What are the white flowers in front of the coneflowers? They're lovely!

That's angelonia. I planted those last spring. They are supposed to be an annual, but we had such a mild winter they never froze! I did cut them back last August and they grew back better than ever.

Blooming out front by the driveway




Other side of bed





Hell strip

I've never tried angelonia - but now I want to!

Sandi, everything looks lush and green. I am in LOVE with that blue salvia!!!!

Thanks, I thought it was black and blue. Now I'm not sure. I have a stand of both b&b and guaranitica growing together.

This Mandevilla (I think) has been unstoppable. This is the 3rd year for it. Last winter I managed to let it spend the night outside twice when the temperatures fell below freezing and several more times when we had hoar frost settle in. It got damaged badly, but obviously survived. Then half the vine got ripped off a week or so ago when my old sisal rope sling broke. Here is this morning . I got another red Mandevilla this year, but have it growing on a wire arch in full sun. It's got a larger leaf with some ribbing and the red is a harsher, brighter red than this one. I'm sure the new plant is Mandevilla, but isn't there a relative of Mandevilla that looks nearly like it? This one has smaller leaves that are smooth and slick - no hint of ribbing. It didn't take long for it to start blooming and it will bloom until frost.

Really pretty! I can't keep one alive over winter.

I've never grown Mandevilla, but I may be inspired to start. Since I'm in a warmer zone now, I might could keep one alive over winter. I looked at some photos on the web and found ones that had smooth leaves and also ones with ribbed leaves. I have a large pot that sits between the garage and the front sidewalk. It faces south and gets sun most of the day. I'm always looking for something that can do well there. It's hard to find something that would stay in bloom so consistently.

Bubbles said:Really pretty! I can't keep one alive over winter.

Seriously? This plant has been soooo easy. Water when it's growing seems to be the main requirement, but otherwise no issues. It lets you know it's being shorted for water by having some leaves turn yellow and start dropping. Doesn't seem to wilt. I've never tried a cutting, so I don't know if that would work. I have a low success rate with cuttings anyway. Both winters I brought it in to the glass fronted porch. My neglect of plants in the winter months is legendary , and it survived that. I'd think the hoop house you have would be perfect. I like this bloom better than the new one. Wish I'd gotten a white one instead since it was an option. I don't know if the new plant will be as easy since it's clearly different, but right now it's doing well.

Waitung fir the first full blooms from my alstromeria. Thank you @piksihik

My Flame Acanthus started blooming! Pretty early for that.

LindaTX8 said:My Flame Acanthus started blooming! Pretty early for that.

Wow that is early. Nothing so far on mine, but I'll look closer this weekend to see if any buds are seen.The humidity is unbelievable right now. I didn't get anything done last weekend and absolutely have to get some mulch down on a few places I pulled overgrown stuff out after the last big rain when the ground was nice and soft.

Here's my 20' cattle panel in use. It's in full sun, so I'll find out of the Mandevilla can take it all summer. So far so good. The pot beside it is 'Mexican Flame Vine' which is doing well now that the aphids got cleared off. It's going to use a lot of water, though. It complains pretty quick when it starts getting dry. First time I've grown it. On the opposite side is 'Lady Margaret' Passiflora. It's giving some blooms now and quite a bit of growth, but there is still a nearly 3' long piece of vine that is still green with tiny green buds at all the leaf scars and it just will not grow - or die. The lower growth may end up just covering it up if I don't cut it. There are two containers of Cannas I grew from seed several years ago situated on each side of passie. One of those is send up a bloom stalk.

Everything looks great! I will have to hunt in garden for Flame Vine. I know I bought one.

That does look good Donald
Does the flame vine perk up when the sun is going down if you don't water it? I am having to 'retrain' mine for years I only watered it twice a week but this year it wanted me to water it everyday or every other,
I can't be doing that,

Jolana - I haven't waited it out yet. When it has wilted, I've given it water. It perks up really fast after a water dose! I'd think it could go longer because it went from a small container to the 13" clay pot and shouldn't have had time to fill that up yet. I think it probably would until it went too long without water.

Yeah, it takes a while to let them know they won't get water on demand ,
I still have a couple that I swear wilt when they see me walking outside

The first bloom I've been able to see

needrain said:This Mandevilla (I think) has been unstoppable. This is the 3rd year for it. Last winter I managed to let it spend the night outside twice when the temperatures fell below freezing and several more times when we had hoar frost settle in. It got damaged badly, but obviously survived. Then half the vine got ripped off a week or so ago when my old sisal rope sling broke. Here is this morning . I got another red Mandevilla this year, but have it growing on a wire arch in full sun. It's got a larger leaf with some ribbing and the red is a harsher, brighter red than this one. I'm sure the new plant is Mandevilla, but isn't there a relative of Mandevilla that looks nearly like it? This one has smaller leaves that are smooth and slick - no hint of ribbing. It didn't take long for it to start blooming and it will bloom until frost.

Yes, Donald there is. Dipladenia has been included in the Mandevilla genus. It is now Mandevilla Sanderi. It is a more tender plant than Mandevilla Amoena 'Alice Dupont' which over winters in the ground for me with pine straw mulch for protection. The former has to be kept indoors over winter. Both plants love full sun here in zone 8a and are bloom all summer until frost.