Only one real problem with this grand plan. It happened yesterday. Whaaa? (Clearly I need to buy a day planner.)
So, here I sit, in front of the Mac... perhaps I should visit a blog, or two. Carol had a wonderful post. From there, I popped over to say hi to Dee and saw how she adapted Carol's clever idea, adding her own creative spin.
Can I be a Copy Kat and play this game, too? For October 10th, 2010, [10-10-10] here's a salute to the 10 hardest working perennials in my waterwise gardens. These gals bloom for at least 8 weeks, some 12 or 16 weeks. All are drought-tolerant, much-loved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and most everyone who bikes past the Street Garden.
May Night Salvia
Salvia x superba
Flowers: June - August, with deadheading
Full sun
USDA zones 5-9
USDA zones 5-9
Tickseed Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Flowers: June - September, with deadheading
Full sun
USDA zones 5-9
Munstead Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Flowers: July - October
Full sun
USDA zones 4-10
Bellflower Deep Blue Pearls
Campanula carpatica
Flowers: June - September
Full sun
USDA zones 3-8
John Cabot Roses
Flowers: June - October
Full sun
USDA zones 3-7
Johnson's Blue GeraniumGeranium himalayense x pratense
Flowers: May - September
Full sun
USDA zones 4-8
Redbirds in a TreeScrophularia macrantha
Flowers: June - September
Happiest at 6,000 feet or higher
Full sun
USDA zones 5-10
Cat MintNepeta x faaseenii 'Select Blue'
Flowers: June - August
Full sun
USDA zones 4-9
Jupiter's BeardCentranthus Ruber
Flowers: June - August, with deadheading
Full sun
USDA zones 4-9
Corkscrew Ornamental OnionAllium senescens 'Blue Twister'
Flowers: June - September
Full sun/Loves clay soil
USDA zones 3-8
Do you have a love affair with 10 special flowers? Do tell!
21 comments:
I absolutely adore those "Redbirds in a tree!" (And this is a great adaptation of the 10-10-10 post, btw. :)
10s are good. I will have to remember this clever idea. Kate, we still have not had a frost. I can't remember a time when frost came so late! Yipeeee! I love the picture of you in between Meg and Bella
Thx, Swamp Girl;
I'm a huge fan of those red birds, too. :D
Hi, Gloria!
Fingers crossed for a long, lovely autumn. I'm harvesting beets today! :)
Oh, you know I love them all! Sorry you missed the big event but it was a glorious day to be outside. i planted my tulips and pansies for a beautiful spring day ahead.
Hi, KC!
I was bummed about missing the event but we went for a nice hike in Toll Canyon and the autumn colors were just delightful. Kudos to you and the bulbs. I haven't decided if I will plant some this year...
Sorry to miss you at the festival. It was amazingly well attended! Remy Martin, the llama, and the alpaca boys were very tolerant of the curious. Next time though we'll pass on having a spot 'right next to' the rock & roll barn. Voice is still a bit tender from trying to out-shout Radar Love!
Sorry about the Harvest Festival, Kate; now that sounds like something I would do:)
Just sat down to read a few blogs and until now I hadn't even realized today was 10-10-10! Sounds like a fertilizer formula:) The "Redbirds in a tree" is a new plant to me--looks beautiful!
Hey, Deb;
I'm so sorry I missed it. I would have driven all the way up there, too, were it not for my smart friend Sandy who happened to look it up online and saw I had the wrong day. :( I'm glad it was a big success!
You're right, Rose! I didn't even think about the fertilizer angle... :D
Mmm, I love all those plants although I can't grow them all. Wish I could though, especially lavender. When I lived in Austin, a very dry place, I still had a hard time with it. Now that I'm in Louisiana, well let's just say it's a waste of money. :-)
HA--I've missed events as well and I *have* a planner, lol. Jupiter's beard is an all-time fave. I cut it back and it blooms twice. It's so huge now I have to divide it in spring. :)
Catmint is the love affair that went a bit overboard in my garden. It overstepped it's bounds and started flirting with every thing else. Not sure if that's good or not.
I like your list. I am taking notes!
Wonderful blog! I know all about goofing up my day calender...if I even had one. As to the aster etc. I do have some hybrid "flowers" but prefer mother natures wild ones...err "weeds". Especially the prairie variety which we have as well as native woodland flowers. Thanks for stopping by my history/book review blog and I do have a "nature/doggie blog as well. btw - you nailed the half completed Washington Monument right on the mark. :)
Hi, Jean!
You might be able to grow the Centranthus Ruber - now that I see we're both High Country fans, that's a goodie I discovered through their catalog.
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Hi, Monica;
I sort of have a planner, too. I mean it's sitting here right here on the desk. 2011 resolution might be to actually log things into the freakin' calendar. :D
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Hi, Rosey;
Catmint should keep the elk away. That's the 2nd biggest reason for my growing so much of it. #1 being how happy it makes my serial kitties.
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Thx, Troutbirder;
I enjoy your blog too. I was RIGHT?? Wee hoo! What do I win? Something fabulous, I hope! ;-)
PS: I'm a bit of a civil war history buff, now, having bicycled that DC to Cumberland Potomac tow path...
Hey Kate !! How are ya' girl : )
That is a fun post and I think it is great to have a list like that so we can have an idea what really worked for you this year!
I'm taking notes .. although we share a lot of what I would pick too : )
great minds and plants think alike ? LOL
Joy
Hi, Joy!
Sweet to see you over here this morning! I am pondering how best to trick out the blog for Halloween. Any suggests?? :-))
Love your flowers and especially drought tolerant... and lavender is likely my # 1 favourite plant. It's everywhere... oh yes, and catmint too.
Wow, this was fun! Especially that now I have no flowers at all left in my garden. I can just come back here and peek at your 10.10.10 pictures!!!
Great post...we have a lot of the same dependable bloomers!
I love your pics for the 10 10 10 idea. I had a John Cabot rose for about ten years. I loved its intense colour and scent. Unfortunately it died.
Hey Kate, thanks for the link love! I like all of your perennials, but I tried growing redbirds in a tree and promptly killed it. Hmmm, there is always something which won't grow for me no matter how long I've garden. :)
My pleasure dear Dee!
I can tell you why the red bird died... they like thin air. I learned that from high country. They do best over 6,000 feet in altitude. Unless Oklahoma has a ski resort I'm unaware of, that's the deal. Therefore it's not your fault. (I don't know about you but I always love to finger someone else for my dead perennial failures....)
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