Monday, July 27, 2009

The Energizer Bunny Award

This year my Energizer Bunny Award for the hardest working, longest blooming, most carefree plants in the garden goes to the following. All were chosen for drought tolerance, excellent health, and long bloom time.


Agastache Blue Fortune. It begins blooming in mid July and will continue through the fall. A favorite of bees and smaller butterflies.


In the past I've had some disease problems with coneflowers but not this year. I should have cut these plants back by about half in early June. That would have prevented the tendency to bend that they have in very wet years. Never the less, the coneflowers are doing exceptionally well this summer and deserve the award. They also attract bees and butterflies which is a big plus.



Coreopsis Moonbeam sometimes tends to take a back seat to the showier bloomers but it's value comes as a filler covering the ankles of taller plants. Some of the coreopsis are brighter yellow but I like the muted, buttery shade of Moonbeam.



Daylilies, every imaginable color and shape. They provide a huge return in blooms for the small investment in space they require. Night Embers below has a pretty white edging around its double petals. A dull red in full sunshine it looks much darker in the shade or on cloudy days.


In my garden, hardy Geranium Rozanne serves the same purpose as coreopsis Moonbeam. It looks nice around the feet of taller plants and provides constant color. She also works well planted with spring blooming bulbs.


Rudbeckia deserves its popularity. It looks great in small clumps with other plants and in huge drifts by itself. It has the informal charm of the sunflower with a much longer bloom time. Attractive to some butterflies.



Gaillardia, I've read that this plant literally blooms itself to death. Usually not a long lived perennial for that very reason. Even when treated like an annual and replace every year or so it's worth the small trouble and expense. New colors and sizes are marketed frequently, so if Goblin is too bright for your taste, choose the wine red or the sunny yellow instead.


Last my favorite garden plant, phlox paniculata, Volcano garden phlox. Not a speck of diseased foliage on this long blooming plant. Twice the flower power of David with a much longer bloom period. Only two thirds as tall as David so Volcano never flops or requires staking or caging. Best of all it is a magnet for Tiger Swallowtail butterflies.




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50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great picks. I don't have 'Volcano' and will need to look for it. I do have 'Mt. Fuji' which is a white that does better for me than 'David'. In the sun, it doesn't get mildew, but in the shade, watch out. I love my daylilies, and I'm so glad I have them to add color to the garden.~~Dee

Phillip Oliver said...

Oh, to have all those sun lovers. I love the agastache and mine looked great last year, not so good this year. I've never had luck with coreopsis returning year after year. Everything is beautiful Marnie.

Jann said...

Such pretty photos, love that purple cone flower pic! They grow wild all over in the Black Hills. :o) Very nice garden; I really love day lilies.

Judy said...

What a lovely garden you have!! Thanks for the tour! I cannot choose a favourite!

tina said...

There's that gorgeous phlox! I've still not found it but am still looking. Congrats to all the awardees!

Sherri said...

I love all your flower pics, but my 2 favorites are your coneflower and the daylily. I love that daylily and I'm going to add the name to my wish list! I love the white edging! You do have beautiful gardens Marnie! Thanks so much for sharing!

Gail said...

I've looked for the Volcano phlox...I think you spoke of it before...It's gorgeous....and you know how I love The Susans and coneflowers. I'm growing gaillardia for the first time this year...it's a wonderful plant! The goldfinches seem to enjoy the seeds, too. As always, Marnie, your photos are wonderful! I've collected the seed from Nicotiana sylvestris...may I send you .some...Please email your address! Gail

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Darla said...

You have some great plants here...I have Phlox envy!!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Dee, I'll remember Mt Fuji. I love phlox and add more every year.

Hi Phillip, that's a shame about the coreopsis and agastache. The thread leafed coreopsis does well here but the lanced leafed ones are very short lived.

Jann, the coneflowers grow wild here too. They've done especially well this year.

Hi Judy, it hard to pick only one.

Hi Tina, I can't find it either. I'll keep looking.

Hi Sherri, Night Embers is pretty easy to find and not very expensive, but I have to say it's not my favorite daylily.

Hi Gail, many of the gaillardias grow well from seed so you could try sowing some in other places. I don't know if the dwarf forms would be true to type. Thanks for the offer of seed from Sylvester;) I'll email my address.
Marnie

Naturegirl said...

What a delightful colorful garden you have! Love all the plants that you mention and I have several of them too! Marnie:I wish you a lovely day in your garden!

Cheryl said...

Hi Marnie....love love love that phlox....so pretty.

