Garden Photos part 24

Tiki Torch on the other hand is new this year and so far it looks to be a winner.

Summer Sky

Ruby Giant

Self seeded Razzmatazz

and Fatal Attraction

Supposed to be Red Dutch but I think its "Shocking" (no laughing)
This is the second misnamed lily this morning.

Does Fatal Attraction ever cross its petals??!

This is a new plant and these are the first three blooms. What you see is what you get, so far I like. The color is better than the pic, rich deep color almost seems to glow from across the garden. The blooms get lighter as they age from a very dark pink colored bud, just the opposite of 'Merlot' which also has dark stems ,but the bloom seems get a bit deeper pink as it ages. Merlot never gets as intense in color as FA. So far they both are nice healthy plants, so now to wait to see the results after winter.

I'm looking for a dark red compliment for the Shocking lilies.
Is Merlot red or reddish pink?

Pat your echinacea's are beautiful! I got Tiki Torch this year and it was small but healthy....don't think i'll see blooms on it this year so thanks for posting your pic.

Here is a pic of 'Merlot'. It is definitely pink not red. There is a new one coming out next year that is red 'Tomato Soup'. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/875231/
Thanks pixie, they are my favs right now. I have another TT that is small but much bushier and has just set a bud so maybe you will get a bloom before the season is done.

Merlot is a very deep burgandy color.....try 'American Journey' http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp?pn=70271&sid=414461&eid=p_70271

or 'Red Alert' http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/summer/productview/?sku=84-84

I wasn't think the color of the coneflower!! I was thinking the color 'Merlot" which is very dark!! LOL So i'll just MMOB!!!

Thanks for the info.
I think Tiki Torch is read enough for the purpose.
It's on my 2009 wish list and of course there will be ten new ones that I will love that come out in the catalogues in January.

That Shocking is gorgeous... really interesting!!!!

love all the coneflowers!!!! I think I be addicted to them also!!!!

Nightingale - a new rose for me...

Thom, Love the EE's and I LOVE that blue triangular planter.
Celeste-Love those minis how cute!!
Kassia-I can smell your roses thru the screen.

Do EE's have to come in for the winter?

Yes, they're tropical. You can try to treat them as a houseplant or, as most do, dig up and save the tuber.

Popping out of lurkdom for a moment...

On the right is Shocking and the lily on the left is Red Dutch. They are similar but if you look closely, they have their differences. The petals of Shocking are more pointed. And the fragrance of Shocking is much stronger. The red in Red Dutch is a much deeper red.

Thanks, velnita! Feel free to pop in anytime.

EE are by far the easiest thing to store over winter, IMHO. I have tried dahlias a few times, and they seem to shrivel, rot, or get all mildewy (thanks to some fellow DG'ers, I see the error in my Dahlia storing methods, and will change that this year.) Once the leaves start to die back, some of the newer varieties don't quite get a "bulb" like some of the species do, I dig the bulb out of the pot...this can be a task. The root systems on these guys are legendary! I will slice off the "pups" let them callous over, and then store them in shoe boxes, or milk crates (I procured one from a local grocery store.) Typically, I do not do anything other than store them...that's it. The bulbs are pretty darn hearty. The EE's that don't form a bulb, I cut back the leaves, and pull the clump of dirt that forms the root ball, and I store that. This year is going to be tricky. My 'Tea Cups' and 'Black Magic' are huge, and the root system was large to begin with...I'm going to take a crack at seperating them, and storing them the same way.

I know, for a fact, I will have several of the larger ones that will need homes. I can not guarantee the size of the "pup" at this stage in the game, but some of them are already sending of their second set of leaves! I should, as of right now, have about 8-10 of the pups to get rid of. I do not need anymore than that...lol. I hope some of the newer and more expensive varieties will form a bulp, or atleast a pup or two (this makes storage so much easier), and if I do, I will more than likely either sell them, or offer them up to peeps.

