Tour gardens are pageant girls. And, yes, I could have used contestants in the headline, but that wouldn't be alliteration would it? So, don't take the girl thing personally. I know they are women, not girls, and I'm not hating on pageants either.

While shopping at box stores and garden nurseries, I often see old friends and meet new ones, usually over plants. In fact, it's one of my favorite ways to meet people. At parties, when new friends learn I'm a garden writer, they seem to feel the need to apologize for their garden or lack of plant-growing expertise. Deck with plants, chairs and rug. It's a cozy outdoor space where we relax in the evenings. No garden variety apologies are needed. I don't expect everyone to garden like I do. Really, I don't. What I do is labor-intensive, obsessive and hard. Also, the garden--and my plant knowledge--grew over the years. I know I'm nuts. I do hope you'll garden though. You don't have to plow up the back forty or plant an acre of tomatoes, peppers, and squash either. Even tending one pot on your deck or porch is gardening. Hemerocallis 'Ever Redeemed'...

Lilium 'Forever Susan,' asiatic Susan. Want some drama in the summer garden? Why don't you plant some lilies this year? You say you're scared of lilies? Don't be. 'Amarossi' Orienpet lily Though they look exotic, lilies are pretty easy to grow. In Oklahoma, the genus Lilium is almost foolproof grown in sandy soil. If you have clay, amend it to the max with compost, or leaf mold, or some other soil amendments that break up clay. Or, you can dig out the clay and purchase at least eight inches of good soil to place on top of the nasty stuff. If you have sandy soil, just add compost or other organic matter for better drainage. Compost and other soil amendments make clay soil less glue-like and retain moisture in sandy soil so nutrients don't wash away. It's almost like magic. Lilium 'Golden Splendor Strain' trumpet lily. We Oklahomans know all...

A couple of weeks ago, I ran up to Stillwater to visit Bustani Plant Farm, which as you know, is my favorite nursery. I had a lovely time, and I bought a lot of plants. Where do I put them all? Shrug. It's a big garden--about an acre and a half total. This post started out as a list of all my favorite plants from Bustani Plant Farm, but it became too long. So, let's start with my favorite perennials, shall we? Cestrum 'Orange Peel.' I think Steve and Ruth Owens sell two other varieties of cestrum also, but the one I grow is 'Orange Peel.' It blooms in the middle of summer for a long time and is a great backdrop for other large-flowered plants. 'Orange Peel' grows about three feet high in my garden in full screamin' sun. I grow it next to 'Pink Velour' crapemyrtle and Salvia greggii 'Pink Preference.'...