I have the agastache blue fountain and I agree it is a great plant. Mine is always covered in bees, they absolutely love it.....and as you so rightly say it has such a long season....

Lisa at Greenbow said...

All great flowers Marnie, however that last sentence saying that Volcano is better blooming than David. WOW I will have to try to find that phlox becasue David does so well here. I can't imagine any being better. However I do like that bloom on Volcano.

Anonymous said...

All great choices. I have most of those plants in my summer garden too. They are real troopers! Your Phlox 'Volcano' is a pretty one. :)

BeadedTail said...

Such pretty choices! That phlox is so beautiful that it's my favorite! I think we have one of those Agastache Blue Fortunes but I'm not sure.

Connie said...

I agree with your choices...those are some tough plants that bloom their hearts out. Not familiar with the Phlox, but making a note of it, as it it gorgeous.

Chloe m said...

Marnie,
These are all wonderful! I am glad there are plants for those of us who are not as talented or motivated to grow speciality plants. Yours are beautiful!
Rosey

Kathleen said...

oooh, that Phlox is outstanding Marnie as are your photos. I've never tried Agastache blue fortune but looked at it numerous times. If I can find a place to squeeze it in, I'll definitely consider it. I think all your choices are excellent. I love the coneflowers. They never fail do they?
About the orioles, do you see them regularly in your yard? I used to have them visit my birdbath on irregular occasions ~ that's when I decided to buy the sugar water feeder for them. Once I did that I saw a few more and they visited more frequently. This year, with the addition of the grape jelly feeder the numbers & visits have increased dramatically. I am very diligent about keeping the jelly stocked in the cups and we have always had orioles nest in our neighborhood (I see their nests in the cottonwoods by the lake during the winter months). I hope you can find a way to draw them to your yard. They are so beautiful and colorful to watch. I think living in an area they already are attracted to helped me.

sweetbay said...

Beautiful pictures Marnie. I love many of these flowers too. I must try the Volcano Phlox. Can't have too many Phloxes!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Darla, this one is hard to find.

NatureGirl, thank you so much, I wish you a wonderful day as well.

Cheryl, at first I didn't like it but after having it one season, I've added four more.

Lisa, in my garden I get two nice flushes of bloom from David and three from Volcano. David is just beginning to bloom now and Volcano is just finishing its first round.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Racquel, just using those plants anyone could have a lovely, carefree garden.

Hi BeadedTail, my favorite too.

Connie, if you ever find that phlox, you will love it.

Hi Rosey, they are all easy plants to grow with no special needs except the agastache wants perfectly draining soil.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Kathleen, I have so many fruit trees especially for the orioles, cat birds and other fruit eaters. Every spring I see orioles and start putting out fruit and hang the nectar feeder. I usually get a cat bird to eat the fruit but no orioles. Two years ago I found an oriole nest on the ground under a tree very close to the house. I had never once seen the orioles.

Hi SweetBay, I agree, they are beautiful and loved by butterflies.

Marnie

Randy said...

Marnie,
How long does the Gaillardia usually last. We were thinking of adding alot more of it to our garden so I need to know the scoop on it. Thanks- Randy

troutbirder said...

Beautiful choices Marnie. I'm slowly being won over by the new coneflowers

A Wild Thing said...

I'm with ya on the cone flowers, they're just beautiful this year with all the rains...and the lilies...wow, however, my gaillardia have disappeared...I think the drain field carved them away...well there's always next year!

I'm with ya on the Amish way of life, I think I could adjust, but being without the internet would be hard, I'd miss all my friends, but you have to make those choices when you live off the land...and I think we both would be perfect candidates...it's a pleasant dream...s

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

I love your daylily! I find I miss my daylilies when they stop blooming, which they have now. I think I need to try agastache next year. I've heard so many good things about it.

Dawn said...

Finally, a ID on the daylily! I have several that were passalongs so I had no clue about them. Love the gorgeous phlox.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Randy, don't forget a northern garden can be different. My gaillardia usually only last a year. Sometimes they self seed. They may last longer in Alabama so you should ask someone with a southern garden.

Hi Troutbirder, they are more substantial than the native ones. I like the new colors but they don't do well up here.

Hey Sharon, it is fun to think about. Not something anyone can actually do.

Jean, I miss mine too. They have a couple more weeks and then it will be over for the year.

Marnie
Marnie

joey said...

I'm always amazed at our similar taste in flowers, Marnie. Except for agastache and gaillardia, my garden looks much like yours so I would certainly agree with your choices. I adore Moombean and my phlox is just beginning to shout!

