First up is echinacea 'Sombrero Salsa Red'. I've been very impressed with the Sombrero series in general, but this one wins the prize. Tons of blooms with saturated color on a sturdy, compact plant. What's not to love?

How about you all? New or tied and true, what plants are you most happy with in your garden this year?

One of my favs this year: Delphinium Moonlight Blues
My first delph and definitely not my last. A whole new word has been opened to me.

Kevin

Prairiemoon-the thing about heuchera is that they really need to be re-propagated every 3-4 years in order to do well. Otherwise, they decline like you're saying yours did. It's kind of a pain, but on the plus side, you have a ton of new little plants to spread around the landscape when you're done.

prairiemoon, seeing that picture makes me want to give violas another shot. For some reason, they don't do well here.

Kevin, that is an outstanding delphinium.

Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

Clematis 'Rebecca'

Achillea 'Pomegranate' and Veronica 'Eveline'

Astilbe 'Fanal'

Panicum 'Cheyenne Sky' and Achillea 'Red Velvet'

I'm on board with Geum this year. Also bought 'Totally Tangerine' and it bloomed for a very long time. Started Geum 'Cooky' from seed a couple years ago (thanks CMK) and they came into their own this year. Was so happy about those plants.

Oh yes, that one came from Bluestone - you know, that really terrible place to buy plants (sarcasm of course - couldn't resist).

Kevin

It just started blooming again and now it's surrounded by Lobelia cardinalis and the achilea 'Red Velvet' shown above.

prairiemoon, the picture is pretty accurate as far as Pomegranate' goes. I'd describe it as a dark red-magenta. It fades to a gorgeous dark pink and it's been blooming all summer.

Here's a picture from mid-July where you can see the faded flowers are stil very pretty.

I also love rudbeckia 'prairie sun', it just doesn't seem to reseed true for me so I start a few new ones whenever I remember to replace the casualties. They're two year plants if I'm lucky.

PM2 I have rose 'Julia Child' on my list, the color is great and I've never seen a bad looking patch.

Here's my best phlox, 'Laura'. It's the center one. No mildew, long bloom, nice color.... if only it were a little bit taller.

I have Delphs that I winter-sowed in January that are starting to bloom already!

We have had discussions about it ad nauseam (some even ending up in serious fights, when one member nearly threw a curse on me). But I will repeat: Not all Delphiniums are short-lived , it's just a question of choosing long-lived ones. I have mentioned it in at least 3-4 major threads.

"Happy Days" has begun to flower in the past week:

Here is the start:

And "Astra White" Balloon Flower:

I never kind of realized how long these Balloon Flowers continue to put forth blooms if one keeps up with the dead heading.

Heuchera Cherries Jubilee Early and long blooming color.

Euphorbia Polychroma can't beat that eye popping spring color that becomes soft blue/green mounds through the summer adding tinges of red in fall.

Nepeta Subsisslis Tall, sturdy long blooming, loved by bees, humming birds and finches for the seed.

Geranium Biocovo The ground cover around the sedum here is very pretty in bloom, but I appreciate it most for it's year round attractive leaves that smother out weeds very well.

Gazania- I love your heuchera 'Cherries Jubilee' and the Euphorbia polychroma.

It's one of those plants that glows from across the garden, but if you really want to get close and personal and get down on your hands and knees, the individual flowers are exquisite. Crush a few leaves and the fragrance is wonderful

Again, one of those terrible, terrible plants from Bluestone this past spring. How on earth could I have wasted almost $6 on this plant? (you got it - sarcasm galore.)

Kevin

Kevin

The bunny is excellent too, what a great photo.

gazania - I love, love, love that Nepeta Subsisslis. It's on the list for next year.

Kevin

funnthsun - I guess my point being, not everyone is unhappy with Bluestone. I haven't received small plants for big prices (I posted my cost on the other thread) and love the coir pots. Glad you like the Calamintha. Next season, I need to take a closer look at these to see what else is available.

Kevin

And no, it does not spread itself around like other primroses. I have yet to see any offspring from my 4 plants in 8 years.

And count me as another who loves the Cherries Jubilee Huechera and the Euphorbia Polychroma. The Euphorbia looks positively electric in that picture.

