13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
I have had Summertime Blues for the past two summers. I like it and it blooms well all summer even in a shady aspect. It does have a tendency to droop but appropriate trimming usually solves this problem.
(I planted Cosmic Evolution late this past fall so I have my fingers crossed that it will make it through the winter.)
I have seen people that have perfect gardens and I wished I had the time.
===>>> boy you have this one backwards..
the perfect garden is the one that brings you pleasure at the level you wish to invest ....
it should not really be about making something look like someone elses ..
its about being happy with what you can do ... w/in your capabilities.. and i think that is where OP is trying to go on some level ...
thats what i was trying to say with the 1/2 acre i simply do not mow ... that was so foreign to me when i first did it.. but the result fit in well with my inability to develop that area to someone elses expectations ...
ken
No, No ken....it was not that I wanted their garden. When I said perfect is was what I would like to do with the plants that I like.
True the perfect garden is what brings you pleasure....but when you cannot give it the level you wish but the level you have time to invest is another story.
It is not about 'copy what someone has' but a style of garden that you would like....
Some people do not have the luxury of devoting the level of time they wish to a garden. If somebody else would pay these pesky bills for me I could stop wishing. lol
I can grow meconopsis, but I wouldn't say I've grown nomocharis well. I've grown it to blooming, but drainage is critical and my winters are wet for its needs - I'm told it does better with cold dry winter conditions. Still, I would like to have tried more, but my one bulb/plant did not set seed to play with the year it did flower.
I do remember instructions when I bought the potted bulb to transplant into the garden with extreme care - they don't like disturbance, not even from nursery pots into the ground.
I'd be inclined agree. Walker's Low Catmint. Here's a link to my pics within a post I responded to last year. (Sorry they are so gigantic. Was still learning how to post pics back then.) But maybe that will help you identify yours better.
There are three.....bloomed, the 'dead' bottom part, and then before it bloomed. The first one isn't fully bloomed. It flowered MUCH more....and stayed that way long into fall.
Only difference I see is that yours grows upright and mine splays out. But that may be because of type of sunlight. I get early AM sunrise and it crawls across in front of plant until it disappears to the other side around 2 or 3 PM behind a house. It's facing E/SE. Hope this helps.
BTW, yours are beautiful !!
Bonnie
Here is a link that might be useful: Walker's Low Catmint
Notice the post by Dee above and her link. It will get you to a thread written in July or August of last year. That's when Bluestone Perennials first made the big change in their business. It's a shame about all this. I used them almost exclusively when I started my perennial garden in this house, but now it's time for a change. I just can't afford Bluestone anymore.
Try Dee's link to the July/August thread about Bluestone's business change. Lots of upset gardeners posted there.
Hi,
I received a back order from Bluestone in the fall last year which was in one of there new pots, the bad news is it could not retain moisture and arrived so dry and crispy it was ridiculous. I did consider the fact that the temps were warmer in the fall than in spring but I still believe it would have done so much better in plastic.
Wendey
mosswitch wrote:
Full sun can mean about 5 hours of sun a day, not necessarily full hot all day sun.
For me and my property where sun is in short supply many of my perennials that are listed as FULL SUN (i.e. greater than or equal to 6 hours) generally do fine with 4 hours of morning sun (say 9 till 1).
I have Kalimeris Blue Star, by dividing they now number 50+. I do trim all season keeping at about 18" if not it will flop in rain. It's fabulous, covered head to toe with blue flowers from beginning of June to about 3rd week of Sept. No disease issues. Seems to like division about every 3 years to keep crown healthy. I've grown it now 10+ years in northern Illinois. Only bothered one year by a second invasion of sawfly larvae. It's like having an aster that blooms almost all season. Pat
Stop using the bone meal for starters. It has calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. Your calcium to magnesium ratio is high so perhaps adding magnesium alone might help. A pH of 7+ will slow the uptake of iron but maybe not enough with that amout of iron. I would suggest taking this to you local county extention office and see what they have to say. Some things can be corrected by having the proper ratios.
tj
I have gotten soil test by the county extension office here and it comes with specific targetted recommendations based on the results.
Did you get your test from the county extension?
If you suspect your water (well water I presume), then you should get that tested as well. Look for a private testing lab that does not do treatments to get the most objective results. It might cost some bucks. Around here it runs from $65 to $125 for various combinations of testing -- most of which are designed for potable water. Well water should be tested periodically.
Well, gb, the clematis look beautiful around the veggies.
Thanks for the invitation Woody, I've lurked in the Idylls for years and I see what a nice group you have going. I'm pretty reserved by nature and I feel like my garden has a way to go yet to be able to share much. Maybe one of these days I will show up though.
You are welcome. I am not employed with anyone. Just a old retired gradener. So am not one trying to sell you on one or the other. LOL I know how hard it is these days to find the best prices. I have been doing the same thing.
The problem is sometime we get things a little cheaper but the plants are not good.
I prefer cheap plants Marquest. lol It would be nice if my budget would allow a big order of named perennials in quart or gallon pots but it doesn't and I'm perfectly happy babying the little ones. They catch up. I was disappointed that Bluestone quit selling smaller plants. The regular prices at American Meadows would be too much for me for 3 inch pots but I thought their sale prices were pretty good. I looked up the "scoop" on Santa Rosa and American Meadows and they both had good reviews.
I have done this with all the online nurseries that I have used.....
Put your order together...call them and ask if you place an order what discount will they offer you today? I have gotten a bigger discount and/or free plants.
It never hurts to ask all they can say is NO or you might get a deal.
I received an email earlier today from Bluestone that says, "Early Order Discount Expires February 15th, 2012" so perhaps the date has been extended? As Marquest said, it certainly doesn't hurt to ask.