Susie said...

Hey Marnie, we were on the road traveling this weekend and we came across some medians filled with gaillardia. It was gorgeous!

TC said...

I concur with your selections. I grow most all here, and now will seriously consider 'Volcano' garden phlox.

Great photos too Ms. Marnie!

Heather said...

Marnie-Beautiful gardens! I've noticed that if I divide my Gallardia, they last and last and last....just something to consider! Everyone seems to want one, so I never have to throw any of it away!
I just found this particular phlox at my nursery, hopefully they haven't sold out of it while I was gone on vacation!

oldcrow61 said...

Your flowers are beautiful. We are a good bit behind you, my Gaillardia is just coming into bloom, the phlox is just showing some buds and I'm still waiting for the cone flowers to bloom.

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walk2write said...

Thanks for the review, especially the rave one about Volcano. It will definitely be considered for next year.

A home far away said...

Such lovely photos!!

I´m a Swedish woman living in Singapore and I love taking photos:)

Have a good day!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

What an amazing parade of blooms, Marnie. They are all gorgeous, but by far, my favorite is Night Embers. What a knockout. I will look for it, because I am totally smitten.

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Beautiful photos, the phlox are stunning.

beckie said...

Marnie, I love the name of your award. Very clever. Like you I should have cut back some of the coneflowers, but it hurts my soul to do that. :) This has been an exceptional year for them. Night Embers is gorgeous-why is it I want ever one I see?? I think they have done extremely well this year also and am thinking it is because of the cooler wetter summer we have had.The Volcano phlox is beautiful. I am outting that one on my list for next year. Your photos of it are great. Well...all of you pictures are and deserving of an award!

Kathleen said...

Hi again Marnie. I just wanted to answer your question about starting the agastaches from seed. I only have one that I did that with (A. rupestris ~ sunset hyssop). 'Cana' and 'Tutti Frutti' were both bought. Rupestris started easily from seed tho if that helps. Good luck if you decide to try. There are so many nice ones to choose from...

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Joey, we have similar tastes and similar climates. I've noticed we have many of the same plants.

Susie, I'll bet the gaillardia was beautiful planted along the streets. That seems kind of unusual, maybe just because I've never seen it done. Daylilies and ornamental grasses are mostly used around here.

TC, it's a good phlox IF you can find it.

Hi Dawn, I have a dozen daylilies with no id. So many look very much alike.

Heather, mine gaillardia don't usually survive the winters. If they do, I will divide early in the spring.

Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi OC, your seasons are very short. When I visited your site today, I noticed we have some of the same things blooming but on things like lambsear, you are a month behind us.

Walk2Write, I hope you can find it.

Home Far Away, thanks for visiting.

Hi Morning Glories, Night Embers was purchased from Gilbert H Wild and wasn't terribly expensive.

Iowa, thank you for visiting.

Hi Beckie, Night Embers seems more like a oddity than a real contributer in my garden. Same with Mose's Fire. The flowers are unusual but they really add much.

Thanks Kathleen, I've been kind of reluctant to order agastache because they are usually not hardy here. I'll check the ones you named.

Marnie

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ShySongbird said...

Beautiful flowers again Marnie. I hadn't realised there were so many different types of Day Lily. The Cone flower in a pot which I thought I had lost after the Winter has suddenly appeared again, I'm so pleased! I love your Phlox, I have a very old one which never fails me but it is rather a vibrant pink!

oldcrow61 said...

Just letting you know that the flower you ID'd for me was fleabane, Daisy Fleabane. It has medicinal properties as well. Thanks again.

Rose said...

I second all your choices! In fact, I have all of the same flowers except the agastache and the "Volcano" phlox. Both are plants I had planned to add to the garden this year, but never did. I'll be sure to add them to the "must-have" list for next year.

Teresa~Gardening with Soule said...

Your Day Lily Night Embers is amazing. I will have to look for that. All your photos are great as well. You also have some beautiful pets.

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Pat said...

Yay, coneflowers,black-eyed susans,agastache and coreopsis(I want those coreopsis).
Still waiting for my gailardia and agastache that I started from seed to bloom.
Everything looks healthy and happy in your garden !
The coreopsis is going on my "thinking about list". Also have to get your other geranium mentioned posts ago.
Tried to look but then could'nt get back to current post. I'll look later.

CONEFLOWER said...

Hello Lilacs and Roses. I love all your beautiful flowers and your photography is exceptional. I also bought Dark Embers this year. It put up one blossom stalk and I'm so pleased with it. It's truly lovely.