Well, it would be good food for the Hummers if they were here! No sign, and the feeder is up. They came around the 4th of July last year. They keep getting g later and later, and I suspect the ones that come to my yard are ones that have been here before and the ones that were born and raised here. I'm missing my big female who has been so friendly with me. She came for 3 years straight; she is probably dead by now.
Yet a friend who lives at a high taper altitude has around 40 every year. Location, location.

Salvia darcyi - first flowers on a 2 year old plant grown from seed. It's special to me because the seed came from Robin Middleton's collection.

It is very special!

Salvia rubescens ssp dolichothrix is blooming now.

Salvia azurea and cardiophylla with some bumblebee activity.

Salvia azurea








Salvia cardiophylla

The Salvia penstemonoides is blooming again.




Salvia azurea


Salvia oxyphora

Love the oxyphora!

gardenfish said:Love the oxyphora!

Yes, fuzzy flowers rule ❤️

S. caneriensis 'Lancelot'

NMoasis said:

S. caneriensis 'Lancelot'

So precious, look at all the hairs!

I just love the hairy salvias!

Has anyone been infested by the Southern Pink Moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) aka the Salvia budworm? My Salvias have exactly all the symptoms, although I don't think I've actually seen the moth, and the caterpillars are so tiny I haven't positively ID'd them as the spotted larvae in the photos — but absolutely EVERY one of my salvias has been hit. The buds, no matter how small, have tiny little borer holes in them and the blossoms are destroyed. Major bummer at the time of year when nearly every plant should be in bloom and they all look like $#!%.

Previously only found in the southeast, it is now spreading and has been spotted as far northwest as oregon.

If anyone has eradicated these, how?

https://osubpp.com/plant-clini...

This pest first showed up in my garden in Delaware earlier in the summer. I have been told it can be controlled using multiple applications of Bacillus thuringiensis sprays applied to inflorescences. I was fortunate that it only infested Salvia cardiophylla. I broke off the infested areas and discarded in the trash. Later I tried pyrethrum sprays to the buds. It looks like it has one generation in Delaware because I have not seen it since then. Good luck with your efforts.

Salvia oxyphora is partying down!

Joseph, you've got such wonderful fuzzies!🤗

Thanks, Zoë, we love them. Every year the inflorescences get increasingly bigger. Hummingbird heaven there.

Joseph, I've noticed that you have some (several?) Salvias rated less cold hardy than your zone would suggest. Do you have a particular winter protection routine?

I grow them in pots and bring them inside before onset of hard freezes. Penstemonoides and cardiophylla don't become large but oxyphora is a challenge. I usually have to cut oxyphora back some so it has less of a footprint in the sunroom.

Ah yes, the enviable sunroom. Your selection of salvias is fabulous. I always enjoy looking at your photos.

Thanks, Zoë, for your kind comments. It's an addictive plant group, but in reality, every plant group is addictive haha.

If you would like seeds, I ought to have fresh seeds at the end of the summer. Penstemonoides may not be winter hardy but it makes many seeds which it will propagate itself if you let it through dropped seeds, much like how coccinea does. I should experiment with that. Azurea would be winter hardy in your garden. Bumblebees are quite attracted to its flowers.

I may have other species as well. Let me know.