Pretty coleus and caladiums Jo Ann. My garden is looking pretty burned out too. We need rain. I may move some of my potted plants out into the beds to add a little zip, but it would make it harder to water. Next year, I may have to plant more coleus along the edges of my beds. Yours look nice. I am going to try taking cuttings again this fall. Last winter I wasn't very successful with them, but I think it was because I didn't use a light stand so they suffered from both cold and lack of light. This year I will set up at least 3 or of the shop lights and see if they do better.

Susan, I had great luck with Coleus under lights, so I bet that will do the trick. They are way sensitive to cold though, I had my set up in an unheated room where the lights typically gave them enough warmth, but lost them when we were without power for 8 days last year after an ice storm. Given enough warmth, I've had great luck just rooting them in potting soil.

That's good to hear Neal. I think I'll set up the stand in my dining area where I'm also growing orchids. Planning to set the temp at 60 during the night. Last winter I let it get to 55 at night there and just used what natural light comes through the window.

55* was too cold for my coleus. I didnt loose any but they sure didnt like it.

Yep, my experience was the same as JoAnn's, but 60 at night should be good. When mine were in the 50s, the soil stayed moist too long and some got root rot.

Thats was it for me. No root rot but some bottom leaves dropped off.

Here's some orange zinnias I started from seed.

Don't you just have to love 'em? They bloom so happily when the weather is hot and nasty, and the butterflies adore them.

We seem to have an increase in butterflies this year. I've seen types I have never seen here before, which has been kind of nice really. They fly to smoothly and delicately through the air and are just so sweet to watch.

Although the heat has kept me inside more this year, and I haven't been observing the butterflies like I normally do, it has cooled down nicely the last few days and I was amazed at how many butterflies were hanging around! I've seen some that I normally don't see too, most notably some giant swallowtails.

Same here Neal. too hot this year
There are plusses and minuses in the whole year.
Now my mums and Fall Asters are starting ,3 weeks early like everything else.

Same here on the butterflies. Tons of them, and we just had a new crop of baby white ones.

Love the mums and asters, Jo! Lovely zinnas.

thanks. I am digging compost today.Lovely job. I meet all the new slugs in the area.

LOL. I don't know how slugs can afford your area, though.

Of course they can afford it. They only go for the best hostas.

So- it's been almost a year since I was here.