrub for the new gardener is the rhododendron. They easily cope with our winter weather and live to bloom abundantly in the spring. You need to be careful where you plant them. They are beautiful plants that grow quickly. I have seen houses where they take over and completely obscure windows and doors. After they bloom, they can be pruned.  I have pruned mine almost to the ground and they still come back next season. As with all flowering shrubs, prune after bloom. As soon as the flowers fade the plant will start to get ready for the upcoming season and set new buds for the next spring. If you wait too long to prune you will be pruning off the flowers for next spring.

If you like roses there are many new cultivars that will grow and thrive in our climate. The new colors and varieties are amazing. They do need fertilizer (follow directions) and careful pruning.  Ask the garden center staff at Graham’s to help you pick out the best rose for your situation.

Some of the most dependable annuals for new gardeners are geraniums, petunias and impatiens. I hear from gardeners that they want to try new annuals and that geraniums, petunias and impatiens are everywhere and that may be true. But they are frequently used because they are dependable. If you are starting with annuals use the dependable plants for the basics and then experiment here and there with more unusual container plants.

Keep track in your garden journal of the progress of all your plants whether perennials, annuals or container plants. Take pictures throughout the season. Keep track of your success. Gardening teaches us patience, diligence and humility. Life lessons to be sure.

(Rebecca Ryan is a lifelong resident of and gardener in the Bradford area. She retired from teaching at Bradford Area School District.)