13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

I just sprayed a big patch with roundup. It's beautiful for a little while in summer, but the one I have (c. glomerata) just spreads too much. Plus the tiniest bits of root hitchhike to new areas and spread some more.
There's probably a good reason she has them all over ~but they are beautiful.

Variety could be Joan Elliot. My patch froze out this past winter, and I would definately buy more.

Thanks to both for the response. I am collecting seeds so it can stay in the gardens. I'll use it as a 'filler' and keep collecting seeds yearly. :O)

There is a nice pinkish variety too that I have seen that is nice.There are several varieties in that type of salvia.

back in suburbia.. on limited lot size... i too fixated on size ... etc ..

moved to 5 acres... i dont have to worry about all that nonsense ... given i have no space constraints ...

you know what..??? .. the garden can take care of itself and i dont have to force my predisposition on it all ... and 99% of the time... i like the result ... its what i would call the 'cottage garden' look ... as compared to 'formal garden' look ...

the other 1% die.. for not cooperating with my outlook .. lol ...

my point.. if i have one... you spent a lot of time and effort.. trying to force your will on the plants ... and you were constantly frustrated ... thats not quite what the garden should do for you.. raise your blood pressure ... let the peeps with the garden staff.. do the whole 'formal' thing ....

so you let them do their own thing.. and now they are happy.. and you are happy ... one might call that .. a more zen approach to the garden ...

ken

Wow they look great, and that's a real nice late summer combo! I planted the same coreopsis this summer and have my fingers crossed they'll put on as nice a show some day, and yes, I let things flop all the time!

I think you're right! Thanks for the help.

Does anyone have experience with overwintering 'Ogon'? I love the color and look but was told it wouldn't be hardy for me in zone 6.

Tilling is so much more work than smothering, and wrecks the soil layers/drainage.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brief tutorial about 'dirt'

Hi, lilyfinch, I'm on my third year owning a Mantis electric tiller, and it works really well, although I agree that you may not need to till your dead sod. I used it to till in the previous year's cover crop before sowing lupine seeds with an Earthway seeder. I really needed to get a smooth surface without roots that could trip up the seeder. We used it to till fairly deeply one time to start a vegetable garden. We used it to aerate the lawn one time (should do it again). We've used it to edge between the beds and lawn, and between sidewalks and lawn. We've used it to dig holes for planting trees. It's been pretty reliable, powerful, and easy to use. But you might be able to do without it for your current project.

I have also had Hot Summer return vigorously for me a second year, and I like it very much, but while it's early season blooms were prolific, I didn't see many secondary flushes. The most prolific bloomer for me is Sombrero Hot Salsa.

I think I have to take back my positive comment about 'Milkshake'. It has survived a few winters and did bloom nicely earlier in the season, but now it's looking sickly. Now that I think about it, I believe it did the same thing last year - started out good then went downhill. I'll probably be taking it out. Too short of a good bloom season for me.

Kevin

I should add that I have sandy soil with gravel on top so most seeds have excellent conditions for germinating here, its great for direct sowing but I do have to take care and deadhead each fall.

This post was edited by TexasRanger10 on Mon, Aug 25, 14 at 15:40

They are natives here. We leave part of the back yard unmowed where they grow. It was heavenly last year to walk amongst a hundred of them.

Woodstea, you really can't expect ANY above ground growth on A. canadense. It only has one flush of growth per year (in the spring).

By now, most of them are looking ragged in the wild too...their time/purpose is done. The leaves photosynthesized and can now be shed.

Give them another year and see what you think.

I suspect the sun might be a factor too. My wild ginger in fairly dense woodland shade looks good all summer. Mind you, I was very surprised that much of it was killed out by this past winter - as was much of my Sweet Woodruff - but both are slowly recovering, although I expect it'll take a couple of years before they reclaim all their previous territory! I just hope this coming winter is more moderate.

I have VS, fantastic bloomer but does flop especially after heavy rains.

And today I spied this group of "Limelight" on display outside a local nursery (the tallest member was over 6 feet in height).

OT: Why are two of the photos upside down on my Apple computer? I took all the photos with the IPad 2 and did not change the orientation while shooting. They are upright on the IPad.

Thanks, pitimpinai, I am trying to fill in bare spots. Your garden is an inspiration to me.

Congrats! I never could get the DG Delphinium seeds to sprout. I will try again next year. :):)

i always try to use fresh seed and seems to have best results but all garden advice should probably have the postscript-this works in my garden. this year for the first time ever i have delphinium volunteers-will be interesting to see the flower quality. these are second year plants from seed.

If that is indeed jewelweed, and it looks like to me, just a warning that in nature it can often be found near poison ivy - and is supposedly a treatment for it as well. So if you are planning on digging more out, just be careful where you stick your hands. :)

A friend of mine has big swaths of this growing along a streambank in the back yard. I have to agree with Kevin on this one - it looks actually rather nice in its spot, even though most consider it a weed, but I don't think I personally would move it to a garden. Besides, it seeds rather prolifically and would probably take over any bed its in.

Dee

I believe the 2nd one is jewelweed. I found some of them in our wild area with swamp rose, milkweed and many other plants. This is close to drainage stream.

I just found the flowers appealing. I'll keep them in my flower bed for a year to see how they look.

There are some mature clumps of pennisetum, each with dozens of perfect, fluffy white seed heads, each plant about 3ft tall & wide up the street mass planted about 3 ft apart. Simply gorgeous, long blooming with very fine leaves, each plant is the same and very thick. It looks good every year. I'd go for it, grasses are so easy and make great ground cover. Good luck.

I think you made the right choice. Pennisetum has been a pest in my garden and the fact you were able to sow tons of them sounds like a red flag.
... but I don't know why I don't have any snow in summer, the grey leaves look perfect!

Cute. My Sanguisorba menziesii that I started from seeds does not bloom much, very likely because the plant is squashed among others. :-D I am planning to sow some more this winter.

rouge, funny, i just posted a question about sanguisorba choice because i had not seen this thread! your handsome clump might work really well if a yellow foliage shrib were behind it. Deutzia chardonnay pearls, berberis aurea, yellow leaf forsythia(they stay small) ....