Terra Cotta is the latest to bloom and it is pretty floppy. I don't mind, it kind of weaves through my other plants and it's a gorgeous color.

Red Velvet is my tallest and doesn't flop at all. It leans a bit since the area it's in is part sun but that's all.

Pomegranate started blooming in early June and hasn't stopped blooming. Hasn't flopped at all.

I first noticed this plant when I was driving by a church as there were a couple of them in the front garden set well back from the road. But the flash of bright yellow was so pronounced. I held off planting any as I kept reading that it was quite a spreader. But a couple of weeks ago I decided to go ahead with it and I planted it two of them.

Delphiniums are very nice, and aachenelf's is a great color. Here is a quote about longevity I found I won't say where but it's that other place to chat about gardens:

"How long delphiniums such as Pacific Giants, New Millenniums, which I breed, Magic Fountains etc will live depends mainly on climate. I receive much feedback on this question and can make the following general observations. Where winters are mild and the summers are hot delphiniums are short lived perennials. Where winters are very cold and summers are cool they may well last a lifetime. In Canada and northern USA delphiniums should therefore last many years but as you go further south their life reduces. For instance, where summer highs reach the 90DegF for less than a month some may last, on average, say 2 to 5 years. Much depends on night-time lows, daytime heat and how much humidity you have. High humidity and high temperatures are generally not good for them. I will leave the debate about the merits of different varieties to others as I have a vested interest."

I don't know if any of the other cultivars not mentioned last longer. If you can spend five dollars on a premium annual, why not a little more on a short-lived perennial? Have you been having hot weather in Denmark, weislaw? I hope not for your delph's sake.

I love the Heuchera and the glowy Phlox. And I plan to find a red yarrow soon.

Bummer news - my plant came crashing down last night during a severe thunderstorm with high winds. I thought I had it staked properly, but I guess I didn't. I knew we were in for some severe weather and thought: "I should go check my Delph to make sure it won't blow over." I didn't and it came down.

It's in my house now in a vase. I didn't realize the flower stems were hollow and really very, very weak.

Kevin

Half my garden is leaning severly or lying down. All this heavy rain has taken a toll. I'm impressed by the few plants that are completely unfazed.

It seeds around, but seedlings are easy to pull (or you can cut off the nondescript flowers before they go to seed in late fall). It roots easily from cuttings too. It doesn't run, but seems to just end up where I need it.

In some areas it gets taller than I'd prefer, but then I just trim it back...and if I stick the cuttings in the ground and keep them watered, I'll have a new plant.

Wouldn't be without it!

I'm really happy I bought the Salvia Purple Rain from the WalMart "We are all done blooming and if we mark these down will someone please buy them" rack last summer. It was so cheap, and it is still blooming and very nice.

Kevin

I've never tries 4 o'clocks but it sure is pretty.

The one I have is also from the 'Millenium' series.

Kevin

Here is our wonderful specimen from last summer. It was huge!

Since a lot of my gardening is in the evening after work, I should look into this plabt more closely.

PM2, that delph is gorgeous.

You've all been talking a lot about delphiniums this summer, and realizing that I'm replacing our picket fence this fall and want to take away some of the heavier plantings near it (a huge grass, joe pye, etc....), this thread really has me thinking that what that bed will need are delphiniums. Guess I know what seeds I'll be starting this winter!

I grew them in containers to make sure I didn't have a problem with them and the containers were on mulch and cement and I collected the seed as it developed and saved it for the next season. I never had a problem or a seedling.

Actually I have never grown them in pots 'prairie' but you have made me now consider such an option as we really don't have any full sun location for such a large annual. Given the size of the tuber root I am imagining it would need to be a large container?

We live in a cool climate and my experience matches what Aseedisapromise posted. So there may be a reason why people are repeating this story... because it is true!

CNN is welcome to come this week because the gardens are really clean and tidy right now. :)

Oh yes, it appears the person who posted this comment is from New Zealand and breeds delphiniums. You'll pick that up in the first sentence.

