There are two kinds of Agapanthus, evergreen leaved and deciduous. The varieties of agapanthus that lose their leaves and go dormant are completely winter hardy in the ground in zone 5. They need full sunshine, fertile well drained soil, and they like to be fertilized on a regular basis. Every once in a while the plants need to be dug up and divided because they tend to get "overgrown" and don't make flowers very well after 10 - 15 years of growing in the same spot. These are some of my agapanthus that have been growing in the ground outside in zone 5 for the last 40 years. They have been divided and replanted many times in that period. The temperature is 2 F outside today and the agapanthus are fine - they don't get mulched at all here but it wouldn't hurt them. It is a plant that is best put into the ground in the early part of the season so it has time to establish before the winter sets in. I wouldn't plant it out in the autumn. This agapanthus was grown from seeds someone gave me a million years ago - the picture is from last summer.

Spring Plant Exchange is coming!!! THE GARDEN CLUB OF LOS ALTOS (a non profit) is proud to sponsor the Plant Exchange together with the Los Altos Recreation Department and support from the Los Altos History Museum. Bring a plant - take a plant. LABEL ALL PLANTS with flower color at least!!!! We can help ID many of the plants. If you have your plants labeled, you can go directly to check in and save time. DO BRING Rooted plants in pots (With succulents, rooting is optional) Bulbs Cuttings Small shrubs or trees Cut cell packs into 6 sections. Divide large clumps like agapanthus or society garlic (no need to pot but don't allow to dry out). DO NOT BRING Unmarked plants Wilted plants Unknown plants or weeds Large undivided clumps THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTED HOW IT WORKS You are allowed to take in proportion to what you bring. Take only one of each type of plant, cutting or bulb. DO NOT COME BEFORE 9:30 a.m. unless you are helping set up. Absolutely no browsing before 10:00 a.m. You will be asked to stand in the designated area with other guests until 10AM. WHEN The plant exchange is Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00noon. WHERE Hillview Community Center parking lot, 97 Hillview Avenue, off San Antonio Road in Los Altos. The exchange will be held rain or shine. YOU ARE ALSO INVITED TO ATTEND The Garden Club's Plant & Bake Sale on Tuesday, April 25th at 11:00 a.m.-12:30PM at Los Altos Lutheran Church, 460 S. El Monte Avenue in Los Altos. Entrance to parking lot is on Cuesta Ave. The Garden Club meeting follows the sale at 12:45 with a speaker discussing a timely gardening subject. Guest fee is $5. Yearly Membership is $25 which includes entry to all 9 meetings.

