Pacific Northwest Gardening: Well, they last a bit longer than the fireworks., 0 by AuNatural

AuNatural wrote:
Laurie,
As I'm reading your message I can't help singing," Kill da wabbit! " --Elmer Fudd
I've had rabbits, but fortunately we have wild coyotes in our neck. Very animal kingdom. My bane is now a mole! I believe it is just 1, but can that sucker dig. The only sure way to rid them is by trapping, and that is now outlawed in WA state. Go figure! I wish the coyotes would get underground dwellers too.

I wish I could help with the cutting bed, but I don't keep a one because that would take planning. I'm woeful at garden planning, and move things around all the time, even in July, because I just can't wait until fall.

I love Bishop, and his children too. Mine did not come back. I guess I need to lift them here. This is my first year with Dahlia 'Dark Desire.' It's been around the UK for years, bt it's new here in the US. I love this color. It's in a part sun area with Cosmos atrosanguineus of similar color.

I'm no help with the hollyhock. There is a black hollyhock I've been trying to start from seed for 3 years now. They germinate, make great seedlings. I plant them out, and the sl-uugggghs get them. One survived only long enough to succumb to rust. Bah!

Mid season: I love Achillea, Echinacea and Helenium. American native prarie flowers that have been hybridized so they don't come true from seed. They bloom forever. E. 'Sundown' started blooming this week, Helenium 'Moreheim Beauty' is is bud, and A. 'Terracotta' has been blooming since June in shades of oranges and yellows. These should all go through 'til Fall.

This year for annuals, I'm trying osteospermum. I'm in love with the butter yellow color of O. 'Lemon Symphony.' It lifts blues in the salvia, and blends beautifully with the dark maroons in the cosmos and dahlia.
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/plant/african_daisy.htm

-Au