I like the collerettes for the same reason, although this year they were in a bed by themselves along the south side of a low deck. None were over 18" tall. Some more robust than others. I looked up Purple Gem and it is indeed an eye catcher.
Arlene, I have tried several times to grow Hakonea grass here but we are too cold I guess. A close looking one is Foxtail grass (I think that is what Mike called it). Variegated color and that nice draping look, or in its case, it rather flops. I think yours stays in a nice plumped up draping look. Really nice look in a garden.
Harvest Day at the botanical garden held in our research plot to engender interest in some of our trial plants and activity of local master gardeners and the cooperative extension people. We have two rows of peonies and they want me to 'man' a table with information about growing peonies up here. Not a problem. Could talk all day about them. Or dahlias. I am going to cut a bunch of my dahlias and lots of bloom heads from my Little Lamb Hydrangea to decorate the table. Can't have peonies obviously but I have lots of pictures. Supposed to rain but that never stops us up here. Rained during the Wine in the Woods event and people just brought umbrellas and rain coats or nothing special at all. lol. Lots of fun.
