Viewing comments posted by gardengus

These flowers disappear after blooming, leaving a bare place in the garden; I plant annuals in the same space.
The last few years it has been balsam (impatiens balsamin); they self sow and grow and flower after the poppies are gone.

Transplanting:
I have found early spring transplanting to be the best, however they ''appear'' to die; mark the spot, they almost always return the next year.

Dill is an easy to grow herb with many uses.
It is a host plant to the black swallow tail butterfly.

NOTE: if you plant fennel and dill in the same garden your seeds will cross and the new plant (from seed ) will not be ''right'' -- off in smell and flavor.
(lesson learned from experience)

Phlox can be cut back to shorten the height and produce blooms at a later time.
I dead head my phlox right after first bloom and get a second flush of blooms.

I find cosmos self-sows nicely in my garden and if I wait till the plants are about a foot tall to pull and transplant, they grow about 1/3 shorter than the non-transplants.
This can be a good thing when you want the look but not the height.
They put on their best show in the fall. For earlier blooms, start indoors in pots then set out.

This little annual outperforms most in my garden. It blooms early and keeps on going all season long. It comes in many colors...and is easy to start from seed.
It does well in containers and in the front of a border garden.

I have grown this cucumber for several years and have always been pleased with its performance.

This plant is not hardy in my zone 5, so it is potted and must come inside to overwinter. It has an unpleasant "skunky '' smell so it is best kept in a seldom-used room.

The name of this heirloom bean comes from the story of its discovery.
In 1802 a Kentucky settler killed a wild turkey and found two seeds in the turkey's craw (gizzard). He planted them and discovered a nutty-flavored, brown, appaloosa-colored bean.

This bean is a vigorous grower and needs a sturdy trellis (also suitable to grow up corn stalks).
Should be started early for best (most abundant) crop.
Can be eaten green or dried

Basswood flowers are very fragrant and attract honey bees, some call the tree a honey tree
Basswood honey is often sold in areas where trees are numerous.
The tree is fast growing and the wood is prized by woodcarvers.

a nice short daisy, only gets to 12-14 inches tall here.

Sundrops are so called because they open during the day, unlike many evening primroses.

However this is a great plant for a tough place , needs no care or water here (zone 5) and can be pulled out if it gets too aggressive. I would give it room to spread and keep it some what isolated if planting in a flower garden.

After the 2nd year this plant will flop, but can be cut back after first flower flush to rebloom.

Not hardy in zone 5a
A great plant in a pot or hanging basket.
Can be overwintered in unheated garage. Cut back and water very sparingly.

While this plant looks like a coleus, cuttings will not root nearly as well in water.

This loosestrife, like most, is considered invasive and spreads quickly by underground roots.

This is a great edible veggie and pretty enough to be in the flower garden.

This herb, dried and placed in pet bedding, helps to repel fleas.