They were 1 gallon, probably 14" tall, but they were all flopped over. When I've seen them in the landscape, they've always been mounded.

So, why were these so floppy?

If I were to buy them, would cutting them back help them bush up? If so, cut back how far.

Or should I pass?

I have several to look forward to:

- "Rozanne"
- "Havana Blues"
- "Lakwijk Star"

The value of any plant is that we purchase and plant the type of plant we need for our personal garden style or need.

It suits my style because I do not like the manicured ball plant here and there with a foot of mulch between every plant. So a twinning between the plants and reliable blooms every year without having to buy annuals every year. To have blooms all summer until winter is a benefit for my garden style. There are so few plants that bloom this long that is not a annual.

If you want a bush buy a bush. Example.... A good small bush is Weigela. It blooms and you can have a short blooming bush. They have great color leaves but it does not bloom all summer into winter. Rozanne does bloom all summer but it is not a bush.

I am fairly new to hardy geraniums but up to this point I have never seen one look truly happy, healthy or vigorous when grown in nursery pots for sale. Most of the geraniums I planted early last spring were tiny, sad things that mainly sulked during the summer. I had fairly low expectations based on their underwhelming performance last year, but now they have grown into lush, charming plants. I suspect many of these plants fit into the 1st year-sleep, 2nd year creep, 3rd year-leap rule.

It has been a very cool but stable spring in my area. 3 clumps of 'Rozanne' have been blooming sparsely for the past week, while the rest are forming buds. Also blooming now are 'Tiny Monster' (also started last week), magnificum 'Rosemoor' (ditto), 'Elizabeth Ann' (started three weeks ago and still going strong) and pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis' (started over a month ago and blooms have been becoming both larger and more numerous now). 'Bevan's Variety' and 'Biokovo' have been blooming for past two weeks. 'Blue Sunrise', Geranium wlassovianum and G. himalayense 'Derrick Cook' are still busy forming buds.

If you find a plant that does not react the way your want it for the position in your garden and you do not have alternate space to plant it to make it happy then the only thing you can do is dig it out and get a plant that makes you happy.

Gardening is a challenge. I had a normal Suburban yard so I know how hard it is to have limited space. I am not in that position now. I move plants around until I find its happy place. I do not blame the plant.