Gave instructions to hygenist at the dentist about making hollyhock dolls. (she was in school with our kids) Nothing like spreading subversive material.

They were always fun to make.

Here's my new favorite this year!

Those Angelonias are wonderful aren't they! Did you grow them in the ground or in pots? I've only grown them once several years ago, in pots on a sunny deck, and they were unbeatable! I'm curious how well they tolerate dry conditions if I were to try them in the ground.

I have them in both pots and in the ground. I'm thinking they tolerate dry fairly well, as my pots are not as regularly watered as they should be, and there are also some in a spot in the ground that gets ignored and they're still blooming. Only the ones in the new lasagna bed have achieved nice full plant status, the others are a little leaner, but still blooming!

It like calendula late summer or fall as the spirit moves them. Forgot to plant their seeds this yr.

I haven't been able to find seeds on them though. Lucy did you collect from your's? Any hints?

Kelly, did you get any of the lavender Salvia coccinea in the Piggy Swap, I think it was Danita who offered them? I was late getting mine planted, so they've only been blooming for a few weeks now, but how lovely they are! I searched on line for pics of them, but couldn't find any info or pics, which makes me think they must be kinda rare.

Salvias in general have become a cottage garden favorite of mine

Ooh, I didn't get that one. If you save some seed I'll be oinking for it! I planted Salvia all over this year. Various types, not all of these came up, but a good many did:
Forest Fire
Coral Nymph
Lady in Red
Blaze of Fire
Vista Purple
Yvonnes Red
Mesa Purple
Snow Nymph
Cherry blossom
Blue Bedder
Wild Thing, hot pink
Blue Spires
Palisades
Blue Queen
Dwarf blue queen

Also bought a couple I think Navajo?

I'll be oinking for Salvias again. Some did not do well at all for me this year. I think the best were some sort of "Fire" i can't recall... i'll have to look that up. but a nice red, about 14" high.

the Lav did not even germinate for me.

These lavender ones took longer to germinate and grew slower than the others. I did a late wintersowing with all my Salvias and it worked like a charm.

I use comercial seeds. There must be some seeds as I had them a couple yrs , however not for awhile & had to buy new ones which I didn't get around to planting. Hot weather cut down my garden doings.

I had an affair with Salvias several years ago - had about 10 varieties, many species, one year and am down to two hardy leftovers and the freely seeding lyre leaved sage. I think my favorites are the Salvia patens with their true sky blue color, but I also love pineapple sage and lyre leaved sage. I'll have to get some fresh seed - I'm sure mine is all too old as they are better fresh.

Favorite annual?
How can I choose. I am so fickle,I love what ever is blooming.
Early spring annual poppies come to mind first.

Kathleen, I had the salvia patens here for quite a few years collected seeds off of them every year to replant them, sometimes I had one or two reseeders when ever the mood struck them I guess but with the drought this year I planted eight of them and none have survived little lone seeds I'm so upset!

I tried the Salvia viridis pink this year too but the drought got those managed to save a few seeds for next year hope to have better luck with them then they were so pretty and different really I don't think I gave them enough sun will have to find a different spot for them next year too.

Terese the 'fire' salvias that you were talking about were the Forest Fire salvias they should reseed for you next year.

Neal how did your WS petunias do this year are they still going strong and did they bloom soon enough for you? I planted some of the lime bicolor petunias and just loved those think they are going to be a keeper but not saving seeds from those doubt if they will come true but worth purchasing them. Mine were getting kind of puny then read on a thread to take a tsp. of epsom salts to a gal. of water and feed them looks like it's doing the trick they are starting to come out of it now not sure how long it will last.

My favorite petunias this year were the lime bicolor and the dreams midnight from toofew thanks toofew Those really looked nice in my moon garden with that shimmer to them I loved those

The Petunias have grown and bloomed most of the summer, but I have them in a dry spot and they're a bit sun deprived, so they've only done so so. I think I'll just do Petunias in containers from now on, for that matter, I think I'll do that with most smaller annuals.

Thanks Lea -- that was it. Forest Fire. they sure are pretty.

Busy Busy.... Bud had his second surgery yesterday - so starting over, but at least we know each day is he getting closer to getting back to normal.

What kind of surgery, Terese?

blown ACL's. He's aggressive runner... almost like an idiot. In July he tore the first knee, and one month later (19 days after the first surgery) he blew out the 2nd. So -- 4 grand later, and hopefully in about 6 months, he should be back to normal.

oooo, my 15 year old grandson is recuperating from ACL surgery in May - no football for him this year. He is a bit bummed, but taking it as well as can be expected. Hope your 'aggressive runner' behaves himself, does his therapy and gets well soon. I have two new knees (last February) that are working well, but it would have been better not to have needed them!

Neal, did you wintersow the petunias?