My north facing flower bed is loaded with perennial goodies. My John Fanick Phlox and Flame Acanthus, Asclepias Curassavica and Smooth Blue Aster are all blooming.

Now, the azaleas are up closer to the house and as the days shorten that zone doesn't get as much light, but in summer the afternoon sun hit them. I had azalea blooms in April or May but none since.

My beebalm in my north east bed bloomed beautifully, (that is a dryer bed if that helps). Northeast is somewhat shaded by a Texas Sage that has gotten large, didn't matter. North bed, shaded by Phlox, didn't bloom, not one flower all summer, all thru the bloom time of the other.

My clematis is shaded on the east by phlox, catches some sun in the afternoon, it hasn't bloomed since spring.

It's late in the year to use a miracle grow super bloom type fertilizer, besides which that might not be the problem, so I'm asking. There is skullcap mixed in there, I have removed a lot of baby smooth blue asters, there are still baby flame acanthus, possibly the bed is just too crowded.

Crinum lilies (milk and wine) and amaryllis in the center also haven't bloomed this summer, but when I dug and potted some amaryllis, they bloomed.

I keep bees and they need food, so I plant rather heavily.


these are this morning's pics. The newer 2 in front are Russian Sage.



West pic has an aquarium stand in front, iris at the edge. Clematis is at the base of the porch in front, different color on side, all behind the phlox

Beautiful! And you have a nice selection of bloomers.

You are asking about plants that I am not real familiar with but in this area, the Azaleas bloom in springtime unless you have a rebloomer.

I wish you luck with the bees. That is admirable...

Pod, bees are well finally. I upped my game as a beekeeper, learned to treat for mites and get my hands in the hives at the right time and out the rest of the time. So far, so good.

so not all azaleas are re-bloomers?

I don't think all are rebloomers but like I said, I really don't have hands on experience.

I think for the bees, I would lean toward more of the native bloomers like your beebalm, sage and phlox.

I had read a while back that planting mint under the hives will repel mites. Had you ever heard that? I love the bees but am not a keeper. A friend has hives and keeps me supplied in native honey.... yum!

My Encore® Autumn Embers in a narrow wedge of dirt along my driveway out back are in their Fall "encore" flush. These are 3rd season azaleas. I wasn't sure they'd grow in this strip, given the driveway proximity and the mortar bleeding into the soil when it rains. But the five plants do OK for a spot of color in an otherwise dark, dreary corner of the yard:

are all azaleas rebloomers? mine are white and light pink. White was dead at home depot and I was buying other stuff, pink was from costco, but I have no idea on variety.

I got a good closeup of the Costco Azalea

I don't think so Prepper. I think most only bloom in the Spring. I believe that's how the Encore varieties got their name, because they give you that second 'encore' flush in the fall. The ones I have down at our cabin, although I didn't plant them and can't be sure, I believe are Encore 'Autumn Debutante' and those also give me a second flush in the fall:

@Peggy8b I love the homey look of your cabin. Very peaceful. It would be hard for me to leave there.

@pod, Thank you! It's a "gem in the rough", for sure. But I do find sitting on the front porch looking out over the lay of the land listening to the birds and insects quite peaceful. Those sounds are only occasionally interrupted by a very deep, low-octave wind chime that stirs in the odd breeze. I wrap it tightly when it gets windy, as I don't like that music to overpower the insects and birds. It is hard for me to leave when we drive back into Temple. The front porch is a little more attractive and looks out to a distant pond, complete with deep, croaking frogs at night. Of course, we also hear lots of cayotes there.

I love it! That is a diamond in the rough. It would be easy to sit on your porch and imagine days gone by and what the early settlers had to endure.

Give me a good book and a rocking chair and move over.

That is a beautiful little cabin @pod. Maybe when I retire, for now I make do with my home front porch.

and tonight a nice fire in the woodstove, dogs lounging around the living room and 2 in my lap. (well their heads are - they weigh about 80 lbs each)

Guess I didn't get fancy azaleas, at least they were cheap. Now one of my beebalms never bloomed either, I still think that bed may be too crowded.

Your dogs can enjoy the retirement porch with you! Cold enough for a fire? I guess it is coming my way...

I was encouraged last trip to the cabin. A week earlier, one of the two azaleas I transported/transplanted down there was looking like it might die on me. Serious leaf browning on 3/4 of the plant; wilting leaves on the other quarter. Well, dang if the heavy rain last week didn't turn it right around and it is looking like it just might make it, sporting a few new leaves even! Both are looking green again and happy. Gave them another good watering. Both of them are Delaware Valley White single bloomers. Hope they settle into that soil, which is considerably more acidic than mine in Temple. Keeping my fingers crossed they BOTH make it. Here's what they look like: http://www.missouribotanicalga...

I think my Home Depot Rescue is a Delaware Valley White. It is a single bloomer I'm guessing.

I moved a mauve azalea to a raised bed this summer to get it some space, and I watered a lot but I believe it is quite dead. It looked like it was getting fire blight when I watered it so I backed off on watering and I think that killed it. I am not getting more azaleas. or if I do want some that bloom in fall too

I do like the Encore® azaleas for the Fall flush. My five along the driveway are blooming like crazy right now. But Mother Nature's freeze this week will probably put a stop to that nonsense. They are even more covered today than in this photo take a week or so ago.

Peggy8b said:I do like the Encore® azaleas for the Fall flush. My five along the driveway are blooming like crazy right now. But Mother Nature's freeze this week will probably put a stop to that nonsense. They are even more covered today than in this photo take a week or so ago.

do they come in any other colors?

Yep, they sure do: https://plantsbymail.com/brand...

So I haven't been reading this thread because I don't grow any of the listed plants. But I'm glad I stopped to look just now. Y'all have such nice gardens. @Peggy8b, I really like your cabin. Can I have it?

@Prepper - don't know if Fort Worth goes azalea crazy like Dallas does. But all spring there are azaleas blooming everywhere, especially in Highland Park. But I don't think I've ever seen any blooming after that. Not saying that none do. Just saying that for the most part I just see blooms in late spring or whenever that is.

Interesting that your Flame Acanthus didn't do much. I have 2 large ones and maybe had 3 blooms. My fall asters haven't bloomed but I think they were going to bloom early in the summer (whenever that is.) They were spreading like crazy and crowding out other plants. Ticked me off. So I pulled them out. Apparently I missed one and even tho it's grown, no blooms. I dunno. Everything's been acting weird this year. Me included.

my flame acanthus did bloom like crazy, it's my bee balm that didn't bloom at all, but only one, in the bed I water more deeply, that may be the problem. My fall asters are still blooming, they didn't quite freeze. I have the smooth blue asters. Have an extra one in a pot in the garden, blooming still, if you ever get over this way.

I do want to get over to Fort Worth because I'm anxious to see the new improved conservatory.

In case you're interested, I still have some of those large 'tubs' that trees are planted in. I'm using a few to toss acorns in. You wouldn't happen to need any acorns, would you?