How's the WISH LIST coming?

So, does everybody have their wish lists compiled and perched on the launch paid, waiting for the countdown [in the form of lottery winnings] 'til blast off?

Miraculously, nothing new is added to my list yet. This is in part because of last year's mantra, all systems go, aka "buy with abandon." I went a little nuts. [Houston, send money.] I kept finding things to buy. And I kept adding things to look for. Improvements kept coming to mind. And if you know me, you know that I harbor no hesitations about planting my newest acquisitions in containers until inspiration strikes. TLC in the form of a bigger pot and regular watering seemed the humane thing to do. Especially since I was feeling guilty about the panic emanating from the edges of my lawn. Poor little blades were afraid of me and my long-handled murder weapon. They aren't ready to join their ancestors in the compost pile. Okay, fine.

I thought it would be fun to reveal a few of last summer's "pleasant surprises." My thinking on this is that if I can recall their many attributes, as well as size and water needs, maybe I can feed my need for color and blousy exuberance and not feel so compelled to buy more.

A few times now, I've written about dear fellow blogger Darla and her generosity. For those of you who don't know, Darla, who gardens in Florida offered me seed of this fabulous Celosia after I fainted and regained enough wherewithal to email her with my desperate inquiry into its identity. This plant isn't hardy in my climate and I wasn't able to collect a lot of seed so I'm hoping nature will provide me with abundant seedlings. Some of you wrote me with caveats about this plant and its progeny. Beware of abundant seedlings. It won't be the first time. [Read: Verbena bonariensis.]

Pictured above are four pleasant surprises. On the top, left is Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' purchased from my favorite nursery in the whole wide world. [Logo on my sidebar. No royalties for advertising. The owners are really nice people.] On the right, Coreopsis verticillata 'Redshift.' I thought this was a new introduction until Frances alluded to its longevity and performance value. I'm not a huge fan of yellow but overlaid with cherry-red brush strokes raises the flowers up several notches. My fingers are crossed that it will winter-over without damage but it's still too early to tell. Ditto for C. rosea 'Heaven's Gate.' Bottom row left is my favorite daylily, Hemerocallis 'Final Touch.' Who'd a thunk daylilies came in pink? Now if we can just get a pink Crocosmia... And finally, Eupatorium cannabinium 'Flore Plenum.' This variant of the Joe Pye, [I can't bring myself to include "weed."] has been on my wish list for many years. Rather than the typical mauve panicles, this species blooms in soft pink clusters, that last from bloom time in August until mid fall. Yeah, I know. Cool, huh? It grows tall like its cousin and the foliage is similar.

I have to say that I've come full circle with rose bushes. I endured the customary bumpy rite-of-passage down the lane of futility as I attempted the impossible: make hybrid teas look good in the mixed border. Can't be done. By me anyway. Enter carefree shrub roses. Yeehaw! The top left is 'Citrus Splash.' I know. Yellow again but a yummy-yellow, don't you think? Beside it is a burgeoning seedling I purchased from a nearby grower. I love these flowers--tiny, hot pink single flowers in clusters all summer long. What's not to love? On the bottom left is 'Cinco de Mayo' by far my best rose performer last summer, fall and winter. Seriously. It bloomed nonstop and the foliage was perfection. December's arctic blast was Cinco's call to dormancy, otherwise it might still be blooming. And finally, 'Sophie's Rose.' The jury is still out on this one. The foliage suffered with a lot with powdery mildew. If this continues, out it will come. I've got plenty of other candidates for this space. Sometimes you've got to be ruthless. The lovely flowers are the reason I'm keeping it. For now.

I was fiddling with clip art recently.
Next time, I think I'll focus on foliage. For now, I can use the time to
narrow down my myriad choices.

Earplugs and Sunglasses

Sunny and hot.
Believe it or not, this is the forecast for the coming week.
Hot. Like, 90 degree-hot.
Although sunny Septembers are the norm in the Pacific Northwest
this heatwave is not exactly typical.
We've had rain so things aren't bone dry
but I'm pretty sure I'll be hauling out the hose,
especially for the container plants.
Summer's last hurrah. Get the earplugs.

I think a few more random photos are in order.

Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke'
gives new meaning to the term "pretty in pink."
Aster 'Wood's Pink' is behind her.

Ricinus communis 'Carmencita' Castor Oil Plant
is easy to start from [highly poisonous] seed.
This tender tropical typically races to about five feet in my garden
and then flops over like it's exhausted.
But after seeing a repeatedly pinched version at a nursery
I started pinching mine. It worked--a dwarf version fit for a container!

Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
harmonizes splendidly behind it.

Clematis viorna in its second flush of bloom.
Like many of you, I've always fancied
the small-flowered species and cultivars.

As if I haven't plant-hoarded enough this season,
the above and below photos are more recent purchases.
I'm weak.
Above: Heuchera 'Georgia Peach.' Getta load of that color!
The leaves are a size LARGE

Coreopsis verticillata 'Redshift' so named because of its floral changelings.
They start out a soft yellow and gently morph to raspberry red.
It's purported to be hardy to -20 degrees F.

Dahlia 'Classic Rosamunde'
It's third year is it's best--so far!

Here is one of my many Cyclamen hederifolium clumps,
planted next to the dreaded Bishop's Weed
[emphasis on "weed."]

Anemone japonica 'Prinz Heinrich'
yields a lot more blooms when given regular water.
Duh.

After wind and rain, my Kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate
acts more like kiss-me-over-the-Lazyboy.
Rather than prop it up, I kind of enjoy how it mingles with
the waning Joe Pye blossoms, hardy fuchsia
and Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lantern'

Okay, humor me, please as I post yet another
photo of my 'Tiger Eyes' Sumac, pictured here with
'Evening Glow' Phormium and the matching burgundy foliage of
Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo' which, by the way, I've crowned
my favorite new rose of the...maybe decade!

And yes, I must brag a little more about my
Melianthus major. Purchasing this beauty will definitely set you back,
which makes my acquisition all the sweeter.
Don't hate me, but I got my plant
as a tiny root-severed division from my garden buddy Carol.
Coddling paid off but it was hit and miss [mostly miss]
for quite awhile--like a year.
It's hardy to Zone 8-ish but looks fabulous in a container
that can be winter-protected.
Go for it!

Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki'
From the many enviable photos posted by fellow gardeners,
I'm thinking Toad Lily is the new Petunia.
Not wanting to be left behind, here is my version--a newbie/bargain.
I was hesitant to try Toad Lily again since years ago I killed my
first try by letting summer's hardpan suck it dry.
Lesson learned.