If you want to spend $2 on some Coleus, hummers like those blooms too. It's difficult to find one of the plants from a list of 8-10 "hummingbird attracting plants." I've compiled a list over the years, through personal observation and photo verification, that includes those that bees like as well. YMMV. Botanical name, common after comma if known. Abutilon, flowering maple Acanthus, Achillea, yarrow Aeschynanthus, lipstick plant Agapanthus africanus, Agastache, Aguilegia formosa, western columbine Alcea rosea, hollyhock Aloe maculata, Alstroemeria, Peruvian lily Angelonia, Antirrhinum, snapdragon Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed Asclepias, various, any = milkweed Aster, Begonia, Bletilla, Buddleia, butterfly bush Calibrachoa, million bells Callicarpa americana, beautyberry bush Callistemon rigidus, stiff bottlebrush Calotropis, Camellia japonica Campsis radicans, trumpet creeper Cannas, Catharanthus roseus, Madagascar periwinkle Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea, CA lilac Centranthus ruber, Jupiter's beard Cephalanthus occidentalis, buttonbush Chaenomeles Flowering Quince Chrysothemis pulchella, sunset bells Cleistocactus, monkey tail Clematis heracleifolia, Clematis virginiana, virgin bower Cleome hassleriana, spider flower Clerodendrum paniculatum, Pagoda Coleus, (Solenostemon, yeah right, NO!) Anyway, both hummers and b'flies love the flowers on these! Coreopsis, Crocosmia, cardinal flower Cuphea, cigar flower Curcuma, Dahlia, Delphinium, Delphinium, larkspur Dianthus, pinks, sweet William Dicentra spectabilis, bleeding heart Digitalis, foxglove Echinacea, coneflower Echium candicans, Eupatorium, Joe pye Flaveria linearis, Fuchsia, Gladiolus, Hamelia patens, firecracker shrub Heliconia, Heliotrope, Hemerocallis, daylily Hesperaloe parviflora, false yucca Hesperis, dame's rocket Heuchera sanguinea, coral bells Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon Hosta, Hoya, Hyssop, Impatiens balsamina, jewelweed Impatiens capensis, jewelweed Ipomoea coccinea, red morning glory Ipomoea multifida, cardinal climber Ipomoea purpurea, morning glory Ipomoea quamoclit, cypress vine Ipomopsis rubra Standing cypress, Texas plume, Red Texas star, Red gilia Jasminum, Jasmine Justicia brandegeeana, shrimp plant Kalanchoe luciae, flapjack plant Kniphofia, red hot poker Kohleria, Lantana, Lavendula, lavender Liatris, Lilium, lilies Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower Lobelia siphilitica, blue lobelia Lonicera sempervirens, honeysuckle Lupine, Lychnis, rose campion Malva, rose mallow Manzanita, Maranta, prayer plant Mentha, mint Mimosa, invasive tree in parts of the world, but good to know it has this quality Mirabilis jalapa, 4'o'clocks Monarda, beebalm Nepeta, catmint Nicotania silvestris, Nicotiana alata, flowering tobacco Ocimum basilicum, Basil Odontonema strictum, firespike Passiflora, Pelargonium, annual geraniums Penstemon, beardstongue Pentas, Petunia, petunia Phaseolus coccineus, scarlet runner bean Phlox, Phygelius, cape figwort Physostegia, obedient plant Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender', Plumbago, Rhipsalis, Rhododendron, azalea Ruellia, Mexican petunia Salvia, sage Saponaria, soapwort Saponaria officinalis, bouncing bet Scabiosa, pin cushion flower Schlumbergera, Thanksgiving cacti, Christmas cacti Senna bicapsularis, Christmas Senna, host for Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar Sidalcea, prairie mallow Silene, Spaghneticolia trilobata, creeping daisy Streptocarpus saxorum, Streptocarpella Trachelospermum jasminoides, Confederate jasmine Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium Tropaeolum peregrinum, canary creeper vine Verbena, Veronica, Vitex, wild grape Weigela, Wisteria frutescens, American Wisteria Zinnia,

Fall Plant Exchange is coming!!! Saturday, Sept 30, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. THE GARDEN CLUB OF LOS ALTOS (a nonprofit) is proud to sponsor the Plant Exchange together with the Los Altos Recreation Department and support from the Los Altos History Museum. LABEL ALL PLANTS with flower color at least!!!! We can help ID many of the plants. If you have your plants labeled, you can go directly to CHECK IN and save time. DO BRING - Rooted plants in pots (With succulents, rooting is optional) - Bulbs - Cuttings - Small shrubs or trees - Cut cell packs into 6 sections. - Divide large clumps like agapanthus or society garlic (no need to pot but don't allow to dry out). DO NOT BRING! - Unmarked plants - Wilted plants - Unknown plants or weeds - Large undivided clumps THIS IS AN EXCHANGE Take in proportion to what you bring. Take only one of each type of plant, cutting or bulb. We have volunteers that will remind you, in case you forget. ;) DO NOT COME BEFORE 9:30 a.m. unless you are one of the designated helpers. ABSOLUTELY NO BROWSING BEFORE 10:00 a.m. You will be removed and asked to stand with the rest of the guests in the designated area. We want this to be fair and fun for everyone! WHEN The plant exchange is Saturday, Sept 30, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. WHERE Hillview Community Center parking lot, 97 Hillview Avenue, off San Antonio Road in Los Altos. The exchange will be held rain or shine. YOU ARE ALSO INVITED TO ATTEND The Garden Club's Plant & Bake Sale on Tuesday, Sept 26th at 11:00 a.m.-12:30PM at Los Altos Lutheran Church, 460 S. El Monte Avenue in Los Altos. Entrance to parking lot is on Cuesta Ave. The Garden Club meeting follows the sale at 12:45 with a speaker discussing a timely gardening subject. Guest fee is $5. Yearly Membership is $25 which includes entry to all 9 meetings.