I'll check out Wanda, thanks.

I had a post on Darwin plants, but apparently forgot to send it. They have been in the states for a couple of years, sold by wholesaler 2Plant. But they are just tiny starts, and it takes at least one full year, possibly two to get them to market. But all the plants I got from them were true to name, they are just too tiny plugs to plant directly in the ground.

Right, Jo?

Don't all of these companies sell plugs? I know Terra Nova does too. I'm glad they are working on making their plants more available.

Yes, but plugs come in different sizes from 8 to a tray down to 300 and something, and these were towards the small end. Believe me, I'm glad too. I was actually able to speak to the owner of Darwin, and it's a small company. Not for long, I bet!

I love to look at Darwin's plant selection. Cant wait until I start seeing there plants around here. The only time I have had mildew on my phlox is when it was planted in too much shade.

Let us know how you like the selection Darwin has.

These are helpful comments. I ordered a hybrid mix seed packet to winter sow, anyone ever grow from seed?

I have grown drummond phlox from seed, but they are annuals . they were easy .Just sow in a pot in the spring.
The perennial tall phlox should be easy they are always self sowing all over the place . I started with a deep purple added David and now have every color in between.


one of the middle colors with a single purple flower.

a couple more photos taken today

I normally dead head , but can save some seeds if anyone is interested?

If you have seeds from something that will reseed I will try it !

They must reseed because they pop up all over the garden
They have cross pollinated so can't say what color they will be.

Send me a t-mail with your address
It will most likely be a month before any seed is ripe
I will contact you before I mail


Cinda

Should blooms be deadheaded? Stalks cut to make them branch out? Or just let them bloom once and leave alone?

You can do whatever you want--you can deadhead, cutting will often stimulate branching and more flowering. I find that they will branch and flower more, anyway, whether I cut them or not. And the original flowerhead will bloom more than once if you leave it--here is a picture
http://garden.org/thread/view_...

caveat: I might just be 'lazy' or have too much other stuff to do

Phlox David in my front garden..........behind it is a sport or seedling. I always overhead water and no mildew.

Stunning. I'm in love with phlox.

David and Blue Paradise
(kinda dark - it was weird light)
Also overhead--well more like side-watering really, but the leaves get plenty wet--and NO mildew.
Paul and I live in the semi-arid west. I am also 'blessed' with canyon winds...don't know if Paul gets those too... I have only seen powdery mildew once since living here and that was on my neighbor's squash, crowded in the shade, and regularly drowned by the overnight lawn sprinklers.
Although, when I lived in Minesohumid, I never had a problem with mildew on David there either-- so I wouldn't say that it is very susceptible to it in my experience.
And, of all the paniculatas, David is my absolute favorite! those big, beautiful clumps of fragrance

Nice Phlox!

Deebie said: Polly. But, no lilacs here. It's just too hot. I had one that I kept in part sun. It did bloom, but it really wasn't thriving, so I gave it to a friend who said that she would put it in full shade (which I didn't have). She killed it. I should have kept it. There is supposed to be one that can take our heat/humidity, though.

Grow Lilacs in full sun.

'Josee' and 'Lavender Lady' do well here.

We have had a record summer for rain, no sprinklers needed since June. Mildew abounds,I will do a spray with Baking Soda.
Thanks Polly.

We're getting bone dry right now. Good rains up until a few weeks ago. Grass is brown and I'm sure I've lost some plants but too busy with "life" to get out and do much watering right now. Que sera, sera. Up until the last few weeks, good rains. Hopefully we'll get the predicted rain tonight, tomorrow and over the weekend!