Thursday, September 15, 2011

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - September 2011

GBBD_September 2011_ALT
September already...who let that happen?!? Portland had a rough couple of weeks at the beginning of this month, with some nasty temps, making me hide inside with the A/C blasting, but cooler temps have returned and I'm venturing out again into the great outdoors. This is one of my absolute favorite times in the garden, probably because I have such a leaning toward fall-blooming plants...and grasses, which are shining at this time of year.

Ruckbeckia Panicum Agastache
Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' with Agastache 'Desert Sunrise' and Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
I know this will show up in a lot of the photos throughout the post, but this workhorse of a plant still deserves it's own photo. Dependable and long-lived...and such a great standard in summer/fall gardens. I really love how it ushers in fall with a blaze of color. While I shun golden yellows earlier in the year, at this time of year, it just seems appropriate...and really sets off the warmer tones found elsewhere.

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Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
My favorite of the blue Agastaches...huge, vigorous and floriferous. A few of these are 6' tall and almost as wide...they have a fairly open branching structure (which I may try to keep a bit more compact with selective pruning next year) and insinuate themselves into other plants, making for some great combos. In the above photo, you can see how fabulous it looks when backlit...which makes the entire plant look like, well, it's namesake!

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Pimplinella major 'Rosea'
This was a bit of a surprise, the Pimpinella, which I thought only bloomed in spring, is re-blooming!

Salvia Black & Blue
Salvia 'Black & Blue' and Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'
While I always curse the late arrival of this Salvia (which means I get to look at a patch of bare ground until July), once it arrives and starts throwing out it's amazingly electric flowers, I always forgive it. Love how the rich blue looks against the gold of Rudbeckias...and in combination with pink and purples.

TeucriumAgastache Ava
Teucrium 'Purple Tails'Agastache 'Ava'

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Sedum 'Matrona'
I've grown Sedum 'Autumn Joy' for years, but this spring, decided to add a few of this Sedum as well. I really like the slightly larger size and colorful leaves and stems. The flowers are just as nice as 'Autumn Joy' and are totally loved by the bees. I love their subtle, glowing coloring.

Knautia Verbena Agastache
Knautia macedonica, Verbena bonariensis, Agastache 'Blue Blazes'
I love this little combo...it's a sort of crazy free-for-all of red, blue and purple. A bonus, all the plants are pretty drought-tolerant...next year I'm hoping they will require only a few waterings.

chocolate cosmos
Cosmos astrosanguiniem
I bought these on a lark, just because I love the way they smell. I have to say, they've grown on me. I really like their dark little flowers, which look smashing against Pennisetum 'Hameln'

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Persicaria polymorpha
I FINALLY found one of these for sale this spring, and even though had no where to really put it, bought it anyway. I'm pretty sure I'll have to move it next year...but for now, I'm just enjoying it. I think I actually like the blooms best at this stage, as they are a little past their prime...they have a rich, earthy beauty to them.

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Sedum 'Autumn Joy'Echinacea 'Prairie Splendour'

Lobelia gerardii
Lobelia gerardii
I got a few of these at a nursery that was closing a few weeks ago. Just when I thought they are done blooming, they sent up more blooms. Love their rich, purple blooms. Apparently, these have a propensity to reseed a bit...they'll have to duke it out with the patch of Verbena bonariensis nearby.

Astrantia Alba
Astrantia major 'Alba'
While 'Abbey Road' was just cut back, 'Alba' has sent up a few new blooms...I'm adding a few more Astrantia this fall...they've proven themselves to be not only charming and beautiful, but tough and vigorous...winners in my book!

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Impatiens balfourii
A gift from the generous Derrick Pitman (Mr. Impatiens), this tender Impatiens has proven to be extremely vigorous, even though it got much more sun than I think it normally likes (4-5 hours in the middle of the day). It sailed through the summer while the Rodgersias and Ligularias scorched a few feet away (and with MUCH more supplemental water). Love the airy two-toned flowers!

Agastache Desert SunrisePersicaria Golden Arrow
Agastache 'Desert Sunrise'Persicaria 'Golden Arrow'

Agastache Purple Haze
Agastache 'Purple Haze'
One of the things I love about this time of year (aside from cooler weather) is the amazing quality of the light...as in this photo, plants look amazing when backlit!

Geranium wllasovianum September  519
Geranium wllasovianum
I've shown both Geraniums 'Rozanne' and 'Ann Folkard' numerous times in these posts (both are still blooming...what workhorses!). This is a smaller and subtler Geranium, which I got mostly because the foliage (hopefully) turns brilliant colors in the fall. The flowers are small, but are produced continuously for months and add a simple, understated elegance to the garden.

