Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill: How to Grow & Overwinter 165 Tender Plants

The secret is out: cooler-zone gardeners are discovering that with a little wintertime TLC, plants that have long been considered "annuals" can thrive for many years. These plants — including geraniums, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, rosemary, lavender, and even impatiens — aren't annuals at all. Rather, they are tender perennials. Not hardy enough to survive winter on their own, they can be moved indoors during the cold months, and then returned to the garden in spring. Many are even more beautiful in their second and third years!

Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill by Alice McGowan and Brian McGowan, is the first comprehensive resource on the care and maintenance of tender plants. In this zone-defying guide, readers will find simple techniques for overwintering, followed by 160 detailed plant profiles. Profiles include individualized advice for overwintering and indoor care. The growing advice is clear and time tested; the authors themselves spent decades introducing and nurturing tender plants at the renowned Blue Meadow Farm Nursery in Montague, Massachusetts.

From familiar snapdragons to the more exotic bush morning glory (a woody vine whose fragrant white blooms will cheer any indoor setting in late winter), tender perennials are appealing to a wide and diverse audience — perennial pros looking to expand their plant palettes, container gardeners hoping to create a more colorful indoor landscape during the cold months, and thrifty gardeners of all skill levels. Both inspirational and practical, Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill will revolutionize perennial gardening, allowing enthusiastic growers in any location to enjoy their favorite plants year after year.