California Gardening: It's really fall!, 1 by soilsandup

soilsandup wrote:
Ima - I use those alpinia leaves in arrangements too. But, the good thing is, if there is nothing else in bloom, they also look good by itself. I started bringing in cut flowers on a regular basis when I took them to work. I leave the blooms on the plants as long as they look good, and then before they start to taper off, I cut them. This way, I can enjoy my yard at work, and since it is in a public place, I am reminded to get rid of the dead flowers. At home, on the other hand, the dead flowers can stay in a vase for weeks before I get around to dumping them out.

Gypsy - I wish my mexican bush sage looked like yours. I have it in a too shady of a spot so it is scraggly with spotty blooms.