I know from reading LariAnn's article, from dmailing bwilliams (Brian's Botanicals), and reading everything that Tony Avent has/had to say about the newer varieties, I might be disappointed in having no bulbs in which to store, but that is a road that is about 2+ months or so away!

I hope I didn't babble again.

velnita, Great comparison. I am confused as I thought I had 'Shocking' but I don't seem to have bought it. I have bought 'Red Dutch', but planted it in a different bed. I will post later tonight the pictures of what I have. I like it no matter. Patti

My "Red Dutch " doesn't have much red and the edges of the petals are ruffled.
I don't even theink it's "Shocking"

I'll offer a home to a 'pup', Thom!

Ok, so I planted something called 'Red Hot' but this is what has appeared. I missed the bloom period last year. What do you think. 'Shocking'? Patti

thom - i give away many ee every year. and lose dahlia's every year keeping them in the same over winter environment. although last year i did have some success with one huge dahlia root system. lucky i guess.
hate these late redsox games from the west coast, need to sleep.

If in the early evening you can easily smell it's fragrance from 10' away, it could be Shocking. The scent of Shocking will knock your socks off and carries through the air easily. I think that the scent is even stronger and sweeter than my Silk Roads.

It does look like Shocking but I haven't grown Red Hot to be able to compare. Yet. LOL...you know how that is. They're on my list.

Patti
THAT is not "Red "anything.
Thats the lily that I expected to be Red Dutch.I can't remember where I got it but it was mail order. Looks like whoever harvested the Red bulbs? Went to the wrong row.
It isn't Shocking because my shocking has smooth out facing petals and this has ruffled petals, same red throat though.
Here is my Shocking in a bunch, on the far right, past them is supposed to be Red Dutch (but nooooo)
I know yesterday I said it was OK but I'm still P*****.
This is afirst year garden with the exception of the Torch L's
Gunna put in some other perenns next year.

Pixie, could your lily be 'Tarragona'? I received Tarragona as a bonus this year from Hallson Gardens. It was a small plant with three nice-sized blooms. It had a nice, fresh citrusy scent.

Thom - if that was babbling, I'll take that and more! Great information on EE's and yours are absolutely fantastic! This is my first year attempting them so your winterizing tips and suggestions will come in handy in ... did you say a couple months? Oh, man, we can't be that close, can we?

O K AAAAY
This is the last pic of the Red Dutch Shocking Lily debackle.
Patti ! do these look like yours?

AHEMMM Here is the picture

Neither my 'Shocking' or 'Touching' has bloomed yet, but I promise to post when they do.

Watch for any lily with Red in the id. That seems to be where the problem is.

Jo Ann, I have both for at least 3 years.....my Shocking is very "loud" compared to my 'Touching".

Its the Red Dutch I have an issue with.
Even if I( pause ) switched the markers when I put the bulbs in this spring, and that is possible at 72 I'm not responsable for anything.
There is no way the switched Shocking could be Red Dutch.
OOOOHHH heck. I like them both, think I'll get some perennials like a deep orange red Coriopsis or Tiki Torch eCHI. to go with them, ohh h*** I'll get them both and some dark red asiatics just to finish the whole thing off.
If you have any suggestions let me know. Your gardens are awsome.
Here is where they will go.

New Guinea Tango Impatiens

I love those NG's Planted several in containers.

Victor--please dmail me your address...I think I deleted it by accident. There is a hosta with your name on it.

And a pup is yours!

All of the regular ole elephant ears, the really large leaved species, is from 1 bulb I bought a few years ago from Brent and Becky's. If any of you see one of those bulbs for sale and think it's to expensive, they will definitely pay you back in large dividends!

Ok, I had 2 DL's open up today...one I have been waiting on for awhile. I bought it last year at the 50% off sale (same place as 'Shirazz' and 'Bartzella') AND oh my good heavens...this DL is loud...I mean LOUD. I love it!

Here is 'Cinammon Sunrise.' FFO