Verbascum blooming
Verbascum chaixii 'Album'
Ryan Miller (Gnomiscience) gifted me with a bunch of seedlings a few months ago, and they are all thriving in their new spots...some of them, like this amazing Verbascum, have even started blooming already. Love the mix of colors on this plant...the purple stamens are just stunning.

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Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
I've been lax about dead-heading this summer, luckily, some plants, like this Salvia, keep pumping out flowers regardless...gotta love that!

Salvia Purple Majesty
Salvia 'Purple Majesty'
Another Salvia...this time, a giant! Getting over 6' tall (sadly, with somewhat fragile stems), this plant has been throwing out it's rich, purple blooms for months. I wish it was a little sturdier...then again, ever stem that breaks means that 2 more sprout a the axel below the break...so more flowers!

CirsiumRivulareVerticalRudbeckia and Geranium Rozanne
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and Geranium 'Rozanne'

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Agastache rupestris
Another Agastache...one of the standards for the clan...and tough as nails! I had these planted in too much shade last year and they languished. This year, I knew I had to move them, but wasn't sure where...so I just dug them in behind the new fence. They have thrived there...it's not as sunny as they would probably like...but I haven't watered them but maybe 2-3 times all summer.

Persicaria Firetail
Persicaria 'Firetail'
I recently overhauled a section of the north border, adding some Panicum and this Persicaria...love the rich, ruby-colored tapers.

vernonia  525
Vernonia missurica (Ironweed)
I was hoping this would be open by bloom day, but it's taking its sweet time! Planted as tiny little starts this spring (purchased at the Spring HPSO plant sale) they've grown rapidly...I'm surprised they are blooming this year! They topped out around 5' tall this year...I'm wondering if they'll be even taller next year.

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Clematis tibetana
Another plant JUST about to bloom...look for it next month!

Crocosmia
East Border, with Crocosmia 'Orangeade', Agastache 'Blue Fortune', Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm', Agastache 'Desert Sunrise', Geranium 'Rozanne', Geranium 'Ann Folkard', Knautia Macedonica
I leave you will a view of the east border, in front of the house...what do you all have going in your garden...are you enjoying our slip into fall...or dreading winter!?!



66 comments:

  1. Terrific looking plants in your garden. I especially like the Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' which seems to behave like an annual plant in our garden, I was told that this was because of our soil being on the acidic side. The other plant which caught my eye was your Persicaria polymorpha, I will be on the look out for this one.

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  2. Marvelous photography as always. Great use of the brilliant Goldsturm. I find that colour a little overwhelming sometimes.

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  3. Holy cow Scott! You're yard should be in magazines. It's beautiful. Kudos! I like the combination of black and blue salvia and Rudbeckia. In San Antonio, I think the sun is too intense to grow them side by side. The Rudbeckia could handle it, but the black and blue's leaves would get crunchy. Mine is in part shade and even there, its leaves are brittle in the summer.

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  4. Your garden is so gorgeous this month and full of so many colorful blooms. I love alot of your combos, like the Rudbeckia and Black & Blue Salvia. :)

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  5. Scott,
    What fabulous photos and what stunning combinations! I particularly love all your agastaches. Some are only marginally hardy for me, which makes me love them all the more when I see them growing so beautifully for others!
    Karla

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  6. Yeah, I drool over your garden when I visit your site. Such wonderful photography as well!

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  7. aloha,

    your garden is filled with so many colors today, beautiful - i love the combinations

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  8. OMG! what yummy photos - they're great -- And I love your "little combo" so wild looking and delicate - and the popping rudbeckia - One day I'll go for those, so bold and dramatic. Right now the madia is holding that spot in my garden! You have so many gorgeous blooming plants!

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  9. Your photos are a lovely feast for the eyes, and the spirit. Thanks for sharing, and inspiring!

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  10. So many beautiful combinations Scott, and so well captured, the autumn light makes everything glow. I am trying not to be jealous of your Rudbekia 'Goldsturm' (mine failed to grow from seed) and Knautia macedonica (powdery mildew devoured it). I am filing away that persicaria for the future, and may steal that knautia-verbena-agastache combo... Happy GBBD.

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  11. You've got loads of beautiful plantings in your garden. Everything looks absolutely gorgeous. The various varieties of Agastache really caught my eye and that pretty dark Cosmos is a delight. I really did like the Knautia, Verbena and Agastache combination. That was just lovely.

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  12. You have just blown me back in my seat with the photos of your garden. WOW!!! Your plant combinations are incredibly imaginative and I love what you have done. Wow, again!

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  13. What a show, Scott! The last photo is simply gorgeous with a kaleidoscope of colors. I planted my first Agastache this year and have become a real fan; you have so many stunning varieties.

    I was in Portland a few weeks ago, just before the temperatures soared. I'm convinced all plants grow bigger and fuller in Portland than anywhere else:)

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  14. My second GBBD visit to your site; once again you did not disappoint. I am filled with Photography Envy. And I had to view your post on the plant sale too. Sigh sigh sigh....

