Meet my new favorite plants, Ipomoea and Calocephalus brownii.
It's a sad fact that not all of the Proven Winners have performed as well as their name suggests in our climate. We get hot/cold summers, with lots of rain. 
This Ipomoea "Sweet Caroline, Sweet Heart Purple" actually blooms! We have never ever had any that bloom in our climate. This baby is very heat tolerant for hot climates. And even takes a part shade/full sun location.
Did I mention that I love these plants?
So not only do we get amazing purple foliage, but these exquisite mauve flowers also. And lots of them.
I've mixed it in with another PW, "Silver Bush", Calocephalus brownii. With stunning stick like glowing silver foliage. You can see it to the left in the above photo.
This is a great time of year for gardeners to get a peek at the newest and the best, local growers sometimes sell off the trial plants, and if your timing is right you can find some amazing flowers. There are new coleus, and gazanias, phygellus, basils, and many many more popping up in garden centres. Sure they are only going to grow for a few more months, but being first on the block to get something no one else has yet, might just be worth it.
What are your favorites this year? And what are you looking forward to planting next year?
unfortunately i dont plant, but i love them anyway. My mom does, I took a picture of one of her flowers the other day, I put it on my blog, if you get a chance, can you hop over and tell me what it is?? its beautiful and i would love to know the name of it, just in case i ever try to give gardening another chance.
ReplyDeleteBekah, check your post please, if it is the beautiful white flower that you are talking about, it's a dahlia. And you CAN plant that in your garden. Sunny and super easy to grow. Almost fail-proof. I am looking forward to seeing those bloom in your garden next year.
ReplyDeleteJen
Good for you, Jen ... it's delightful finding plants that work well. I have a hard time resisting hosta (like I need more!) and Heuchera (if only for the names alone)! I don't do many annuals, except in pots, and though lovely are a nuisance since I'm away so much in the summer. Wrapping my arms around my huge perennial garden and keeping it tidy, though delightful, is nerve-racking this time of year. I much prefer the 'joy of gardening' in May, June & July :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorites this year are Cherry Rose Nasturtiums, Luscious Tropical Fruit Lantana, Angel Earings Snowfire Fuchsia and Kalanchoe 'Flapjacks.' I could probably list another half dozen favorites, but that list is a good start. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBekah--if that Dahlia is half as easy as the single Dahlia (I have in my garden ('Happy Single First Love') then you should definitely grow one (or ten) in your garden. Mine bakes in the sun all afternoon. All I do is water it every other day or so and it is happy as a clam. Mine is pretty much constantly covered in yellow flowers and has pretty dark purple leaves.