Marilyn, Thank you so much for the nice welcome and for the great information!! I had not heard of the y stakes, they sound great and in your pics they disappear nicely into the plant. I would not mind that as much- that and I would not have to tie them as I do with a straight stake. Also will help when my gardens are better filled in. Since I have only been doing this for a couple years wanted to take time to see how different ones do and add some each year. We use containers in front and back patios also. My husband has gardened longer than I but Salvias and Agastaches are new for him too.FBTS sounds like a great place to get salvias (and other plants). Looks like you and I are in the same USDA zone. I have read many of your posts and they are most helpful. Your pictures are great too! Here we have clay soil but I have added soil amendment to help drainage for the plants that need it (such as this one) but I did read somewhere that adding coarse sand as an amendment helps drainage and compaction of clay soil so I may try that. my Windwalker Royal Red salvias are in the ground, full sun. The one in pics is between 2 honeysuckles on a border in front of my chain link fence. The other is in a center bed we made last year using edging- that bed has all my Agastaches besides the one Salvia.
Other Salvias we have that we love and have had great success with are: Black and Blue, Amistad (purple is my favorite color and Amistad is a wonderful Salvia), and Wendy's wish. Agastaches we started with this year that are doing best and most satisfied with are A. Rupestris Sunset and A auranitica Apricot Sprite.