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  15. Well, I certainly always feel 4 steps behind you. I was just lusting after the Agastache 'Blue Blazes' and putting that on my next year's wish list......and here you have it....though it's great to hear a real persons opinion of it , and not just a catalog trying to SELL you something. I also am interested in the verbena bonariensis. I saw it somewhere (?) combined with Amaranth-gorgeous. And oh my-your geranium Rozanne is STILL looking great. Mine doesn't seem to like the sands of Michigan-it doesn't...look...well!

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  16. Wow! You have an amazing number of beautiful bloomers! The Teucrium is not one I'm familiar with, but would like to add to my garden. Thanks for sharing your garden today!

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  17. You still have so many beautiful plants blooming. Everything is lovely considering we are coming to the end of the season.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  18. Your gardens are so pretty, and they look like fall! All the oranges, reds, and purples - absolutely gorgeous. Those are my favorite colors, and I love the combination. That ironweed looks interesting - never heard of it before. I dread fall because winter will be coming soon. But I guess we can't go back to spring, so we must move forward!

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  19. Love that salvia 'black and blue' above the rudbeckia, and the astrantia are lovely. You have quite an agastache collection ... very striking.

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  20. Your cameras takes some great shots. I like that verbena. I only wish it grew for me! Chris Las Aventuras

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  21. Wow! Wonderful blooms and great photography. I love your combinations.

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  22. I really like your combinations...each one is like the Fourth of July...ohhhs, awwws, gasps... one prettier than the last.
    I do like your Blue Lobelia....great color!

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  23. Your gardens are so beautiful and so many wonderful combinations of color. The photography is magnificent as well...thank you for the excellent tour!

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  24. your photos are breathtaking and so inspiring. thanks for sharing. love your blog.
    happy GBBD!
    -angel

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  25. Oh my flowery heaven! I feel like I've been living in a cave. This is my first visit to your AWESOME blog. I'm drooling over all your absolutely gorgeous plant pics right now.

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  26. So many wonderful plant and color combos in your garden. The Actea you like was from a nursery that is now closed so you may have to do a bit of searching.

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  27. Gorgeous autumn gardens Scott, really, well done! I am so impressed with everyone's sedum, what a fantastic summer to fall bloom. I also drool every time I see your Astrantia, lovely lovely blooms. I'm ready for fall, my favorite time of year. Cheers, Jenni

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  28. A palette of pleasure. Love your combos. and photos. Well done on all. Haven't had luck with agastache except for blue fortune. Last it this summer however. shame. happy gbbd.

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  29. Amazing what you do with that camera.

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  30. I love that pic of the cosmos....so perfect! Also enjoyed seeing at bit of you back yard and that sexy fence!

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  31. Oh...p.s. I'm drooling over that Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'....

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  32. Really beautiful photos - you have quite a way with your camera!

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  33. Wow! What fantastic photography! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your garden. And thank you for posting the photo of Knautia macedonica. It's nice to see what I can hopefully look forward to next year. I do like those deep red flowers. I planted mine near the tall verbena also!

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  34. This is the first time I've found you, I'll be back for sure, you have a lovely garden with so many plants that are happy and thriving. I like your colour combinations and I discovered some new, to me, plants that I must find out more about. Vernonia missurica looks very interesting. Christina

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  35. Great colour in your garden, lots of shapes and textures too! I've been away (in Madeira, the garden island of Portugal) last 10 days so looking foward to catching up on your blog posts over the weekend. Happy BBD, Kelli

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  36. Your flowers look incredible; love them all. Reading through your post, every picture I came to made me want to run out and buy that plant. Living in New England, I am dreading winter (I don't enjoy the cold, no-gardening season)so fall is definitely a bittersweet time for me. Gorgeous, but bittersweet. So glad to have found your blog!

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  37. Scott you garden is fabulous, I've just found your blog thanks to your comment on mine but I will follow you for sure now. Shame you don't have email subscription here.

    You surely have a thing for agastaches, haven't you? I like them a lot, but they never survive the winter here and I think this depends on big winter rainfall I have, rather than low temperatures (-8/10° C). What do you reckon?
    I loved the last pic with crocosmia.

    Alberto.

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  38. Every picture is a jewel. Such lovely glowing colors! I noted down some of my favourite plants to add to my wish list for next year.

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  39. Are you kidding me? Your garden is AMAZING!!!! I want to frolick there for hours in the sun, just gazing at all those amazing blooms. The layers of colors and textures are wonderful and so inviting to the artist in me. I bet you have tons of butterflies and birds visiting you in your lovely garden!

    Your photography is wonderful, too, Scott! Thanks so much for stopping by, because I wouldn't have seen your photos of your garden without back-tracking from your comment. Happy GBBD! I'll be visiting your blog again!!

