Viewing comments posted by Joy

Orangeman very neatly folds up its old blooms. If you don't deadhead, it still looks nice.

Though Orangeman isn't anything fancy, it blooms earlier than most, sometimes as much as a month before the others and is very neat and tidy in habit. Opens well on cool mornings too.

I've been growing this for at least 10 years and have never seen a bloom until this year. The bloom grew out of one of its prolifs and it's trying to double. It's actually a nice bloom. Probably about a 4' flower. I've posted a picture. Sure hope to see more.

Daylily rebloom is pretty rare in my garden. But I can count on Cheetah Wheelies reliably reblooming in my zone 8, Pacific Northwest garden.

This is a shorter variety (2' x 3') than the ever popular Verbena bonariensis, so loved by bees and butterflies. This one would be suitable for containers.

Flavia only showed slight damage to the tips of the blooms through the extreme heat we got in late June of 2021. We saw temps up to 118 degrees over a three day period here in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures never seen here before. Probably would appreciate some protection during hot weather.

Smart Romance only burnt slightly through the extreme heat we got in late June of 2021. We saw temps up to 118 degrees over a three day period here in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures never seen here before. Smart Romance is growing in a pot and was in full day sun. Probably would appreciate some protection from the hottest temps of the day.

Playtime did not stand up to the extreme temperatures we got in late June of 2021. We got up to 118 degrees over a 3 day period. Unheard of here in the Pacific Northwest. Most blooms were burnt to a crisp on this lily. Buds that hadn't opened were burnt and stunted. Some opened later anyway but showed much damage. Buds that hadn't matured just turned brown and dropped off. I think Playtime is one that would appreciate some protection from the late afternoon sun even when the temps are moderate.

Headliner Crystal sky is an extremely good grower. Wonderful plant habits and constantly in bloom. She doesn't make seed so you don't have to deadhead her for her to continue blooming. I have mine hanging on our back patio in a Northern position. Petunias are full sun plants yet she continues blooming her head off even in my shaded area. She only gets Morning Sun.
She trails out of a hanging container so gracefully. A very elegant looking plant. (See my photo)
I want this one for my hanging containers every year.

I'm in the Pacific Northwest where we got 3 days of record breaking heat this year. We got up to 117 degrees where we are usually very mild. A lot of my lilies burnt up in that heat, as did many other plants. African Lady laughed at it and didn't get as much as a suntan. She's only been in my garden for two years but has gotten so huge already. This is one really impressive and tough lily.

Night Rider has the coolest growing habit and foliage I've ever seen on a lily. (see the photos I posted) It kind of reminds me of a spider or unusual daylily bloom. A really long one that looks like it's dancing. This lily is beautiful even before it blooms.

This is an early blooming fragrant oriental. Whereas most orientals bloom starting in July, this one blooms around the same time as the June blooming Asiatic lilies I grow.

Rebloom here in my PNW garden is very uncommon. But when I do get it, it's often on a plant not listed as a rebloomer. That's the case this year with Indian Sky. I've grown it for years and have never seen it do this, but this year it has sent up 1 reblooming scape and may never do it again.

Rebloom isn't common in my garden here in the PNW. But this year Shake the Mountains is reblooming for me in August. We had a very wet spring, so I'm inclined to believe that's what has made the difference this year.

A true perennial Foxglove. Extremely long lived. Beautiful even when not in bloom and the blooms last a long time too. Will self sow, but not as aggressively as the common foxglove.

I had read that Digiplexis, though hardy to my zone, won't survive a PNW wet winter as too much winter wet can rot it. So I potted mine and moved it under my covered porch, then hand watered it through the winter. It stayed green all winter, then started growing again in March.

Will bloom first year from seed.

This Astilbe has a wonderful sweet fragrance that reminds me of grape kool-aid. Luscious!!

So far this is a longer-lived Echinacea than some of the other hybrid Echinaceas I've tried. Seems many of the newer echies are just short-lived perennials, lasting only 2 or 3 years. This one's been growing happily in my garden for four years now. Good performer. I'll update if that changes next year.

This pretty pink Echinacea, so far, is longer-lived than some of the other hybrid Echinaceas I've tried. Seems many of the newer echie's are just short-lived perennials, lasting 2 or 3 years. This one's been growing happily in my garden for four years now. I'll update if that changes next year.

This is one of my favorite Echinaceas. It's such a cheerful, "stop you in your tracks," BRIGHT bloom. Unfortunately, it's one of those short-lived perennials. It only lasted 3 years in my garden. But given the chance, I'd buy this one again, because it's a really good performer that makes me smile every time I look at it.