Its even deeper colored but my camera adds light when I am pixing at Dawn.

I have always liked the color of Harvest Moon . But I have tried it a few times and it has never overwintered for me. No luck at all with any of the Big Sky series.

Harvest Moon is the only one from that series that has survived more than one winter for me too.

Ohhhhh krapp.Dont give me that news. There is such a discrepancy in your zones and NJBob is in my zone.I hope my HM makes it.Its blooming well now.
I have luck with Summer Sky,even transplanted a huge clump and it never missed a beat.
I just yanked Green Envy and based on other reports I have been reluctant to try the topknot types .Its the simple shape and warm colors I am going for to companion Phlox Nikky

Well, I ordered After Midnight but never got it, they sent White Swan instead. Maybe the nurseries are not having any luck either. Never did hear from Coneflowers.net, but WS is doing good. It's just as well, the only Big Sky I have is a couple of Sundown's and they are both the ugliest things I have ever seen, it's not deformed or anything it just opens nice and fades quickly, then dirty pink color from then out. I wanted to toss it into the trash a couple of times. I just do not like the color, blah, blah, blah!
Oh I forgot I do have 'Sunrise' it was a beautiful pale yellow when it opened but now it is just a white, however it is a good strong flower. I will keep it as a white.

The only one of the Big Sky series I tried was Twilight, a birthday gift from my husband. The blossoms were a bright, pretty color, but even after 5 years it only put out about 4 flowers a year. I never felt it earned it's keep. I fed it to the compost after about 5 years.

Karen

od dear.If I make any echie choices again I will steer clear of big sky.

This is all thats blooming or starting for late ones.

Earlier this week I was tired of looking at the faded looking euchinacea blooms that grew as tall as 4 ft. and "whacked them" down to about 6 in. They seemed to never bounce back after the June 29 storm. Should I just cut them back further to the basal plant and divide them now and repot them? There's a plant swap coming up mid Sept. Would they have time to recover well enough by then? I have no NOID because I snitched the seeds from the public library gardens..

I will be looking for some Kim's knee high euchinacea for next year or the Pow Wow Berry euchinacea I bought 3 plants of the latter from HD and one the stalk broke off completely at the basal crown. The rest of the plant is doing okay.

Clint, are the leaves of your Pow Wow berry euchinacea have real rough feeling? I don't recall any of my other coneflower plants feeling that way.

kqcrna said:The only one of the Big Sky series I tried was Twilight, a birthday gift from my husband. The blossoms were a bright, pretty color, but even after 5 years it only put out about 4 flowers a year. I never felt it earned it's keep. I fed it to the compost after about 5 years.

Karen

If this one does not work out then no more! I am ready to feed Sundown to the compost. What a ugly disappointing plant that is.

ge1836 said:This is all thats blooming or starting for late ones.

Jo Ann, what is this pink flower?? Very bright and pretty.

Looks like garden phlox???

It is garden phlox Red Caribbean.Just planted this spring.

OH, I didn't recognize it close up, you did show us a pic before. Love it, is this the one that gets 18 inches tall, I remember we were talking about flopping.

Pippi, on echinaceas, when faded blooms look poopy, you should be able to see where the next flower is forming on each stem. Trim to just above that node and your echs should rebloom soon. Too late now for the ones you already hacked to 6", but if you have any left uncut, try that. Or next year.

Karen

I dont cut mine down past 6 inches at any time.I do deadhead for rebloom.
Lets face it the garden begins to look knarlie in late summer .

Ruby Star started blooming in late June, 1st year, and while its slowed down it's still blooming and sending out buds. I cut off old blooms the other day and it's looking pretty good. Is that habit common among echis?
New bed and looking lonesome.

Karen, I'm like you, I'm tired of fussing over certain plants..in this 100 plus temps, who cares if they come back next year or not? Especially something so easy to grow like coneflowers and so easy to get seeds..

My echs look pretty sad now, all in need of deadheading. But it's just too hot and humid. It has been that way since before sunrise. I first went outside around 6 a.m., and it felt like a sauna. Current temp 94, heat index 107. Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable. Working in this weather is NOT a joy. So I say -( I'll leave it to your imagination what I say because it involves language not acceptable here.)

Karen

I did discover the name of these.Ruby Giant.They hold color until dead. Giant referrs to the bloomsize I guess.Mine are over 3 feet.