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  40. Those are awesome photos, as always. Even the not so beautiful flowers stood out as fantastic, really great!

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  41. Scott if your neighbors wanted to beautify the neighborhood, they'd should just let you start encroaching on their property and let you work your way down the block.

    Thanks for turning on to cirsium, agastache, and geranium.

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  42. everything looks really great Scott. I'm glad you're like that verbascum! I'm especially digging that Ironweed with it's fuzzy stems and narrow leaves.

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  43. Scott, you did a great job! Even if I decided in my garden to have mostly white flowers, I´m a great colour-lover. And you mixed the colours perfect, it´s like a symphonie for the eyes!
    Thank you so much for participating german GBBD!
    Greetings from Berlin!
    Gesine

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  44. Love all your agastache. I had one (purple haze?) in the ground, but I think it has succumbed this year. I also grow the black & blue salvia - love that stuff, but it hasn't bloomed in months.

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  45. Blue Blazes!!!! Stunning photos...Love the color combinations! I may have to look into a few of these beauties :)

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  46. Hi Scott,

    Beautiful photos, I think I might just have gone to plant heaven...


    I've never been a fan of Rudbekia, but this year I've begun to use it, mainly because of seeing photos such as yours which make to really love its colour which is so very nice when we're slowly but surely moving towards Autumn.
    I bought some 'Goldstrum' too a few months ago now and am very pleased that it's been blooming constantly since! Very impressive and I've love to have massive clumps of it like you - as it's a young plant, mine is quite small both in width and height. Hopefully next year it'll be more like yours.

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  47. Beautiful garden and photos. I planted three "blue blazes" agastache a few weeks ago. Looks like a winner.

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  48. I really like how much of your garden has a meadowish feel. It has a sense of naturalness to it that I always strive for, but can't always achieve.

    As for grasses, I like them too. Right now, I'm focusing on getting my front garden in order, but there's a corner in the back that I want to plant mainly in prairie grasses.

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  49. Wow, I need to visit your blog more often. Everything is spectacular! I especially like the combinations of plants and the way your camera captured them in unique angles and with great use of light. Very beautiful!

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  50. I love that verbasicum, it's so pretty! The fuzzy filaments are adorable

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  51. I am blown away by the amount of color in your garden and would say that September must be your peak month. The color of Matrona's flowers with the purple behind it is an unexpected, but pleasant combination. I also like the back-lit agastache. Great job on the garden and the photos!

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  52. Gosh your photos are gorgeous - you've captured those flowers so well, amazing colours!

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  53. Beautiful as only Portland can be. The slant of the sun makes your colors so rich and vibrant. As for the plants, I want them all. Thanks for stopping by my little blog and saying hi.~~Dee

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  54. Stunning!
    Not been able to garden for over a week due to the gales and rains so looking at this has been an absolute joy, plus a few new plants for my wishlist including Persicaria 'Golden Arrow. I don't know where I imagine I'll ever put these things if I acquire them.

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  55. Hello Scott,
    I am speechless! I followes you from Gesine`s Seepferd GBBD-Post. You have stunning images and a designing quality! Respect!
    ♥ Greetings
    Carola

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  56. Scott,

    I love P. Firetail and C. Orangeade. The latter really adds a punch to your East Boarder!!

    You do a great job combining the autumn bloomers and grasses.

    Congrats on a beautiful garden!
    Julie

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  57. First time to read your blog. Will for sure visit again. Really like all your flowers.

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  58. Wow Scott, your photography makes each flower look fabulous. Those 'Blue Blazes' are unforgettable. Thanks for visiting mygardenhaven. Glad I followed you back to this lovely post! Am now your newest follower.
    Rosie

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  59. Wonderful pictures Scott! A great joy to see!

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  60. Stunning shots, and a catalogue of plants to envy. I love all your agastaches, have yet to introduce any to our garden but they're certainly on the list.

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  61. Scott, Gorgeous! I found many things to covet - as usual - in your garden. I don't know that Agastache - we grew black adder this year, but now I'm going to look for blue blazes. And chocolate cosmos is one of my very faves from my Seattle days. Alas we haven't had any luck with it here...

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  62. Wow, your gardens look amazing. you have many of the same flowers I do in your yard. I love your east garden pic and the black and blue salvia ( I have some of those) are such great flowers to photograph. enjoyed the tour.

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  63. I am so jealous of all of your flowers. Great photos as usual. My Agastache did not bloom this year. It tried, but the flowers did not fully develop. I am sure it was either too hot, too dry or both.

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  64. I envy you with all your agastaches. Most are not hardy here though jubilee seems to reseed itself every year. I love the one persicaria I have ... you have many, all beautiful. Once again, beautiful color and shape combinations.

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  65. A glorious display for Bloom Day ~ you have many beautiful and unique flowers!

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