Soon after I moved to Panther Branch in 1992, I noticed a small sign at the intersection of N.C. 42 and Sauls Road that read: "Plant Sale." I followed the arrows, which directed me into the driveway of a two-story house with what to my then-untrained eye seemed to be a really pretty garden.
I had arrived at Plant Delights Nursery. In a greenhouse full of perennials, I asked someone wearing a Plant Delights T-shirt where the plants "on sale" were.
"Everything in this greenhouse is for sale," she said. Then, obviously recognizing that I was new to these parts, she added, "Only this is one of the two weekends a year the public is invited to choose their plants in person."
I bought a hosta that day and picked up a mail-order catalog when I paid the nice ladies in the garage.
Since then, Tony and Michelle Avent's open houses have become a destination for plant geeks from all corners of the world. The plant sales have blossomed from two weekends each year to eight, and the first one of 2012 starts next weekend. Tony Avent never imagined the winter event would become so popular.
"Conventional wisdom says that people won't visit a nursery in the winter," Avent said. "We think it's the opportunity to see plants that they might normally miss as well as the chance to see the garden in its 'bones' attire that attracts gardeners. The refrain we constantly hear is 'I didn't know there were so many plants that bloomed and looked good in the winter.' "
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or brand-new to Southern gardening, you can learn things you never knew about gardening in a single visit to Plant Delights Nursery and the adjoining Juniper Level Botanic Gardens, which sprang up from that pretty garden I stumbled upon 20 years ago.
This winter's open house will be the first without Michelle Avent, who died recently.
We asked Tony Avent for a sneak peek at some of the new perennials that will be available at the winter open house.
Nothoscordum sellowianum Also known as Ipheion sellowianum or false yellow crocus, this has long been one of Avent's favorite bulbs in the rock garden. It makes a small clump of tiny, narrow green leaves about an inch tall and 6 inches wide and bears brilliant yellow, fragrant flowers from mid-February until May. This Nothoscordum is sterile, making propagation slow, but Plant Delights Nursery "finally has enough to share."
Helleborus x ballardiae "HGC Pink Frost" PPAF (Pink Frost Hybrid Lenten rose): This is the latest Helleborus niger hybrid to hit the market from the Heuger hellebore breeding program. The outward-facing flowers open pink in mid-February and age to a lovely dark pinkish red.
Heucherella "Solar Eclipse" PPAF (Solar Eclipse perennial foamy bells): Avent considers this the best xHeucherella ever introduced. The 16-inch-wide clumps of dark purple leaves are edged in chartreuse. The foliage remains vibrant through summer and is topped in late spring with spikes of white flowers. As Avent says, however, "You're really growing this one for its foliage."
Dicentra spectabilis "Valentine" (Valentine bleeding heart): "I'll never forget the euphoria that ran though my body when I first saw the hot new Dicentra 'Valentine' flower in our garden," Avent said. "Instead of long sprays of pink heart-shaped flowers in spring, the outer petals are brilliant red, with a contrasting white inner petal beneath ... simply stunning!" The very dark green foliage of the 2-foot tall by 2-foot wide clump has a hint of red as it emerges. Avent refers to it as "a major breakthrough" compared to other varieties of bleeding hearts.
Alstroemeria "Princess Fabiana": This white-bordered offspring of Alstroemeria "Princess Paola" was one of the standouts in Avent's heat-tolerant alstroemeria trials. This Peruvian lily forms a clump about 10 inches tall topped by creamy white flowers with burgundy markings starting in early summer. Flowering slows as summer heats up but picks up as temperatures fall.
Delosperma "Fire Spinner": This perennial ice plant forms mats of fleshy green foliage topped much of late spring and into early summer with eyelike upturned flowers composed of bright orange petals that morph to magenta at the base with a central white eye highlight. This ground cover spreads to 2 feet wide in two years, and Avent joked that it is neon on steroids. In other words, it's sure to brighten up your rock garden
Epimedium wushanense "Sandy Claws": This is a dwarf, spreading selection of the rare, normally clumping Epimedium wushanense. The spiny edged foliage emerges a luscious chocolate in spring when it is topped by short, thickly packed stalks of large creamy yellow flowers. It forms a 1-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide patch in five years. "We've grown lots of epimediums, but have never seen anything else like this," Avent said.
Monarda bradburiana: This is a dwarf bee balm that doesn't take over the garden like many other monardas. Its light pink spotted flowers emerge on its 18-inch-high by 4-foot-wide cushion of menthol-scented foliage starting in early May. This plant is a butterfly and hummingbird magnet that is mildew resistant. It remains attractive with fascinating dried seed heads long after the flowers fade.
For full descriptions and cultural requirements for the plants available, visit www.plantdelights.com or see them at the winter open house.
