• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Alena Samoylenko

Alena Samoylenko

Sustainable gardening, plant combinations, practical gardening advise for beginners

  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Butterfly garden
    • Garden design ideas
    • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
    • The Best Gardening Books
  • Downloads
  • 04.02.2026
  • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
  • No Comments

Aster ‘Mönch’ in the Garden: Design Ideas and Plant Combinations

The full botanical name of this plant is Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’.In this post, we’ll look at four practical ways to use this aster in the garden, suitable for different conditions and design styles. Key Plant Information Aster ‘Mönch’...

Read
  • 29.01.2026
  • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
  • No Comments

Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) and Astrantia major: A Striking Yet Simple Pairing

One of my favorite plant combinations is Centranthus and Astrantia. These two perennials complement each other so naturally that at the peak of flowering, it’s impossible to look away. In this border, the Astrantia was already growing — likely...

Read
  • 22.01.2026
  • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
  • No Comments

Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’: Four Ready-to-Use Planting Schemes

Among the many cultivars of Salvia nemorosa, ‘Amethyst’ stands out as one of the most versatile perennials for modern flower borders. Its soft pink-lilac color integrates effortlessly into a wide range of planting palettes, while its naturally wide, well-branched...

Read
  • 15.01.2026
  • Butterfly garden
  • No Comments

Companion Plants for Buddleja ‘Miss Molly’: 3 Planting Schemes

If someone asked me to recommend a reliable, low-maintenance shrub for a sunny spot — one that flowers generously and asks for very little in return — Buddleja ‘Miss Molly’ would be one of the first plants to come...

Read
  • 13.10.2024
  • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
  • 1 Comment

Companion Plants for Pinus mugo ‘Mops’: Two Simple Planting Schemes

Today, I’d like to share two easy yet effective planting schemes using Pinus mugo ‘Mops’. Among dwarf pines, this variety is a favorite of mine due to its dense, rounded cushion of dark green needles, which remain attractive for...

Read
  • 08.09.2024
  • Planting Plans and Plant Combinations
  • No Comments

Companion Plants for Mary Ann Rose: Creating Stunning Garden Combinations

Continuing our series on companion plants for roses, I’d like to highlight one of my personal favorites: Mary Ann (Rosen Tantau, 2012). This compact, bushy hybrid tea rose is known for its large, nostalgic cup-shaped blooms. The flowers, quartered...

Read
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 10
  • Next
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Downloads
Copyright © 2026 Alena SamoylenkoBack to Top