We've had such heat, early this year, and everything got such a jump start... so did you have something do unusually well, or something new that you want more of for next year?
I was just thinking this very question today... I will think on my answer, but want to see what others think, and see what is in YOUR garden!
On the same idea, is there something that you WON'T plant again?
Melanie
What has been your favorite Perennial THIS year?
Oh, here is ONE thing that was new, and I definately want more of..... a red scabiosa (came as a package of seeds called black and white) They actually bloomed as burgundy, and lt. pink.
Love 'em!
mel
With the unusual dry to start conditions and then some rain the following things have done really well for me this year:
1. hamalia patens
2. firecracker--russelia equisetiformis
3. The echinaceas are doing super--this is the only one I will probably add more of
4. evergreen wisteria is blooming a second time really heavily--two are up over an arbor are enough though!
5. the milkweed-butterfly weed is doing better than usual too
**I probably have a longer list of things that are still alive and growing but definitely have NOT appreciated the lack of rainfall this summer!
Mel, it is hard to choose bacause I love them all, and of course these are not new for me. But I would say, The Bazos Penstemon, the Phlox Carolina, the Taxas Star hibiscus, and the Ironweed, but as I said it is hard to choose.
It is a good thing that we don't have to choose, right? We can have them all, or at least as many as we can take care of.
Josephine.
This message was edited Jul 31, 2005 4:58 PM
Yikes . . . one... I would have to say my marshmallow. and I can eat the roots if I spend to much on the yard. Just love the little white flowered plant!
frostweed--you must have the touch because my Texas Star's are not doing as well during this dry year--and I am watering them too and they are in the moisted area I have.
I forgot to mention the turk's cap is also having a really good year. I guess it, like me, performs best under pressure! LOL
You never know with plants, I have some Texas star hibiscus on the south facing slope and those are the ones theat are doing best, the ones in the more protected areas with more water are not blooming as much, but the ones on the slope do get at leasr 8 hours of sun. The Turk,s cap is blooming it's turban off, so cute and bright, I love them all.
I cannot wait until my little natives really take off and bloom next year! I can already see I will have lots of new favs...
OH, my turks caps are doing so well, that I bought 2 more, and need one more for another area! A nice, big one!
This red Hibiscus is normally about 5' tall and covered with 30 blooms this time of the year. This is year 5 for it, but this year, it's 1/2 the size, and only 2 or 3 blooms on each day. Here was one good one that I caught.
I feel the same, usually, this one performs, but not this year... this is one reason it got me thinking about what IS doing good this year!
mel
Mitch, do you have a photo of your marshmallow? I'm not sure what that is...!
Sure do - I love it mounds perfect, loves the hot sun, and blooms like crazy right in the heat of the day!
I got it from Companion Plants on line - I love them for some of my herbs. I bought this, burdock, and golden seal. They have all done great.
My favorite things this year are things I got from Mel!! :) The Bog Sage, Blue Mistflower and the daisies. What kind are these Mel? Shasta? I just love them!! I have tried to grow daisies my first year gardening and they didn't do well at all. They got powdery mildew and all died. That same year all of my dad's got it real bad too and they all died. I think that jaded my thoughts of them until now.
Now my Texas star, at least the one in the drier sunnier bit, is huge this year. Its about 8 ft tall!! But it only has one or two blooms a day.
Interestingly the two Texas Star plants have slightly different flowers and leaves. One has a more finely cut leaf than the other, The fine leafed one has finer flowers with the sepals showing between the petals too. Its the coarser one that is doing best.
This is the fine one:
and this is the coarser one
Strange... Mine have all been the really thin leaves and the flower just like your first picture. The second one looks more like a regular Hibiscus flower. I had one last year that was over 7 ft tall. It was in my front bed by my walk so I transplanted it to the back where it could be that big with no problem. It's not that big this year tho and now I can't see the flowers!
Yes the flower on the second one does look more like the tropical cousin doesn't it! It isn't though - it overwintered in the snow and came back happy. I think you can see that the leaf shape is the same as the first - just heavier in all its parts. One of the long stems snapped a week or so ago - a Grackle tried to land on it!! So I divided the snapped bit into 9" long bits and stuck them in water. Two have rooted, so next year I should have more. I think they are really gorgeous - just hope the birds learn to distinguish them from trees or I will have acres!!
Carol
lol...they aren't the brightest Crayon, are they? Oh, don't worry, you'll get some from seeds too. I think I have 8 I just potted that came up from some seed where the old one was. I've got bags of seeds that I've collected and they are easy to start. I gave one to my neighbor and they came over thanking me and asked me what it was. I told them and then told them I moved the big one to the back because it looked like a pot plant. They started laughing because that's what he said to his wife "look, she gave us a pot plant!" LOL!
Konkreteblond how do you get your shasta to stay alive here? I have killed three already! One day of 100 degree weather and they are a crisp pile of brown stems. . .
I dont have any star hibiscus yet - looks stunning but not here yet. Have you grown it from cuttings or seeds?
Stunning photos keep them coming - Mitch
KK- yes, the daisies are Shasta, Becky, (i think) because I got a start from my neighbor about 7 years ago, and they have never stopped since then!
I have oodles and oodles of them, and Mitch, you are welcome to some. I have huge clumps of them that must be divided and moved or composted!