"How long delphiniums such as Pacific Giants, New Millenniums, which I breed, Magic Fountains etc will live depends mainly on climate. I receive much feedback on this question and can make the following general observations. Where winters are mild and the summers are hot delphiniums are short lived perennials. Where winters are very cold and summers are cool they may well last a lifetime. In Canada and northern USA delphiniums should therefore last many years but as you go further south their life reduces. For instance, where summer highs reach the 90DegF for less than a month some may last, on average, say 2 to 5 years. Much depends on night-time lows, daytime heat and how much humidity you have. High humidity and high temperatures are generally not good for them. I will leave the debate about the merits of different varieties to others as I have a vested interest."

wieslaw stated:
“by people, who have never tried to grow REAL DELPHINIUMS if you ask them.”

Please explain the difference between a REAL delphinium and one that isn't real? I'm very curious about that.

But the sentence you wrote which really got my attention was this:
“Aseedisapromise, do not believe a word what you wrote.”

Really? So you're calling this person a liar? Yes, I realize there are a couple of people out here who pride themselves in their direct approach and their bluntness and all that, but I believe most people just consider that type of comment rude - just plain rude behavior Not that I think you really care what I think or anyone else for that matter, but it is worth repeating - that was a mind-numbingly rude comment. You certainly post your share of them.

Clearly you know a lot about plants, you have great gardens and all that, but it isn't an excuse to treat people like crap when you feel like it. It simply isn't. And just to be clear, had I posted what Aseedisapromise posted and you made your comment to me, my feelings would not have been hurt. It's not about feelings, it's about rudeness - plain and simple.

Kevin

Just because somebody is from New Zealand is not synonymous with that the words of the person should be treated as gospel. I have found many a delphinium breeder from Europe whose experiences are exactly like mine. Unlike the person you refer to, my experiences are my own- thus reliable.

My question to you is: have you bred pure elatum delphiniums? If not, you are not entitled to make a scene here . So keep your outrages for better times, when there is reason for it. Not here.

So basically what you're saying is : if I see somebody is writing pure nonsense , you suggest I keep my mouth shut? Who is supposed to be better off with such situation??
How I diminish somebody by correcting an error/mistake? Explain please.

It is only plants, and, much as we care about them intensely, we are not calling anyone an ignorant peasant with bad skin and ugly children....and such like.

Have a little clotted cream and jam with those biscuits, or is that with scones? :-)

I have never attacked anybody with accusations of being rude and other horrible things , so do not compare my direct approach to Kevin's fierce and savage , totally misplaced fit of madness. There is a limit here what can be compared and what is beyond comparison. I would never lower myself to such thing.

Second language??? English is actually my fourth language and I'm selftaught. Nevertheless it was assessed to be good enough to appoint me to be a global moderator on an US-based international forum in another branch. And let me tell you: although the Americans are in minority there, it is the most offended group of all (Australians runner-up). Nothing is too small to feel offended about,it seems like they love to feel offended. Nothing is too small to cause a stir. No opportunity is missed to feel offended, no matter how small, it's like they are fault finders or something.They try to find something that is not there. And then they use half an hour to tell each other what they actually meant and what they did not mean. Nobody else does it. The Dutch ones do not even have a word for sorry. So no, you are not right even on this account, either. And they remember being offended like elephants: til the day they die.

As far as the Kevin's attack on me is concerned: it surprises me that you cannot see that it was totally unfounded and out of place. You seem to only notice "my sins".

Talk about rudeness.

You gave me a benefit of a doubt???? We are not in the court of law here and I'm not charged with anything yet. And you are not a judge as far as I know. You are absolutely in no position of giving me any form of benefit of a doubt. Your confusion is blown out of any reasonable proportions. What nerve! I do not need your benefit , you can take it back and I'm too polite to write what exactly you can do with it, but have a lot of fun with it. You definitely deserve it.

And it was not I who highjacked the thread. It was you and Kevin who made it all about me. I did not ask for it. So stop talking nonsence. You ridicule yourself. Whatever you think you're doing, it is not working.

prairiemoon - You put an incredible amount of time and effort into trying to sort this all out. Thank you.

Kevin

Gazania said it very well about the Missouri Eve Primrose

You know how there is the 'great' debate re. a true blue flower. Well it seems cut and dried to me that the Missouri Primrose is the poster child for true yellow. I was out this morning and this young plant had two so sunny yellow blooms.