Here are a couple of photographs of one of my garden beds. I had gorgeous fine-foliaged plants in the part shade, part sun garden border. Daylilies, yarrow, phlox, and more with gorgeous flowers lived in this bed. After I added bold foliage for garden impact, such as large bananas, elephant ears, and red cabbage, my neighbors couldn’t help but come over and ask what I had planted in my garden. That’s the power of the bold, tropical foliage of these plants. Spotted throughout the bed, they pull your eye through the garden.

How I winter over marginal hardy bulbs or corms

Three years in a row, I tried to find a way to insulate my banana from my cold and harsh zone 5 winters. Piled leaves and debris on top of the bulb and foam insulation in the planting hole around the bulb didn’t work. I built a structure around the foliage and insulated it with dried leaves instead of cutting back the foliage. Every spring, I patiently waited to see a new growth push through the soil but was disappointed every time.

I decided to winter them over in my basement instead. It really isn’t too difficult. I trim the large leaves from the plant in late fall, leaving the large main stalk and one leaf. I dig the large bulb out of the soil and remove most of the dirt. Next, I put the bulb in a plastic bag and lay the banana in the flat in the basement storage area where it stays about 50 degrees F.

You can do the same thing with the elephant ear if you want to winter it over, too. As for the cabbage, harvest them at the end of the season and enjoy them in salads and other recipes.

I add bold foliage for garden impact in all of my borders. It’s really what makes you happy and what you love that counts in your garden at the end of the day.

I will share more tips and tricks when designing and caring for your garden. Until then, share your thoughts on this passion.