The glowing foliage of 'Lightning Flash' coreopsis brings three months of interest before the flowers come on in August. The leaves have an anise-like scent, too, which deters browsers. And this perennial is hardy from North Dakota to Texas. This perennial is so multi-talented it deserves its own infomercial, with the host shouting, "But wait. There's more!"

Advice from the Geek: In the evening, arrange to sit to the east-ish of your colony of giant scouring rush. The hollow stems are translucent as well as refractory: They capture the low sun, but instead of just allowing it to pass straight on through, they send it back out into the world evenly in all directions. Nature's own glow sticks!

Two weeks ago, the large terminal bud of my young variegated horsechestnut had developed into a tight panicle of round flower buds the size of BB's. In the last few days, the panicle has elongated to the easy-going spike you see below. And those BB's have begun to mature into flowers. Oh, joy! 

Such sophisticated subtleties at play here, with the different colors of the panicle stem and the young buds, let alone the intricacies of yellow, pink, and brick red of the interior of the mature flowers. Thank goodness this spike is, literally, right at hand.

If this tree were to grow into, well, a tree, such easy and intimate viewing will be lost. Unless...