I am already starting to make notes of what flowers I would like to grow again in my garden next year. As far as annuals are concerned, without a doubt I will certainly be buying the calibrachoa (million bells) again. They have been continuously blooming now for at least two months and have lasted so well in my front container. With regard to the annuals that I grew from seed, I will most definitely be growing the African daisies again (similar to the osteospermum). They too have been blooming non stop as long as I continuously deadhead. I have already started to collect seeds from these flowers to use next year. Another annual that did well was the portulaca. They love the sunny spots and one even self seeded in my driveway which shows that they like a sandy/gravel based soil. The flowers are a brilliant orange and red and open up when the sun comes out. Last but not least is the giant mixed nasturtiums which I have mentioned in previous posts. They pretty much grow anywhere – in the vegetable patch, containers, rockery garden and even in my baskets.
Perennials that I grew from seed that were very successful. The cup and saucer variety campanula with their large purple blooms. I would like to introduce a white variety next year. The dwarf hollyhocks that I grew were not so good in that the leaves were diseased after a short time. There was one though that did very well with double cream flowers. As mentioned previously too, I just love the yellow rudbeckias. I will not grow the Salvia Farinacea again even though I like the blue blooms. It flowers so late that I feel that I really do not get the full value of this plant. It would be suitable in climates where the winters are not so harsh.
We are going into the late summer/fall stage. I have some echinacea blooming and an abundance of fall asters with buds setting. They have overtaken some of my garden areas so I pull them out like weeds. The sedum (Autumn Joy) is about to bloom as well and really lasts long in flower arrangements (see post re sunflower arrangement).
