What worked and what didn't?

Since the season is pretty much over for us up here in the northeast and we now will be planning for changes and new acquisitions for next season, what worked and what maybe not so much?
What didn't for me was a nice yellow lupin and a yellow geum that succumbed to ground hog munching (before fence) and then the drought. I would like to try both again if I can. Most other things went well in the new yellow/blue bed extension where most new plants were placed. A few swaps of placement next year between a tall penstemon and a blue scabiosa but pretty happy about the progress in that bed. Also was very pleased with the two new roses, hibiscus, echinacea and hyssop that I got this season. Oh and the redo of the side path garden came out okay too so far, but that slope is still a mess. Now will need to wait to see if everything returns as I hope. So how about you, any changes to beds and plant combos or disappointments this past season?

Having a dog is NOT working for me...just ruining our backyard, I can't leave anything out there I can't have any containers. My 2 gardens in back have to have fencing to try to keep him out... ideally, would have to be over 4' high but kinda ruins the view.

2 huecheras got fried in that heat and drought but not my fault.

Love love love Chinese forget me nots and Calendula...reseeds and calendula is STILL blooming!!!

I'll have to think on this one...but in the mean time Pat, I think I have some Yellow Lupine seeds left...would you like some?

First thing comes to mind is not something new, but a plant that i've over looked. After a dry summer I was pleasantly surprized by Sidalcea 'Party Girl' as it didn't seem to skip a beat in the drought and the bee's love it!

Also these little beauties...not sure where I got them, or what they are exactly but they bloomed all summer , up until a few weeks ago actually. I thought the cultivaters name was "Toto" but I can't find anything with that name that looks like this. Some type of Gaillardia maybe? I sure hope they come back!!

Oh thanks pixie that would be lovely. Maybe I could get some agastache seeds for you if the birds haven't gotten them all.
Posted late again. Those could rudebeckia 'Indian Summer' or something like that. Or could be a cross that seeded itself in your garden. Very pretty what ever they are.

This message was edited Nov 9, 2010 12:33 PM

That is a beautiful bed of purples and soft oranges Pat.
I confess to having a plant I just moved as far as possible from its original place in 2008.
I was given Viola Laguna, Soooooooo beautious in the spring BUT. it spreads everywhere. I wouldnt mind that so much if it only multiplied by seeds. It also grows new plants from root runners that hang on for dear life.
It is in the far ends of the Giant Hosta garden where it can go anywhere it wants. I have found plantletts 20 feet away from the parent.

There have been many changes in all the gardens here. I have moved many of the OP's. I ordered 8 from a co-op last year and when they looked like they died a week after they were planted,I bought more.
You guessed it that fall the dead ones came too and are going strong in the second season. Third season OP's are too close( they get bigger than I thought) I was relieved when the transplants revived last month.
As everyone else is, I am looking forward to the comming 2011 season.

Nice poppies JoAnn. Plants have surprised me like that too. You think well that poor thing didn't make it and then next spring there it is again. That viola is nice but probably a good idea to move it.

The viola is stunning in April.Its like a blanket of Lilac flowers, but deadheading is needed and wvwn that doesnt stop it.
I LOVE my poppies.

Me too!

Yes, they are beauties! But they do take up loads of room, that's why I plant annual poppies. I liked planting annuals in the veggie garden, but since I broadcast them, some tall ones shaded out the shorties....guess I'll have to plant some in rows next year. I will definitely plant Calif. poppies again...loved them. I planted a bunch of heuchera & per. geraniums in my new garden, but have to wait until they flower. One grouping of heuchera has to be moved...it's too dark against the dark mulch.

I love the dark heuchs. I also like the lime colored ones.

Yes, love my lime one, & these are pretty little ones, but too small & dark for the area...will see if I can get a photo later.

Found it!!!!
Black-Eyed Susan, Gloriosa Daisy 'Toto Rustic' (Rudbeckia hirta)

Glad you found it. That is a very cute little rud.

Here's the photo of one of a group of 3 heucheras that have to be moved....just can't see them....

Here are 2 annuals that worked well....these photos were taken today.....I think this is alyssum...it was mixed in the annuals seeds I broadcast......

And lavender cotton....I will definitely buy more for next year......

Oh, & I forgot this annual....gomphrena Fireworks, love the way it just waves in the slightest breeze....

one of my rose bushes I bought from the christmas tree shop... was a tea rose called Paradise... it looked good until the drought ... must have not been getting enough water in the area I planted it in.... and it's a gonner... just glad it wasn't expensive

Robin nice that the annuals did well for you. I don't plant many here since the critters seem to like them so much.
Too bad about the rose onewish. The drought was tough on the new perennials here but luckily I could water enough to get them through for the most part. The wetter fall came just in time to refresh a lot of things before winter.

Sorry, Allison....maybe it will return from the root. I will definitely plant more annuals next year....they are in a fenced garden, so the deer can't munch.

think I saw a graft when I planted it... don't think that one will return

:(

Allison did you take coleus cuttings?

All the ones I took, died in the couple days I went away. Had them in a domed tray in starter soil. Have no idea what happened, they're all mushy and fungused(is that a word???), I am so upset...

Moisture might have been too high Jen. Were the domes vented?

The top wasn't real tight and I had left it on last year a lot longer. Nuts!!!!! and I didn't root any in water like I normally do...nuts nuts nuts!!!!

Don't fret too much, Allison will have plenty ^_^

I hope so, but with taking care of all those pups I don't know if she got around to it.
I had about 20 cuttings...Kong, Alabama Sunset, Chocolate Mint, Rustic Orange, and 2 more that I don't know the names

Bugs got the first cuttings here.
Luckily there was time to take more so I'm keeping an eye on this bunch.
Looks like we will be in line for the RosyDawn new website Dec 1

Jen I cheated and stuck them all in the greenhouse with the heater.... in the original containers .. some not looking too happy though.. might need to do a NC farms order this year... either way I will have plenty

I had one Gaillardia plant in a small circular bed which is in the middle of my side yard. Earlier in the season we had a broken lawn mower which took a month to get back from the repair shop. This turned out to be a blessing! The Gaillardia seed must have been strewn all over the lawn from last year and there were little ones popping up all over the place. So the day the mower came back, as my husband is mowing, I was digging up seedlings! I shared some with my Aunt and then planted 8 or so in a new bed. They looked like death warmed over for the first two weeks but now they are beautiful, mounds of blooms. Beautiful and free!

That's the best....free! I didn't take cuttings from my coleus this year, but it was just average looking.....I like the chocolate mint!

Love that gaillardia story. I have found when left to her own devices, mother nature usually is a much better gardener than me.

That's a great on the gaillardia.

Thanks Allison
Seems Rosy Dawn will be loving all of us this year, huh?

yes they will... I was hoping they would hold on a bit longer... (but I made a mistake and kept the containers on the ground.. think that was my mistake)... and take cuttings now that I have time.. BUT some are not looking so happy.. might be able to salvage some.. soon see

I ordered 3 short, light pink delphs this year.....they were so short I barely could see them! If they don't grow a little next year, out they go.....

Almost funny, Marilyn, except something like that has happened to most of us. I had a mini hosta that got "minier" each year until it disappeared.

Marilyn! give your shorts another year. Its so dissapointing when that happens.

Well at least they survived and have a chance to be bigger and better next year for you I hope. I had three short blue delphs that either the ground hog or deer ate to oblivion before I got the fence up. They lasted to the drought but the lack of foliage and no decent rain polished them off even with watering from me. They are too pretty a plant to give up on though I think.