Okus, your hibiscus are lovely! I have just the red, and some white, with red centers. My daughter (15) told me they were her favorite flower in the yard. I was shocked! She actually realized that we had flowers in the yard.... LOL (if you know teens...) So, I dug one up, moved it outside her window, where it turned brown and shrivelled... I cut it off 7" from the ground.... Well, it sprouted leaves, is flush with growth, and she just might get some flowers...... next year. Poor thing, it was 3 ft tall when I dug it up, but it should be a nice plant for next season!
Here is the white one in June, in full bloom.
TXMel - really :-)))) would love some! Are you coming to the swap in Sept? What are you looking for? Thanks (I think Shastas just look sharp in the garden dont you?) Mitch
honestly, I don't know the date of the swap, as we have soccer starting, and a SR with activities I am chairing, and my DAD is moving from my childhood home, so 3 of 4, maybe all, weekends are booked for my fall!
I might be able to get them to someone that might be going, if I am not.... I will see as it gets closer!
life does get in the way....
mel
Oh, Last thing..... I read this online last week, and jotted it down... I read it every morning..... LOVE IT!
Compared to gardeners... others understand very little about anything of consequence.
-Henry Mitchell
Soccer - I tried to get the 3 year old team here to take my son... they said he had to wait a year... So I have been working with him here. I just love that game - my game back in school.
We can meet up sometime or work something out - Thanks TXMel
Mitch
Well, our HS soccer team does play red oak during the season.... if all else fails... I could bring them then! ; )
Yes, she has been playing soccer for 10 yrs, since she was 5!
mel
There is college money in it - a great way to pay for the way to high costs.
If you play Red Oak I would love to come out and met ya at least - let me know when and where in Red Oak they play.
Tell her to keep up the good work -
Mitch
that's what we're in it for... besides the fun... she hopes to go on to OK State, daddys alma mater, but the next 3 years will be a test! Pray for no injuries...!
We played RO at the HS there in RO last year... Surely we will play them again!
Either way, I will save you some daisy's
Mel
Thanks -
Yea I lost my money due to a last min injury... tucked my right leg behind my left back - no broken bones but tore up my knee so kicking was out of the question.
Thank you so much for the dasies - is there anything you are looking out for? My salvias are all a little small still but I can find ya something around here right?
Back to hit the books for school
Mitch
While out on my morning rounds in the garden, I remembered that my Dwarf Plumbago, of which I planted 3 small 4" pots of last fall.... and have spread quickly and brightly.... have to be one of my favorites! They have not stopped blooming since the end of May, and get more vivid every day. The foliage is starting to turn their beautiful fall shades of gold/red/burgundy too.
Zone 8b, Lake Sam Rayburn, deep East, TX
In spite of drought, and Hurricane Rita blowing through, my Datura and Lantana are still blooming beautifully.
Datura is by entry way and has been my favorite.
Thanks for all your nice pics!
Wish Santa would put a digital camera under my tree!
Happy, successful gardening to all.
lantana and plumbago.
txmel, how tall does dwarf plumbago get? is yours blue or white?
also, did the mexican petunias survive?
Who knows, maybe he will, the cameras have been getting more and more affordable, and they are so much fun. I don't know what I would do without mine, it certainly can give you a lot of pleasure.
Dear Santa, are you listening?
Both my Blue and White Plumbago have done exceptionally well this year. I love those plants. Texas Star Hibiscus did well also.
I have Ox-Eye Daisies in my rock garden that did real well. Some blooming now.
My Worst plant this year were my lantanas. They looked awful! Some kind of bug or fungus just hit them all hard. I finally cut them all back to the ground.
Lin
Vosser, yes, thank you! The mexican petunia dwarfs.... took off and have been blooming nicely! I saw a pink one or two today as I passed... I put them right on the curve of my driveway in front of a hardy Hibiscus... and all seem to be doing well! I was concerned about the purple, but he is ok.
My dwarf plumbago is BLUE, and gets about 6-8" tall. It has started to turn it beautiful coppery fall colors now, and can't wait to see if it doubles again for next year!
mel
My salvias have been a joy this summer. I began using a hedge trimmers to wack off the tops instead of deadheading them individually with a prunning shears. They always reward me with a new wave of blooms. I have several variaties. "Coral Nymph" is my favorite, it's pink and white blooms look so delicate but they are tough as nails. Had a red volunteer to come up that I enjoyed. Next spring I need to remember to give them more room.
Yes, the Salvias have had a great year this year! I hope to add some white and coral ones also!
Also, I am enjoying the Snapdragons again. Mine bloomed in the spring, a time or two over the summer, and now are in full bloom again! I plan to get a flat or two to add for this season, and ito the spring!
melanie
I love lantanas. Have several, but I think this is the prettiest. If anybody knows what var. it is, pls post here. It is violet, but flowers are in various shades of violet. I started with a qt plant 3 years ago and it now covers a 2' X 6' area. This one is fragrant. Hae never seen this particular one again.
There is another lantana that is light purple (not violet) and all the flowers are uniform in color. It is not the same as the one posted here.
That sure is pretty, it has variations like Lantana Camara, but I have never seen it in those shades of lavender or purple. Congratulations.
Josephine.
thanks josephine. you are correct, like lantana camera but violet. I've love to be able to add to PF once I get a name
Here is another lantana for which I have no name. This is white, with a yellow center.
PS: I am still looking for a cutting of lantana Lemon Drop, which is a pastel yellow, if anybody has it.
