What's Growing - Part 10

Andrea - I didn't find YC in my big thread, I got it mislabelled at a greenhouse - for sure an older variety.

here was an earlier picture
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2587418


here's a cool bug shot

That sure looks just like mine. Unfortunately, as I reported recently, my old man fell in Lake Erie with the digital in his pocket and a replacement has not arrived as yet. (note - for purposes of this story only he falls from grace as DH down to my old man.)

love the asters. The one I have is tall and gets all over the place. I think I will get rid of it this year and next as it starts to sprout up. Home Depot had some pretty purple that they say are perennial. I might give those a try

Anita,
If you cut back the native aster(Aster novae-angliae, New England aster, size 1-8') back repeatedly up until Jul 15 it remains a manageable 2 1/2 '. A few years ago I purchased a very beautiful purple aster from Home Depot, unnamed cultivar, and although it was lovely it had clearly been bred for looks alone because not a bee or benefical insect was ever seen on it. . I eventually gave the aster to someone who is allergic to bee stings, the only good use I could find for the defective aster. I'm sure it feels much better about itself, to have some use, instead of being just another pretty face.
Here's the native aster before blooming, about the same size as the Sedum Autumn Joy.

I do that too, but I think maybe I'll be more severe with my cutting. It really does take over if you don't keep an eye on it.

Anita, This is the 1st year I cut it back again by 1/2 right at the July 15 deadline. It delays the bloom a bit, mine just started but it's a full foot shorter then last year and 3' shorter than usual.

That's actually a good idea. Here are some pics from today. I was excited to see a Praying Mantis for the first time! I almost missed him too.

Very nice collage, Anita.

Whoa. That is one friendly looking praying mantis!

he looks a bit like wants to kiss the camera (or swallow it whole)

Thats awesome Anita! He looks like he's grining?

Al ~ I think this is as pretty as I am going to get out of my dahlia's.

Anita - that is an excellent closeup.
note to self: no kids=better camera

Pixie - that one is pretty, should be able to ID that one.


who likes purple - Gram?

Al,
I like purple too, especially those! What's the name of that one??
Speaking of purple..my morning glories crossed them selfs into a very pretty lavender color.

I LOVE purple! Like Pixie said, especially those! Wish I had a bouquet like that in every room of the house!

That one didn't turn out to be what the package said so it is an unknown. It is the bushiest dahlia plant I have ever had and I have cut off about 2 plants worth to keep it from falling down.

Pixie - were those like Heavenly Blue or something.

one of my favorite perennials is just about open - Alma Potcshke - why would you want to limit this plant by cutting it back - why?

Gee, Al, for me? you shouldn't have ;-) I don't mind sharing with the rest of the purple lovers. those are gorgeous and looks like you have plenty to go around.

Al ~ I have no idea what they were. I planted them 3 or 4 years ago and haven't got rid of them since. It was a packet of mixed colors if I remember right. Here is what I still get from them:
The hummer's come to these , along w/ bee's and butterflies. If any one wants seeds let me know.

This message was edited Sep 16, 2006 8:23 PM

pixie, they really are pretty. I wish I had someplace to let them go.

I cheated with putting the apples in this one. They're on my neighbor's tree, not mine. And my cat Dooley made the cut this time. The burning bush and hydrangea are turning color already. The dahlias are Jack-o-lantern and Cornel.

Pretty kitty, Nancy. The apples look good. That center dahlia (Cornel?) might be the best one yet. Is that one of the winter-hardy pansies?

As long as there are no pics of snowmen, I'm game for anything ;0)

One of my new 'indoor' mini roses opened a bud today...Saint Mary. the bloom is about 3/4" and much deeper purple than I expected. I'm sure it will vary over time

Great dahlia's. I love the purple ones too. Mine is a deep purple. If I get a chance later, I'll take a pick. That red one is definitely a winner Nancy.

Oh Gram...what a beautiful color! That really is a deep color, I don't usually see roses that dark.

As for snowmen, my daughter wants me to go build her one when we have enough snow. I told her she can build her own when she comes home for Christmas. Only 5 year olds and someone who lives in Florida would miss a snowman!
This only thing I have growing that is dark right now is this little pansy that re-seeded it's self from last year.

I love those deep, velvety pansies.

My niece grew up in NC and was here one Christmas when we had a ton of snow. she usually came to visit in the summer. I have pics of her and my brother (she must have been 17 or so) making snow angels, building snowmen, throwing snowballs, etc. they played outside for 3 days.

I guess you have to live somewhere warmer to appreciate snow! Although I could not picture Christmas with out it, I can't say I love it like I did when I was 12.

Nancy - you skipped a dahlia in there, top center. Nice though - I think your cat needs watering(I'm a dog person)

Gram - nice rose, great color.


this Shooting Star has a little better color on it.

Al - there is a fly on your Dahlia.

Heirloom rose that I bought my neighbor this spring with beetle hinney. That ups Al's fly one.

Nice rose, you can keep the beetles.

Al, your Shooting Star is amazingly similar to my Chimacum Topaz. Oh no, here we go again.

Al, your dahlia looks surprisingly similar to my Chimacum Topaz. Oh no, here we go again.

Nancy - yours really is a straight SC while mine is an incurving SC


Every now and then I get a great photo - I will include this shot of Night Queen in that group. It has been so hard to catch the color dark enough.

Wow!! Wish I had that perfect symmetry.

Those are so beautiful you two!

SC stands for what, Al?

Al, I think you can take a bow on that pic. That color is amazing. How pretty would that look in a bouquet with Nancy's Chimacum Topaz?

we finally got some sun here today and it is warmer. got some things planted ~ took some pics

for some reason, it thinks it posted my pic, but nothing's there

It isn't as smart as it thinks it is.

Dave (Real Dave) posted in the Daves Garden Forum that he was doing some work on the site and it may have some problems today.

This message was edited Sep 17, 2006 8:38 PM

nope, still doesn't like it
let me try a different one
here's a neighbor that was using my pool today

guess I'll give up for a while - had a nice collage with a big old nasty spider floating in the pool :-( I couldn't get on at all earlier today...anybody else having problems?

we had a Great egret on our lake today. probably passing thru migrating. it's only the 2nd time we've ever seen one. grabbed the camera and ran outside, but he was way down the lake and the pics are REAL bad, but at least I got to see him. last time I was at work. really need a telephoto

Thanks for the warning, about the spider. I'll skip right over it.