love the salvia garden!!!.. just realized the blue / purple salvia annuals I grew this year are setting seed.. been tossing them about while I was wondering

That shoukd make for an interesting summer 2012

Those seeds were initially "Yvonne's Salvia". I got them from Emily on GardenWeb
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/g...

Emily's plants get as big as Yvonne's did. Mine never have been anywhere near that though. Yvonne selectively saved her seeds, only those from the biggest plants. One big difference is that Yvonne and Emily used high test chemical ferts, and I never do. I try to keep it organic in my yard. (though I do use chemical ferts in pots). Usually mine get to 4', the same height as my chain link fence you see above.


Yvonne didn't know the name of them, though most who grow them agree that they're some strain of salvia splendens. The seeds have never been available commercially, only available from someone who has grown them. It was Yvonne's wish that they be shared among home gardeners, not sold for profit. Sadly, Yvonne died last year. Emily is still growing six footers, though.

Karen

oh so sad... hate hearing that

but they are outstanding.. I bought a couple of six packs of red salvia this year.. they loved the hot dry summer.. blooming there little heads off... and the one tub I planted them in got to about 3 foot tall.. guessing they would have been bigger in the ground.. but saving seeds from those as well

My Yvonne's salvia reseed like crazy.


I initially WSowed Coral Nymph salvia, too, several years ago. Now I can count on volunteers. It's one that reseeds politely for me- not a million of them, but enough to keep the hummingbirds happy every year. They're still going strong in my yard today.

Karen

I have two big packs.. coral & while nymph from hazzards.. going to toss some in my spots I fight with

I am waiting for Larkspur seeds from Selectseeds. I was disapointed in the crop I harvested this year.
I ordered Giant mix and a shorter one Blue Cloud plus some Coreopsis Roulette
only 8 months to go.

A few weeks ago I direct seeded some of the Giant Larkspur mix.
We shall see how they turn out in the spring. Now covered in snow!